How eBay Motors Helped Build a Brand-New World War II Jeep

When automotive journalist and former engineer David Tracy set out to build a brand-new World War II Jeep from scratch — and then drive it 900 miles to the Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah — even he admitted the idea sounded a bit ridiculous.

Rather than restoring an existing vehicle, Tracy aimed to assemble one from the ground up using parts sourced through eBay Motors. The project called for hundreds of individual components to come together in just a matter of months, transforming an empty frame into a brand-new World War II Jeep.

As the project got underway, boxes began arriving almost daily. A reproduction body and frame from the Philippines; a newly cast Go-Devil engine built in France; axles from Washington state; suspension components from Georgia; as well as steering parts, electrical systems, hardware, bearings, and countless other hard-to-find pieces from sellers across the United States and around the world. He described it as “Christmas every day.”

The project dates back to a conversation between Tracy and the eBay Motors team at a Formula One event in Las Vegas. Tracy mentioned that he had discovered customers could buy a World War II Jeep body on eBay, and said that someone could probably build an entire WWII Jeep using parts from the platform – joking, of course. A few months following the event, Tracy and eBay Motors launched a formal partnership to see if they could make the engineer’s dream come true. 

Building Piece by Piece

Building any vehicle from scratch is a challenge, but the World War II Jeep model brought an extra level of difficulty. Originally developed for the U.S. military during World War II, the Willys MB became the foundation for the modern Jeep and helped define modern four-wheel drive. More than 80 years later, recreating one required identifying, sourcing, and assembling more than 1,000 individual components — many of which had never been installed together on a brand-new vehicle. 

As Tracy wrote, “Rebuilding an existing 1940s WWII Jeep that needs bodywork or engine work or drivetrain work — or all of the above — is extremely challenging, but in those cases, one at least has something to go off of.”

Supporting the People Behind the Parts

Along the way, the project also became a firsthand look at the network of small businesses, restoration shops, manufacturers, and independent sellers that keep historic vehicles on the road. Tracy traveled thousands of miles to meet longtime eBay sellers and pick up rare drivetrain components. 

He visited Ron Fitzpatrick Jeep Parts in Oregon, one of the best-known names in the World War II Jeep community, and an eBay seller, where shelves lined with hard-to-find components illustrated the depth and specialization of the second-hand market. Later, he traveled to Specialty Jeeps, a longtime eBay seller and family-owned restoration shop in Ohio. There, he saw firsthand how skilled craftspeople restore rare vehicles, reproducing obsolete parts and preserving decades of automotive knowledge.

“That warehouse was Disneyland to me — filled with beautiful Jeeps and amazing mechanical components that one rarely sees in this kind of volume all in one place.”

Today, eBay Motors connects millions of buyers with one of the world's largest selections of automotive parts and accessories. For small businesses, eBay provides an opportunity to reach customers far beyond their hometowns with confidence and trust in the parts. That trust is reinforced through our marketplace policies, seller requirements for high-risk automotive categories, and ongoing efforts to detect and remove prohibited or counterfeit listings. Independent sellers who have spent years preserving rare inventory can connect with the enthusiasts searching for exactly the right part. In this case, a restoration shop in Ohio connected with a collector in California, and a specialty manufacturer in France helped power a project taking shape in an American driveway. 

That access helps support entrepreneurship, strengthens small businesses, and gives consumers more choice when it comes to repairing and maintaining their vehicles. It's also why protecting online marketplaces matters. Organizations such as the CAR Coalition, of which eBay is a member, work to preserve consumer choice and ensure drivers continue to have access to quality replacement parts. Whether someone is restoring a World War II Jeep or just replacing a suspension component on the family vehicle, access to parts helps keep more vehicles on the road. 

The 900-Mile Journey

Over time, what had started as an empty frame surrounded by boxes had become a bright red World War II Jeep. The work, however, wasn't over. After months of late nights, road trips, hundreds of deliveries, and more than a few setbacks, the project reached its defining moment. The Jeep embarked on its first true journey — a 900-mile, 10-hour drive from Southern California to Moab, Utah. 

“I cracked my knuckles, kissed my wife and baby goodbye, and prepared for a wild, wrenching-filled road trip.”

In April, the Jeep completed the trip without any major mechanical issues. Remarkably, it was the vehicle's first drive of more than a mile since being completed.

“The engine, drivetrain, suspension, brakes, steering, and exhaust — it’s not just that they were working — they were humming,” Tracy wrote. “The Jeep’s steering was nice and tight, my tape-measure alignment job meant the Jeep was tracking straight as an arrow, the brakes were working fine, and the whole drivetrain was operating perfectly.”

For Tracy, the drive marked the successful conclusion of one of the most ambitious projects of his career. For eBay, it became a powerful demonstration of what is possible when people have access to the parts, expertise, and businesses that make restoration possible. Every reused, rebuilt, and hard-to-find component represents the power of a circular economy — one that supports small businesses, reduces waste, and gives historic vehicles a new life.