I’m confident I could afford a 1970 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda if I had a dollar for every historic automobile that is currently decaying in a barn someplace in the United States. Yes, there are countless elderly people awaiting a second chance at life.
Unfortunately, the majority of them will only ever be used as car components that wind up in junkyards. But others will ultimately be saved, rejuvenated, and put back on the road thanks to owners who haven’t given up entirely on their vintage vehicles. This 1950 Willys CJ-3A is a part of one of those wonderful tales.
In the same family since new, this early predecessor of the Jeep Wrangler enjoyed many years on the road following its purchase in 1949. But like so many old vehicles out there, it was parked when the owner could no longer drive it. It happened in the 1980s, and despite the owner’s plan to put it back on the road, the CJ ended up sitting for almost four decades.
Unfortunately, the barn it was parked in collapsed during a snowstorm in 2018, so the Willys got crushed and spent about five years covered in debris. The original owner has since passed away. His son and grandson, who shared many moments in this open-top proto-SUV, decided to give the Jeep a much-needed new life and gut it out of its wooden grave.
Unsurprisingly, the CJ-3A was discovered to have a significant list of problems, such as a broken windshield, stopped wheels, and numerous rust holes in its floorboards. But it’s simply astonishing that it’s still intact after all these years.
It will undoubtedly require a lot of work to fix it up and get the engine going again, but the oldtimer is the kind that is absolutely worth restoring. especially considering the sentimental value that is attached.
For the time being, the CJ got a much-needed wash, a process that revealed the nice patina hiding under that thick layer of dust. I can’t tell the original color of this Jeep, but I’d keep the brownish, rusty hue while restoring the drivetrain and the interior. It will also make for a nice rat rod if the old powertrain is no longer usable.
If you’re not familiar with vintage Jeeps, the CJ-3A was made by Willys-Overland. The CJ-3A, which was developed from the first Willys MB military jeep, was released in 1949 to replace the CJ-2A. Following the CJ-1 and CJ-2 prototypes, the latter was the first civilian production version of the MB and has been in existence since 1945.
Design-wise, the CJ-3A didn’t really differ much from its predecessor, but it did come with a few significant improvements. The suspension has been strengthened, the rear wheel well is smaller, and the driver’s seat has been shifted backward for more comfort. The 134-cubic-inch (2.2-liter) “Go-Devil” four-cylinder engine used in the Willys MB built for World War II provided the power. With the help of a three-speed Borg-Warner gearbox, the mill delivered 60 horsepower to the wheels.
Production of the CJ-3A came to a halt in 1953 after 131,843 units were built. It was replaced by the CJ-3B, which was constructed under Kaiser ownership and got the improved “Hurricane” four-cylinder engine. But that’s enough history for today.