1946 Willys Jeep

1946 Willys Jeep CJ2A — Restored Body & Paint, Go-Devil Four-Cylinder, Dana 18 Transfer Case Why This Car Is Special The 1946 Willys CJ2A represents the very beginning of the civilian Jeep as we know it. When World War II ended, Willys-Overland had a problem: a factory tooled up to build military vehicles and no war left to fight. Their solution was to take the proven MB military Jeep, make it more practical for farm and civilian use, and sell it directly to the American public. The result was the CJ2A, introduced in 1945 and built through 1949. Over 214,000 units were produced during that run, making it the foundation of an entire industry segment that still exists today. The CJ2A was different from its military predecessor in several meaningful ways. It got an external fuel cap on the driver's side, a tailgate, a side-mounted spare tire, a larger 7-inch headlight, and a repositioned fuel tank. Willys also added a power take-off port so farmers could run equipment directly off the engine — a feature that made the CJ2A genuinely useful as a farm tool, not just a surplus novelty. The civilian market responded. These vehicles pulled plows, hauled lumber, fought fires, and ran fence lines across rural America for decades. This particular 1946 Willys CJ2A has been treated to a restored body and paint and presents well from every angle, including underneath. It carries the original data plate, which confirms model and build information and adds a layer of documentation that is increasingly hard to find on vehicles of this age. The Go-Devil inline-four is running, the drivetrain is intact and correct, and the undercarriage photos tell a story of a Jeep that has been gone through rather than simply cleaned up for sale. If you are looking for a first-year civilian Jeep that is complete, correct, and ready to enjoy rather than a project that requires months of sorting, this 1946 Willys CJ2A deserves a serious look. Features List - Go-Devil 134ci Inline-4 engine - 3-Speed manual transmission with Dana 18 transfer case - Selectable 4-wheel drive - Manual locking front hubs - Leaf spring suspension front and rear - Drum brakes all four corners - NDT tractor-style tires on yellow steel wheels - Fold-down windshield with canvas soft top and bows - Front bucket seats and rear bench seat - 5-gauge instrument cluster including speedometer, fuel, oil pressure, temperature, and ammeter - Driver-side mirror - Spare tire mounted rear - Military jerry can included - Trailer hitch equipped - Restored body and paint in green - Black vinyl interior - Original data plate present - Clean undercarriage Mechanical The Go-Devil engine is the heart of the CJ2A story. Willys developed this 134 cubic inch inline four-cylinder during the war years, and it proved durable enough that the basic architecture remained in production through 1971 in various Jeep models. It produces modest output by modern standards — rated at 60 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque from the factory — but its strength is low-end pulling power and mechanical simplicity. There is very little on this engine that cannot be understood and serviced with basic tools. Parts remain available, rebuilds are straightforward, and the engine is known to run reliably for high mileage when properly maintained. Behind the Go-Devil sits a 3-speed manual transmission feeding into the Dana 18 transfer case. The Dana 18 was a workhorse unit used across Willys Jeeps and later in early Jeep CJ models through 1971. It provides a two-speed range — high and low — along with the ability to engage the front axle for four-wheel drive. The original data plate mounted to the cowl spells out the gear speed limits in detail, which is a nice touch of period documentation. Manual locking front hubs are fitted, which allows the front axle to be disconnected when four-wheel drive is not needed, reducing drivetrain wear on-road. The undercarriage photographs show a clean, well-presented chassis. The frame, axles