The Willys MB was immortalized as one of the heroes of World War II for its ruggedness. According to Jeep, “General George C. Marshall, U.S. Army Chief of Staff during World War II, and later U.S. Secretary of State, described the Jeep Brand 4×4 as ‘America’s greatest contribution to modern warfare.’” But another Jeep—one of which happens to be our Pick of the Day—played an important role after the war. You can find this 1948 Willys-Overland Jeep CJ-2A listed on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Grass Valley, California.
In the postwar years, it became clear to Willys-Overland that millions of American farmers didn’t have a truck or a tractor. Using the wartime MB as a starting point (and after developing the CJ-1 and CJ-2 pre-production models), the company introduced the 1945 CJ-2A to fill that massive void. Also known as the “Universal,” the CJ-2A was marketed as “The All-Around Farm Work-Horse,” capable of working long hours at low speeds without overheating. Kaiser Willys Auto Supply states that Willys-Overland offered a variety of options on the CJ-2A, including front and rear PTOs (power take-offs), snow plow, and mower disc.
Despite its focus on utility, the CJ-2A was still more consumer-friendly than the warrior MB and hence came equipped with “better shock absorbers, springs and more comfortable seats for added comfort, revised transmission and transfer case gear ratios allowing low-speed hauling and highway speeds as high as 60 mph, beefier clutch, better cooling, a tailgate, side-mounted spare tire, larger 7-inch headlights, an external fuel cap, a reinforced frame for greater rigidity, and an automatic windshield wiper on the driver’s side,” according to Jeep.
It’s unclear if this particular 1948 CJ-2A put in long, tough hours on a farm, but we do know it underwent a five-year, nut-and-bolt restoration 123 miles ago. The simple, no-nonsense exterior, which includes Jeep’s iconic seven-slot grille, a pair of flat front fenders, and a doorless and roofless body, is covered in fresh orange paint. The black steel wheels are wrapped in bias-ply tires, which look ready to go churn up some mud. Although the passenger area is devoid of carpet and a radio, it does have a rear bench seat and a surprisingly extensive set of gauges that includes readouts for the amps, oil pressure, and temperature.
There are also helpful diagrams that show the shift pattern for the three-speed manual gearbox and how to engage the transfer case’s low and high gears. Both are connected to a “Go Devil” 134ci inline-four that was rebuilt during the restoration process.
Whether you want to tend to your livestock or see wild animals during leisurely off-road adventures, this 1948 Willys-Overland CJ-2A can help you do it for years to come. Its second life of work or play with you starts once you pay the $20,900 asking price.
Click here to view this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com
