Military Masquerader: 1951 Willys CJ-3A Jeep – SOLD!

by | May 2022 | Classifinds, Truckin Tuesday

(To stop the slideshow and expand the pictures, click on the current photograph below)

June 6, 2022, Update – We confirmed the seller of this “Classifind” deleted their listing, so we’re now able to call this one “SOLD!” While this one got away, please reach out either by email or call us directly if you’d like to be informed when we come across something similar.

“Sometimes life has a way of throwing a monkey wrench into your plans.” That is a line we often see in the many Craigslist ads we scour through almost daily.  While that line is very common, the reasons for the monkey wrench vary widely. The seller of this nicely restored, military-themed, 1951 Willys CJ-3A Jeep originally listed in May 2022 on Craigslist in Shady Dale, Georgia (Atlanta) cites a job transfer as his monkey wrench. Honestly presented as a civilian CJ-3A restored to a vintage military theme, the excellent pictures highlight what appears to be a nicely restored example.

Currently offered for $9,000, Classic.com, the analytics and search engine for the collector car market, confirms the ask is well below this guide’s one-year results summary for similar Willys CJ-3As.  By clicking on the green dots in the graph below, you can navigate to each comparable car sold as a way to help you make an educated bid on the car we are featuring for auction here:

As a second data point, the  Collector Car Market Review Online Tool reveals the seller’s ask falls between this guide’s #2 Very Good” estimate of $22,310 and its #1 “Excellent” appraisal of $35,765 after factoring in a fifteen percent premium for the 383 V8.

Willys-Overland replaced its earlier 2A Jeep with the CJ-3A for the 1949 model year. It was powered by Willys’ 60 horsepower L-134 Go-Devil four-cylinder engine, with a T-90 transmission, and Dana 18 transfer case, a Dana 25 front axle, and Dana 41 or 44 rear axle. It featured a one-piece windshield with a vent, and wipers at the bottom. The CJ-3A came equipped with a heavier duty, ten-leaf spring suspension to accommodate a variety of agricultural implements being built for the vehicle.  Styling-wise, the CJ-3A featured a shorter rear wheel well, while engineers moved the driver’s seat rearward over the prior version.

The Periscope Film II YouTube Channel features this video highlighting many of the farm implements you could attach to your CJ3A:

Based upon the excellent pictures provided, the seller’s loss is your gain on what appears to be a nicely restored, Military-themed, 1951 Willys Jeep CJ-3A.

Here’s the seller’s description:

“I am selling my 1951 model CJ3A Willys Jeep. This is a civilian model Jeep – not military as it has been restored to look like. I purchased it last October from a gentleman in Land O Lakes, FL who did most of the restoration work. It isn’t perfect nor completely original but it looks good and runs well for a vehicle that’s almost 3/4 of a century old. My plans were to use it to putter around Lake Oconee once our new home was finished but sometimes life has a way of throwing a monkey wrench into your plans. My employer decided that my services were required in Texas so we sold our house and are relocating there in the next couple of months. The only thing that I’ve done to it since I bought it was had the original starter rebuilt and replaced the battery. I have never titled it in GA yet because it’s basically been sitting since we sold our home (I do have the original Florida title from the previous owner). The canvas-covered boxes on each side of the bed are blue tooth speakers. The guy that I bought it from had it set up to drive in parades and play patriotic music. I paid $10K for it originally so please don’t lowball me – I just need it gone!“

Show or go: What would you do with this 1951 model CJ3A Willys Jeep?  Please comment below and let us know!

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