Elite Dealer

1955 Jeep Willys

Michigan

$10,995

Vehicle Details

Make

Jeep

Model

Willys

Year

1955

Mileage

200,000 miles

Body Type

Pickup Truck

Drivetrain

4WD

Fuel Type

Gasoline

Engine

Buick V8

Condition

Fair

Description

# 1955 Jeep Willys Pickup – Partially Restored Project

This 1955 Willys pickup represents a promising restoration in progress. The foundation is solid, featuring what appears to be a Buick V8 engine—a desirable upgrade that promises genuine performance. The owner has already invested in quality parts and a complete respray, giving you a significant head start on this classic truck.

Currently the build lacks windshield and seats, but both are available separately. The partial restoration work completed sets this Willys apart as an intelligent project for someone ready to take it across the finish line. With its post-war utility charm and muscular engine swap potential, this pickup offers the authentic character and mechanical advantage serious Willys enthusiasts seek. The bones are here; now it's time to make it yours.

Willys Jeep Buyer's Guide (1941–1971)

Full guide

Robert Halloran

Classic Trucks

1941–1971

~4 min read

Updated Apr 2026

The Willys Jeep is the original — the WWII MB and its civilian CJ descendants that defined what a purpose-built off-road vehicle could be. Military originals are historical artifacts; the CJ-2A through CJ-5 are the working trucks. Either way, you're buying the most proven four-wheel-drive platform ever mass-produced.

This guide covers

✓ 10-point inspection checklist

✓ Common issues & what to avoid

✓ In-person inspection guide

✓ Market pricing by year & condition

✓ 4 FAQs answered

✓ History & fun facts

Read the Full Willys Buyer's Guide

Jeep Willys Market Overview

Based on 11 Jeep Willys listings currently on ClassicCarsArena.com

Listed Now

$24,169

Avg. Asking Price

1944–1976

Year Range

Price Position on Our Site — Below Average

This car: $10,995

Low: $3,300 High: $54,995

Transmission Distribution

Manual 55%

Condition Distribution

Excellent 18%

Good 45%

Fair 9% ◄

Data from ClassicCarsArena.com listings Browse all 11 listings →

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What is this car worth?

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Willys Jeep Buyer's Guide (1941–1971)

I grew up around a CJ-3B on my grandfather's ranch in East Texas. He bought it new in 1955 and used it every day until 1989 when the transfer case finally gave out — at which point he just put it in the barn and said it needed work. I pulled it out after he passed and drove it home with a rebuilt T-90 transmission and a set of new tires. That's the Willys Jeep story: they don't wear out, they just need attention every few decades. Find one without serious rust and you've got a vehicle that will outlast you.

What to Check Before Buying

✓

Tub floor probe — Probe entire floor from below and inside — the single most important inspection point

✓

Wheel arch interiors — Check inside tub wheel arches for packed debris and rust

✓

Firewall lower corners — Inspect where firewall meets floor at both corners

✓

Frame spring perches — Check frame at all four spring attachment points for corrosion

✓

Military data plate (MB/GPW) — Verify data plate is present and legible on military vehicles

✓

4WD engagement — Engage 4WD — listen for transfer case clunks indicating output shaft wear

✓

Driveshaft u-joints — Check all u-joints in front and rear driveshafts for wear

✓

Engine cold start — Start from cold — steady idle and no heavy smoke required

✓

Transmission all gears — Shift through all gears including reverse — grinding indicates worn synchros

✓

Provenance documentation (military) — Request any paperwork supporting military history — verbal stories have no value

Common Issues

Tub floor rust is the defining issue — these vehicles were never weatherproofed and the floors deteriorate from below. Wheel arch rust from packed debris. Frame rust at spring perch attachment points on high-use examples. Dana 18 transfer case output shaft yoke wear. Universal joint wear in front axle shafts. The Go Devil engine is robust but carburetor rebuilds are needed on most unrestored examples. Hurricane engine governor failures on CJ-3B trucks used for power take-off applications. Military Jeep provenance documentation fraud — unverifiable "combat" histories are a common market fiction.

What to Look For

Tub floor — probe the entire floor from below if possible, and from inside at every corner and center section. Wheel arch interiors within tub for packed debris and rust. Firewall lower corners. Frame rails at spring perch attachment points. On military vehicles: verify data plate is present and correct for the vehicle. Engage 4WD and listen for transfer case clunks at front output. Check all u-joints in front and rear driveshafts. Engine cold start — Go Devil and Hurricane should idle steadily with minimal smoke. Verify transmission shifts through all gears including reverse.

Price Guide

CJ-3B driver: $8,000–$15,000; show: $18,000–$28,000. CJ-2A driver: $12,000–$18,000; show: $22,000–$35,000. WWII MB/GPW driver: $15,000–$25,000; military restoration: $28,000–$45,000; documented provenance: $45,000–$70,000+. Early CJ-5 driver: $10,000–$18,000; show: $22,000–$35,000. Tub replacement runs $3,000–$8,000 in reproduction steel — factor into any project with floor rust.

Did You Know?

The Jeep was designed in 49 days in response to a US Army specification — American Bantam submitted the winning design, but Willys won the production contract due to manufacturing capacity. "Jeep" may derive from the military designation GP (General Purpose), though the Eugene the Jeep cartoon character is also cited. The CJ-3B was manufactured in India as the Mahindra CJ340 until 2010 — making it one of the longest-running vehicle designs in history. Willys-Overland filed to trademark the Jeep name in 1950, cementing a generic word as a brand.

Elite Dealer

$10,995

1955 Jeep Willys

Michigan

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