Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
TwoCar
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Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:27 am

Hello.
I want to share a fun experience that I recently had while picking through a scrap yard. First, I’d like to say that I enjoy walking through scrap yards, junk yards, personal hoards that have been accumulating for years and years because just as this story shows, you just never know what you’ll find…especially under a pile of tires.

Last month, I responded to an ad that a gentleman was selling off this collection of old cars, construction equipment and scrap metal. He was 3 hours away, so after talking with him, I made an appointment for the following day. Once I arrived, I met Carl and we talked about how he accumulated everything and how long he has been doing it. Carl owned and operated a construction and excavation business and also bought items at flea markets and auctions. This 5 acre lot was full. We spent hours walking around, listening to his stories about each piece, asking questions and then we arrived at the pile of tires probably measuring 30 feet by 30 feet and 8 feet high.
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Carl told me that there was a WWII jeep buried under it. I laughed and said, “really?”. He responded that 20 plus years ago he parked it there and then the small tire pile that started next to it continued to grow and grow to what it was today. I asked Carl if I could dig through the pile and he agreed…as long as I didn’t make a mess. I climbed on top the pile and started pulling Firestones, Goodyears, Coopers, and Michelins, but couldn’t see anything. Carl thought that maybe it was more to the right and so I would dig there and then he thought that maybe he sold it years ago, but then I saw a hint of green. I pulled away a couple more tires and saw a steering wheel.
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Mind you it’s early March in upstate New York, so Old Man Winter isn’t your friend. It’s cold and then starts to snow, but that doesn’t stop me. Now I have the hood uncovered and can see the front bumper. I see a frame tag and then feel for the glove box…found it and it fell into my hand! By now it’s starting to get dark, but I continued to remove tires. It’s finally too dark and cold to continue, but I did find a WWII jeep buried in a pile of tires. I saw a small smile appear on the Carl’s face, followed by, “I told you it was there”. Fast forward a few weeks and I return to Carl’s lot with help to get his WWII jeep out. We were able to remove the rest of the tires, but not only was the tub from the cowl back removed, but it was froze in the ground with no hope of getting it out.
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That means one more trip once the ground thaws out and that trip was yesterday. After working out a price with Carl, it followed me home. The frame tag and glove box data plates match and I believe that it’s the original engine based on the 4-6 casting date for this 4-13-45 Willys MB.
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It appears to have an original bumper and the frame is in good shape. I don't need another project and not sure what I'm going to do with it yet. It’s not the prettiest or most complete or rare by any standards, but it just shows that you never know what you’ll find…especially under a pile of tires.

I hope you enjoyed reading this. Carry on!
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Last edited by TwoCar on Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:45 am, edited 3 times in total.
GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret


TwoCar
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Wed Apr 11, 2018 6:29 am

More pics...
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GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret

sjalbert
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by sjalbert » Wed Apr 11, 2018 7:42 am

All I can say is "wow".
Seth
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Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known

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Chuck Lutz
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by Chuck Lutz » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:03 am

Definitely worth being restored and not parted out! Sure...it needs a LOT, but you've got the data plates, frame tag and an engine that seems to be original to the jeep. That and a frame that isn't made of RUST....so it just needs to find a home with someone who wants a project like this. I'll bet that you will hear from more than a few guys about it....and....since you aren't located in some far-off location the number of jeepers in your area should have one or two interested in it!
Chuck Lutz

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cjv-35
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by cjv-35 » Wed Apr 11, 2018 8:30 am

Looks like the original regulator, generator are present. That's a good start electrical wise. I would bet that if you remove the regulator cover, the inside units will be just like new thanks to the later style rubber gasket as opposed to the cork one. Nice find.

TwoCar
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Wed Apr 11, 2018 9:43 am

I remember standing on the hood, just laughing to myself and saying that I can't believe this is under all these tires. The tires may have helped protect it from some of the elements. As long as I own it, it will NOT be parted out. Definitely an experience of a lifetime.
GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret

Mark Jesic
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by Mark Jesic » Wed Apr 11, 2018 10:29 am

What a cracking find, and a cracking story to go with it. They are "still out there" if we look. Keep us posted. :D

TwoCar
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Wed Apr 11, 2018 11:59 am

HA! Here's an interesting piece of equipment. A roller powered by a willys L134.
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Last edited by TwoCar on Tue Apr 24, 2018 10:24 am, edited 1 time in total.
GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret

Mark Jesic
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by Mark Jesic » Wed Apr 11, 2018 12:50 pm

Its a pity we dont have scrapyards like that over here in England. :(

Beers
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by Beers » Wed Apr 11, 2018 4:36 pm

To quote Seth.. “Wow”

Thanks for sharing the photos, that is a great story and what a way to dig up a barn/tire pile find!
1943 MB 213301 DOD 2-22-43

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JAB
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by JAB » Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:05 am

Outstanding!

I found one once in a junk yard in similar condition about 20 years ago. The guy wanted such a ridiculous amount for it that I wasn’t even tempted to haggle. It was literally across the street from where the former Iola (Wisconsin) show was so I told a lot of people about it in the hopes that somebody would save it but I haven’t checked since.
-Jeff

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TwoCar
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Fri Apr 13, 2018 7:25 am

Hello.

I'm glad that you enjoyed the story! People like Carl and places like his are disappearing. Today is this MB's birthday...kind of fitting. :-)

This is another one of Carl's jeeps that I brought home. It's an MB with an unstamped GPW engine and a GPW radiator in it.
MB1.jpg
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MB3.jpg
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GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret

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macaddict23
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by macaddict23 » Sat Apr 14, 2018 10:25 pm

TwoCar,

I truly enjoyed reading every single word of your post. Thanks for sharing!

Dexter
"Originality . . . It just needs to be what it is."

TwoCar
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by TwoCar » Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:51 pm

You guys are very welcome! I'm glad that you enjoyed reading it. Hopefully, I'll have more experiences like this to share.
GPWs 196622 & 196623
GPs 14351 & 16625
Slat Grill 118247
Convertos 0567349 & 0877894
Daughter - 10/23/2012
Son - 01/02/2018
Wife - Top Secret

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Jon S
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Re: Hasn't Seen Light for 20+ Years

Post by Jon S » Mon Apr 23, 2018 3:29 pm

One of the coolest posts ever!!! Thanks!
Jon S.
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