Following World War II, Willys parlayed the success and story of their military jeep into a civilian-made variation called the CJ.
The CJ was low on frills but high on practicality, meant to take on the rigors of agricultural life with its body-on-frame design, live axles, and leaf springs. First produced in 1944, the CJ family sprouted more than 1.5 million total examples, each a bit more refined than the last – but none that lost its true utilitarian roots.
This example, a 1950 CJ-3A, recently arrived at Hyman Ltd., and it’s a undeniable beaut. Subject to a ground-up restoration, the pine green exterior is contrasted nicely by the cream-colored “WILLY’S” decal and wheels – including the side-mounted spare tire. We love it, and we think you will too.
What is a Willys CJ-3A?
Introduced in 1949 as the successor to the CJ-2A, the Willys Jeep CJ-3A was a civilian-oriented 4x4 made for farm and light off-road duty. Approximately 131,843 total examples were produced, each powered by the “Go Devil” 2.2L L134 I4 with a Borg-Warner T-90 3-speed manual. More on that motor in a moment.
The CJ-3A was purposefully utilitarian, although it did include a few upgrades over its predecessor. The CJ-3A had more legroom, more headroom, better leakproofing, better suspension, and thicker cushions.
The CJ-3A would eventually be replaced by the CJ-3B in 1953, the year in which the Willys-Overland company was acquired by Kaiser Motors. The CJ-3B’s production ran through 1968 with about 196,000 total units produced.
What is the "Go-Devil" Engine?
The Go Devil motor (L134) was made by Willys-Overland and used by both Willys’ and Ford’s World War II military jeeps. The L134 was an iron, gas-powered L-head inline 4 engine with 134 cubic inches (2.2L) of displacement good for 60 hp. and 105 lb.-ft. torque. The Go Devil earned its nickname for its longevity and fuss-free reliability, and was relied up for both military and civilian duty through the early 1950s when its replacement, the F-head I4 Hurricane engine would succeed it.
Specifications.
This particular Willys CJ-3A is a stunning example, finished in pine green with cream accents and tartan seats. The benefactor of a comprehensive, meticulous restoration, it shows in wonderful condition inside and out. We love the high-gloss finish, the natural canvas soft-top, and subtle cream-colored decals. Further, the Go Devil motor appears clean and in good working order, and it's mated to a 3-speed Borg-Warner T-90 manual.
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