Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

1952 - 1968, M38A1, M170, questions, discussions, regarding anything related to the M38a1 series.
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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by AFM38A1 » Wed Aug 31, 2022 10:33 pm

What I know about Dutch Jeep history

Circa 1996, I would occasionally get a copy of the UK magazine Land Rover Owner International. About that time, lots of surplus military vehicles, from various nations, were coming in to the market following the end of the "cold war". Yeah, right.....

Anyway, a UK dealer had an ad for many Dutch M38A1s, said to be from "war reserve" stocks.
Photos showed completed vehicles (not kits) stacked atop each other.
I actually called one of the dealers, and got a price somewhere in the £4500 range. I contacted a UK farmer friend who could have put it in a container for me, but for some reason,I didn't go through with it.
I think it had something to do with the hassles of importing a Dutch assembled vehicle...even if it was made in Toledo.

Si, if I saw an ad, no doubt others did too. Perhaps even American military who brought one back.

I might have the old ad around somewhere.
Last edited by AFM38A1 on Thu Sep 01, 2022 11:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.


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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by Klaas » Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:42 am

Most of the Dutch Nekaf jeeps were pensioned off, when they were replaced in Dutch Military service with LandRover Series III Diesels in the '80s.
You could get one from the surplus dealers or even buy direct from the Ministry of Finance who were selling them off in batches. Prices were in the 3000 Dutch Guilders ( about 1400 Euro's) range at that time for a good one.
I sometimes rode as a passenger in them when I did my National Service in 1978-79. At that time the Dutch Army even had a couple of CCKW353's still in service!
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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:13 pm

AFM38A1 wrote:
Wed Aug 31, 2022 10:33 pm
What I know about Dutch Jeep history

Circa 1996, I would occasionally get a copy of the UK magazine Land Rover Owner International. About that time, lots of surplus military vehicles, from various nations, were coming in to the market following the end of the "cold war". Yeah, right.....

Anyway, a UK dealer had an ad for many Dutch M38A1s, said to be from "war reserve" stocks.
Photos showed completed vehicles (not kits) stacked atop each other.
I actually called one of the dealers, and got a price somewhere in the £4500 range. I contacted a UK farmer friend who could have put it in a container for me, but for some reason,I didn't go through with it.
I think it had something to do with the hassles of importing a Dutch assembled vehicle...even if it was made in Toledo.

Si, if I saw an ad, no doubt others did too. Perhaps even American military who brought one back.

I might have the old ad around somewhere.

Hello,

That would be great to see the ad picture !!

Pretty interesting !

These are great jeeps !

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:31 pm

Klaas wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 1:42 am
Most of the Dutch Nekaf jeeps were pensioned off, when they were replaced in Dutch Military service with LandRover Series III Diesels in the '80s.
You could get one from the surplus dealers or even buy direct from the Ministry of Finance who were selling them off in batches. Prices were in the 3000 Dutch Guilders ( about 1400 Euro's) range at that time for a good one.
I sometimes rode as a passenger in them when I did my National Service in 1978-79. At that time the Dutch Army even had a couple of CCKW353's still in service!


Hello Klaas,

Thank you for your
Military Service defending
Europe !!

Did you ever get a picture with the Nekaf when you were in the Military ?

That would have been nice to have been aware of those government auctions when these were sold.

It is great that you rode in these jeeps when you were in the Military 😁 !
Even that the GMCs were still in service.

I saw a few of these jeeps still being used by the Dutch Army, and thought that was pretty cool !!

We had signed up for the French Domaines auction magazine, and saw many beautiful French vehicles listed, and pictured for sale at auction.
Jeeps, GMCs, Dodge WCs, trailers, etc.
They even had color pictures !

My brother actually went to an auction on his vacation to France, but it turned out the particualr auction was a "dealers only " auction .
So he saw a lot of great jeeps and trailers, he couldn't bid on any.
My Father and I were hoping he could have gotten 2 jeeps for us at the time, that we could have later driven around the Alsace battlefields.
At least we made the effort to plan a Jeep adventure in Europe.

Now someday, I will ship a jeep over to make the adventure we planned in the late 1990's -2000's.

We did do a similar adventure with a US Army surplus auction in Germany, where we bought a very nice shape VW transporter van, for $700 with bench seats, tan civilian paint , tagged it with US tags, and insured it with ADAC in Germany.
It was like new 😁😁 !!
What a a great summer adventure, we drove it all over Europe, even to beautiful Prague, and Budapest !!

