Post-War Survivor: 1948 Willys Jeep CJ-2A
Did you ever wonder where the Jeep term “CJ” came from? It stands for “civilian Jeep” as Willys was transforming the war-era workhorses into commercial applications. The CJ-2A was an early example, in production from 1945 (as WW2 was ending) to 1949. It differentiated visually from the war-effort Jeep by the addition of a tailgate and relocating the spare tire to a side mount. This 1948 example looks like a nice runner that the seller has recently invested $8,000 for keeping it up to snuff. Located in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, this vintage civilian Jeep is available here on craigslist for $16,500. This tip comes to us from one of our own, Russell Glantz.
The entire CJ lineup had an impressive 42-year run from 1945 to 1986. They were the first mass-produced 4WD vehicles for civilian use. Besides slight visual differences, the Willys people beefed up the mechanical bits of the CJ as they were expected to serve many years on the farm, unlike the war jeeps that may have been disabled at a minute’s notice. More than 1.5 million CJs were built over the years, with nearly 215,000 having the CJ-2A designation like the seller’s. All CJ-2As were powered by Willys 134 cubic inch “Go Devil” inline-4 with a 3-speed manual transmission.
This Jeep looks pretty solid. The seller says a bunch of money has been spent on it recently and a list of the repairs or enhancements besides new tires would have gone a long way. We’re told it runs and stops quite well, so a lot of life should be left in this 35,000-mile post-war classic. The simplicity of the designs of these things is likely why so darn many of them were built and sold.
These vehicles are like Timex watches as they, too, can take a licking and keep on ticking. This one seems to be ticking nicely and the photos suggest the seller is not opposed to showing it off and including it in events and/or parades. Should anything break, I would imagine the aftermarket parts market for Jeeps like this has plenty of options.
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Comments
Ahhh, a respite of sorts from the CJ8 unpleasantness,, even my YJ has hints of it’s past here. These are just a novelty, an expensive novelty, but not much more useful than a King Midget, in that regard. Images of pristine vistas only seen by Jeep owners await,,eehhhnnn, stop right there. 1st, you have to get to those vistas, which will require you at some point to take a highway. Not advised in this, 2nd, the back roads, if you can call them that, are so rough, bounce you right out of this, they will. I certainly don’t see the cost justification here. If back woods travel is on your mind, an ATV with P/S and A/C would be half the cost. I know, what’s the fun there? Like $10 grand worth, up to you, as always.
Just have to say, with how what a stark difference from today, can you imagine someone showing up in a new Rubicon for a test drive, how different could it possibly be?
This is kind of like saying ” yeah, it’s a 55 Chevy, but travel would be so much more practical and comfortable in a Toyota Corolla”.
Yes, but we’re car guys.
Don’t care much for your analogy, but I get it
Well said, sir! I, too, was a YJ owner a few years back, and I’ve done nothing but pine about it ever since I let her go. Mine was a mudslinger, equipped with a 350/350 turbo trans, 33-12.50’s, and a B&M shifter. I’ve literally had to drive with my head to the side because of the wheelbarrow load of mud on the soft top. Jeeps are great for many reasons, but one major one (and the most important, imo) is the fact that not only official Jeep parts can be used, with little or no modifications. Mine had a Chevy motor/tranny, bucket seats from something that wasn’t meant to be off-roaded, and an F-150 radiator, which produced 10x the heat as the original. It didn’t take me long to understand the acronym for Jeep -just empty every pocket, cuz you can really spend as much as you like on them, and then some… This one is pretty darn cool, venerable old work horse that she is, and with the right tires you wouldn’t need any of those new-fangled paved roads.. but idk about that price tag, somebody’s been watching BJ again…
Ahh, Howard, you’re a YJ guy. I get it – one of the best cars I’d ever owned, was a Nevada YJ I bought while on vacation in Vegas.
What the YJ had that the early CJs did not, was versatility. This was a good off-road appliance, but even with a full cab, not suited for highway travel over 50 mph. Whereas my YJ with the AMC four, could cruise all day on the Interstate…it was noisy but handling was equal to any other SUV. The four had the advantage over the six, in being set back behind the front axle – making for a very stable chassis, something that AMC CJs lacked.
And something that Willys/Kaiser CJs, with their convoluted steering linkage, absolutely did not have. The steering gear on the first 20 years of CJs, was mounted to the body floor, just below where the steering column went through. Then a series of links took the motion to various drag links and rods, to the pitman arms. Steering aim and alignment would depend on if the springs, oscillating would shift the alignment.
Interestingly, when AMC modified the Postal DJ, they put the steering gear on the front bumper; leaving the steering column where it was but putting a U-joint in and a shaft forward. I guess it was safer – the steep angle in the column line would deflect forces in a collision.
The private-market CJs from 1972 on, had the column raised, and a conventional steering column, including a telescoping segment, in place of the old Willys mess.
I love the old CJ2As. They’re true Jeeps as intended. That said, in all honesty, it would be little more than a toy, unless you had land you had to work and patrol. Even then, a four-wheeler might make more sense.
One more desire I cannot indulge.
Not worth the asking price but a nice example. Had a ’42, had fun with it, even plowed snow with it.
