Don’t Buy an Expensive Atv or Side by Side - Get a Vintage Willys CJ2A!

Why spend $20k on an expensive side by side when you could get something WAY cooler like this for WAY cheaper? You know what choice we made. This is a tour of my 1947 Willys CJ2A that is basically the yard mule here at Rocket Restorations. It is a fun cruiser around the property and does great moving dead cars around. This was a wrecking yard save out of Moses Lake, Washington and slowly went through it and got it running great. Was done on the super cheap. Favorite vehicle I have here at Rocket!

[@ronnieroberts9478]

The old jeeps were way better than any side-by-side

[@rocketresto]

Look way cooler too!

[@AnthonyCorbin-xd7xg]

I have a 1948 cj2a, starts and runs great. Can't beat old school

[@Brimstone667]

i miss my cj2a, had one right after highschool that me an my best friend were rebuildin but when I was out on my first wildland fire he took it sold it an moved to tennesse an never heard from him again

[@richjordan9375]

Neat old Jeep. I have no possible need for one but it would still be cool to have one to drive around.

[@MacsSpecialitiesMotorsports]

Willy is way cooler then a SXS for sure! Sweet Willys!

[@wiggyjones]

My first car was a 1946 Willys CJ2A. It still had the flathead four. Eventually I drove it too fast and threw a rod right through the side of the block. It drove home like that. A local shop teacher had a flattie that was buried in his back yard. He winched it out, power washed it, and threw it in my Willys. Eventually sold it. Wish I hadn't. They're still remarkably cheap, maybe I'll get another someday.

[@retiredafce3373]

Very cool CJ2A!

[@joe3973]

I like your seats good job !

[@mahbriggs]

I have a CJ 3A, and i agree! Just as fun as a side by side!

[@tomford5416]

the most important thing of vehicle maintenance ~ clean the windscreen ~ so when you breakdown in the middle of nowhere you can enjoy the view ( Dan eldon )

[@rocketresto]

Very important.

[@jefflilyea4669]

I had a couple of them A 42 gpw , and a 42 slat grill

[@jefflilyea4669]

I know you know you have a L-134.

[@wiggyjones]

Yes, that's a throttle lock. I could put my 46 in low low, set the throttle, and crawl over everything. I occasionally walked alongside it and just steered it. Great vehicle.

[@bigfoot-id8bv]

Love it, always thought An old vw with no doors or fenders would be good, can’t understand the ridiculous price of side by’s.

[@rocketresto]

It’s insane the prices of those things

[@bensmith4563]

The only thing that a side by side does that an old jeep doesn't is go fast without throwing you out but who really wants to go fast anyway

[@rocketresto]

Seat belts are for the weak

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

​@@rocketresto-- So are wearing rubber gloves and being afraid to get your hands dirty......

[@bobbysnow5478]

Long live flat fenders!

[@kevinbarrett9615]

You guys in the U.S. are so lucky, in Canada these are hard to find. Way cooler than a side by side and no helmets needed !

[@rocketresto]

Super lucky!

[@PAExploration]

They’re awesome, but still too expensive here in PA, especially if they run, have brakes that work, and aren’t rusted to oblivion like every old vehicle here in the northeast.

[@bigwrenchtech]

Jeep Willy's!!! It's like a go-kart for men.

[@WillyK51]

You have no idea how trail capable they are, Buddy had one from the 1950's, A year before drove a more modern 4x4 up a electrcal tower maintenace trail and barely made it. That Willys(stock) Put-Puted up(4 Adults plus gear)whithout ever missing a beat, or sliping.

[@rocketresto]

Pretty much

[@jamesellis5549]

Would rather have a Willys than any atv made,loved those old flat fenders.

[@rocketresto]

Everyday of the week

[@brendangriffin1791]

I have a 47 I did a frame off .I haven't moved it in about 5 years

[@rocketresto]

No frame off on this one, leaving it as is!

[@zone4garlicfarm]

Old Jeeps are cool but they are not allowed on ATV trails.

[@lpmorify]

but what about the new side by side smell? LMAO

[@xmo552]

That's a Mopar household if I ever saw one.

[@rocketresto]

Dang straight it is

[@cliftonlake4156]

Where can I get one from. ? CjL

[@rocketresto]

Lots on Facebook marketplace, keep an eye out!

[@cliftonlake4156]

@@rocketresto Lol.....not down here in Louisiana. Imma have to expand my search area a few States... Tkz Ol Boy.

[@bondvagabond42]

I bought my 47 cj2a for $500 delivered to my door, spent about $100 on valvetrain parts, and new gaskets, so $600 for a jeep, not bad. I spent $300 on a pto setup, cause im gonna use it like a side by side for hauling wood, and a tractor for pulling a brush mower. My 6 acre farm is pretty steep, neighbor almost rolled his little 4x4 john deer tractor, and they are about as stable as you can get in a farm tractor. An old flat fender jeep is rated to do a 45° side slope, i can get a roll bar for like $100. I got a pto winch for $75. So my neighbor payed $10k for his 4x4 jd, im in mine $1000, i dont have a loader, but i have a winch, and im set up for hydraulics, cause it was used to plow snow. I scored a free dozer blade off like a cub or some other tiny tractor. Oh, and unlike the jd, my willys is highway legal! I scored a free yanmar 20hp sailboat motor, im thinking of swapping in. If i do, the refurbed 60hp willys motor will go in my ford model A speedster build, they have 40hp stock, so will be a free 50% hp bump on that. Thats about all the transmission and brakes can handle anyway. You can do all this stuff for super cheap, if you arent in a hurry and keep a lookout for good deals. Niece and nephews want to learn to weld this summer, will show them how patching rust on the body, its almost all flat, which makes it newb fabricator friendly for them.

[@rocketresto]

I love every part of your comment.

[@joesalazar5972]

It's a 4 cylinder that's an original Willy's.

[@Ross046]

I may be White. But I ain't $30,000.00 side by side White.

[@rocketresto]

😆

[@xmo552]

Aaaaaaaah that's hilarious

[@donpennington2080]

They are cool... If ya can fit into one.

[@rocketresto]

I’m 6-5 and don’t have a ton of room but it’s fine.

[@xmo552]

I've seen people notch the wheel well tubs to move the seat back.