You know that we love history around here and when it revolves around something mechanical, it ratchets up the coolness factory but a HUGE amount. Well, this is one of the most mechanically awesome pieces of history that one could buy and it is for sale on eBay right now. What makes this old Willys Jeep so cool? It was Dwight Eisenhower’s personal vacation Jeep as provided to him by the National Trust Of Scotland for his use when he visits Culzean Castle where the national trust had gifted him the top floor in appreciation for this contributions to the success of the Allies in the European theater of WWII. While restored, it is looking exactly as it looked when Eisenhower cruised the grounds of the castle and went into town, hunting, etc. The original seats that he sat in are still present and while there may have been some spruced up paint, the bones are all still there and this IS the Jeep that he actually drove around in. Pretty amazing.
We kind of wonder how Eisenhower thought of the machine. Undoubtedly he received it graciously and as it was intended, which was as a thank you present but deep down do you think he looked at it and thought, “Really? Like I haven’t seen enough of these before?” or do you think operating it reminded him of the war effort, the sacrifice of the many men in the field who went and battled for the cause and never made it home. We’re hoping and virtually certain it was the latter.
Eisenhower visited Culzean castle several times after the war, including one visit when he was the president. There’s no doubt that this Jeep was put to good use while he was there. The seller is looking for $750,000 and we’re hoping that there is someone out there to buy it, if for no other reason than to park it in a museum collection for preservation purposes. There are some vehicles we’d be OK with meeting that fate and this is one of them.
Ike’s estate Jeep on eBay…who’d a thunk it?
Think I’m kidding? Here’s the language from the eBay ad!
IN A PRIVATE COLLECTION FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS AND RESTORED SYMPATHETICLY TO ITS ORIGINAL CONDITION INC ITS LEATHER SEATS PRESENTED TO GENERAL EISENHOWER IN OCT 1946 ALONG WITH AN APPARTMENT IN CULZEAN CASTLE ON THE WEST COAST OF SCOTLAND FOR HIS LIFETIME USE. THIS WAS BY WAY OF THANKS FROM THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND FOR HIS HELP AND SUPPORT DURING WORLD WAR TWO. I HAVE FULL PROVENANCE WITH THIS JEEP BY WAY OF LETTERS FROM THE GENERAL AND HIS AID AND ALSO FROM THE NATIONAL TRUST OF SCOTLAND WHO BOUGHT THE JEEP FOR HIM . I HAVE A FILE FULL OF PAPERWORK AND PHOTOS TO SUBSTANTIATE THESE FACTS.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE PHOTOS AND THE EBAY AD FOR THIS AMAZING PIECE OF HISTORY – EISENHOWER’S PERSONAL VACATION JEEP!
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE EBAY AD FOR EISENHOWER’S PERSONAL VACATION JEEP
This is definitely a wonderful, historical piece…..with that said: over restored comes to mind, but at least they found a good use for the leftover green paint. 🙂