Reminds me of Nelliebell on the Roy Rogers show. Or am I too old and am the only one on here who remembers watching that show on TV back in the late 50’s and early 60’s. Pat Brady was the sidekick who drove it the most, although it was owned by Roy himself.
I remember Nellie Bell. I always wanted a Jeep but my father, a former Army mechanic, didn’t like them and wouldn’t have them. Perhaps he had worked on too many.
I remember….
Happy trails, to you,,, 1951-1957, so it was before my time. What was odd, was the show should have had the CJ3B, but Rogers insisted they use his CJ2A. I don’t remember any of the show, some reruns later, but looking that up, it seems the Jeep was riddled with problems, mostly the brakes. Brady himself called Nellybelle a “rolling junkpile”, kicking the tires. It was an unusual image, as at the time, the Jeep was hallowed as a hero to Americans, and still is today. To make fun of it wasn’t in the best taste. It was said, Brady was a tank commander in the war, and why the “armor” on the Jeep, but more likely to hide the driver when Nellybelle took off by herself. I think it was the 1st show to personify a vehicle.
As a teenager, back in 1977, I found one of these in a small junkyard in the woods near a military base. Convinced I had found an “Army Jeep”, I scraped together $350, plus another $150 for an adjustable tow-bar (which I still have), and dragged it home. I decided to stick to the back-roads, and go slow. I nearly sunk my new K5 Blazer and Jeep on a freshly washed-out road, but I made it. I began asking around for parts, and was referred to a guy called “Pete The Jeep”. He was x-military, and knew “everything” about military Jeeps. Pete had a garage full of NOS surplus parts for sale, and knew people all over the area with parts he didn’t have. Pete soon realized that I was a total newbie, and came to my house to see my Jeep. Bad News: It was a CJ-2A, which is actually quite different from the military version (no tailgate, different grill etc). It was also in worse shape than it looked. After tinkering on it for about a year, I gave up and parted it out.
I learned a lot from Pete (I am still in contact with him), and soon met others with x-military vehicles. Over the next several years, I did find/buy/restore/repair some genuine military “Jeeps”: an MB, GPW, 2 M-38s, a few M38-A1s, and several M-151s. They were followed by several armoured /tracked vehicles, a few M-37s, and an Iltis. I still have a CUCV (Chevy,gas 5/4 ton) yard-truck with wrecker and plow, and a restored, WWII Dodge WC “Air Portable Truck” (APT 3/4) with factory winch, and a pedestal-mount BMG .50.
The genuine WWII Jeeps are quite valuable, and regularly see CJ-2As (with grill-swap)dressed as military versions. Sometimes advertised as CJs with , and misrepresented as “WW II Jeeps”.
The CJ here is a relatively decent solid example, but it is in the same price range as a military version in similar shape. At this price, I would prefer a genuine military version (GPW, or MB).
Cj 2A had an overhead valve four and a high hood .the jeep pictured is not a cj 2A
CJ3B was the one with the Hurricane engine and the high hood. My own dream Jeep would be an M38. Commenters are correct about the ride, my ’55 CJ5 still came with military springs- 13 leaves in the back and 11 in the front- with that much springs it was almost like not having springs when on the road!
You had a cj3b high hood.
Not yet- a guy retired from his shop, has a ’64 high hood I would love to get but getting pushback from wife who doesn’t get off on jeeps. I would love to get my hands on it and put in Saginaw steering and a juice clutch, which would correct two of the most annoying problems associated with Willys jeeps.
My CJ2A is total stock and has the original flathead 134 ci engine. The hood is not a high hood.
High price or 60 grand for a new one?
I’m still trying to figure out where $8,000 could be spent for a “refurbishment”, there’s not much there to begin with. I’d rather have a Willys pickup, or wagon. This looks like a good one for someone who wants one
My only experience with these was second hand , when I was a teenager my uncle had a few CJ2 over the course of several years , very fun , very impractical even in the 80s. Like Howard said very limited in WHERE you could drive it and not have traffic backed up for miles behind you. Seem to recall it topped out about 40 mph. Maybe 50 down hill with prayers. But was sure cool.
Back in the mid 1970’s my neighbor bought a 1948 cj2a from a farmer who bought it brand new he used it for a couple years parked it in the barn where it sat untill my neighbor bought it for $500.00.
When it is all said and done, the real test of a real Jeep is whether or not you are driving around sitting on the gas tank. If you are, it’s a Jeep. If you are not is is a pale imitation. Next test is if it says CJ in the model name and if it is Willys or Kaiser made. (or MB, M38, M38A1, M170, M715)
I spent some time driving a slightly younger Korean war model (M38A1 if I recall correctly), and the first thing that did was give me greater respect for Gary Burghoff. These things are TWITCHY! at speed. The “solution” seems to be to allow 2-3 inches of slop in the steering wheel, forcing you to fully commit to that turn and stopping it from responding to every movement of the wheel over rough terrain. But once you get used to it, a joy to drive on forest roads in upstate PA and NY. Everyone who sees it smiles and waves.
Here’s my 1942 GPW…sorry, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to post a pic….lol
I’m over 60, am I a survivor?