Also on The CJ3B Page:
The name "Willys" was alive and in production in Colombia at least into 1999. Willco ("Willys Colombia") has been producing several Jeep models under licence, including a CJ-3B-type body on both short and long wheelbases. The new Willco models are used by police forces and others who can afford them, and many older Willys Jeeps are also still in use in Colombia.
The Willco CJ-3B has square headlights, giving it a certain resemblance to the Wrangler YJ (whose headlights are actually rectangular, although they are often referred to as "square").
The Jeep uses a Hercules 4-cylinder engine exported from the U.S. by Tapco International, who also export Chrysler engines and parts to a number of overseas markets.
The long-wheelbase Willco Jeep comes in a hardtop and a stake-bed
version (see side-view
drawings of both versions, 40k GIF). A more radically different model being produced by Willco is a small passenger van, built on the same frame.
Like most other Jeeps built outside North America, the Willco vehicles don't meet U.S. emissions and brake standards, so they cannot be imported as built. It seems to be legal to import them into the U.S. or Canada only as "gliders", that is without brakes or powertrain. A company in Mexico offers to make the Jeep US-legal for US$5100, with a new Ford 1.7L, 88 hp 4-cylinder engine hooked through the original tranny/transfer case, and 4-wheel power (vacuum assist) disc brakes, on top of the reported current purchase price of US$13,000.
Ricardo Suárez writes from Bogotá: "Some people say that there are around 30,000 (pretty exaggerated number, I think) working Willys Jeeps in Colombia, and most of them are located in the coffee-producing area. About 85% of them are good old CJ-3B's, followed by CJ-3A, CJ-5 and CJ-6 models (40K JPEG). The CJ-5 is known as "oreja de perro" ("dog's ear") -- pretty interesting nickname.
"They are basically used as rural taxis and almost every small town has its own annual parade. They transport coffee and bananas and they are always loaded to the top. People call a fully-loaded Willys "yipao" and the term has been also applied as a measurement unit. Don't be surprised if you hear people talking about two "yipaos" of coffee."
These photos, courtesy of Ricardo Suárez and Jaime Gaviria, were taken in the Zona Cafetera, the coffee-growing region. They show more CJ-3B's together in one place than I've ever seen before (even in Ladakh). The Jeeps carry the Willys name on the grille and hood, but "JEEP" on the tailgate. Some also have "4 WHEEL DRIVE" stencilled on the tailgate, as well as under the front fenders which is a nice touch.
The logo painted behind the front fenders, reading "AUTOLUJO S.A., S.ROSA C.", is that of a rural taxi company based in Santa Rosa de Cabal, and the number MLJ-383 is the Jeep's licence number. For a better look at the logo, the "4 WHEEL DRIVE" stencil, and the distinctive front wheel, see the larger version of this photo
(60K JPEG).
Ricardo adds: "You can find a lot of almost-original parts for the CJ-3B
in Colombia. There are places where steel body panels are made. Prices
vary according to the part needed. You can buy the complete body (14
gauge steel) for about US $1,800 or less. Ten months ago, the right
front fender for my '54 was quoted at US $65. It seems that the person that produces the body panels bought machinery from a factory called EBRO in Spain which produced a very similar version to our CJ-3B. I saw one, in pretty bad condition, a couple of months ago in the country side. They don't have the Willys logo -- instead, they have an EBRO logo in the same places."
Thanks to Ricardo Suárez and Jaime Gaviria, and Tapco International, Inc., for providing the photos on this page. Thanks to Frank D. Gough II for additional information. -- Derek Redmond
See more photos of:
Return to Jeeps Around the World on The CJ3B Page.
Elsewhere on the web, see Willys Colombia.
CJ3B Home | Site Map | Updates | Search | Bulletin Board