It was awesome, and we sold it to a German friend who put about 200,000 more kms on it with his business.
He sold it a few years ago , and it is still in use in Germany !!

He called it his Bully.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by Crosswolf » Sat Sep 10, 2022 6:08 am

Everything about the Nekaf M38A1 at www.crosswolf.nl Including free Dutch and US manuals

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by Jon Lewis » Sat Sep 10, 2022 2:40 pm

I saw it posted (very) local to me and resisted the urge to go look. Glad it went to a good home!!
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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by Apolloblackcat » Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:27 am

Hi,
Fantastic looking Jeep which has been saved, most of the questions you asked have been answered, maybe you can find my blog of my NEKAF restoration of some use, in regards to other details you may need.

Restored to current state over 14 years and still have bits to do!!!!!
http://m38a1willysjeeprestoration.blogspot.com/

Any other questions do not hesitate to reach out.

Regards

Nic

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:02 am

Jon Lewis wrote:
Sat Sep 10, 2022 2:40 pm
I saw it posted (very) local to me and resisted the urge to go look. Glad it went to a good home!!
Hello Jon,

It will be a good project !

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Sat Oct 29, 2022 11:05 am

Apolloblackcat wrote:
Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:27 am
Hi,
Fantastic looking Jeep which has been saved, most of the questions you asked have been answered, maybe you can find my blog of my NEKAF restoration of some use, in regards to other details you may need.

Restored to current state over 14 years and still have bits to do!!!!!
http://m38a1willysjeeprestoration.blogspot.com/

Any other questions do not hesitate to reach out.

Regards

Nic

Hello Nic,

What a great link to your jeep project, it looks great !!


This will be a nice project, with a nice European connection and history with it, and it was a surprise to find here in Florida.


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by NEKAF4EVER » Tue Sep 19, 2023 12:51 pm

Hi Ray,

Good news for you!

I just found out that a NEKAF Jeep M38A1 with frame number 2907 was auctioned by the Dutch government many years ago.
Year of manufacture 1960
Military registration number KX-72-90

This must be your Nekaf, because the X behind the frame number is related to the X in its military registration number.
I have seen several more of these non typical frame numbers with X, P or R behind a four digit frame number.
Nekafs used to have registration numbers starting with KX, KP and KR.

According to my database registration number KX-72-90 should be related to a 1960 Nekaf with a frame number in the MD161** series.
Have you already been able to clean the Willys patent tag behind the passenger seat? That tag will show the original frame number.

Best regards,

Harold
Harold B.
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1958 M38A1 (NEKAF)

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by NEKAF4EVER » Wed Sep 20, 2023 10:42 am

Hello Ray,

I just found the hard evidence ! Please enlarge picture below.

Your Nekaf was auctioned on Tuesday 2 June 1981 10:00 a.m. together with another Nekaf as lot #82
It was one out of 229 Nekafs that were auctioned that day.

Best regards,

Harold


Image
Lot 82 chassis no. 2907  1960  KX-72-90  2 June 1981.JPG
Harold B.
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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Fri Sep 22, 2023 5:27 pm

NEKAF4EVER wrote:
Wed Sep 20, 2023 10:42 am
Hello Ray,

I just found the hard evidence ! Please enlarge picture below.

Your Nekaf was auctioned on Tuesday 2 June 1981 10:00 a.m. together with another Nekaf as lot #82
It was one out of 229 Nekafs that were auctioned that day.

Best regards,

Harold


ImageLot 82 chassis no. 2907 1960 KX-72-90 2 June 1981.JPG
Hello Harold,

This is a great discovery !!!
Thanks so much for this information and all the pictures you sent me of the Nekaf Jeeps !!

I will be able tomorrow to get the serial number tag picture sent your way !
Just wasn't able today to get to the jeep, but it should be stripped of paint, and we can get a good number off that wheel well tag.

These are such great jeeps, and to know this was sold from a storage depot just outside of Utrecht, from a sale held in Arnhem, just adds so much to this jeeps history !
It was sold surplus from the Dutch Army in 1981, outstanding detective work Harold !!
KX-72-90 :D

If we can find a picture of this jeep that would be the icing on the cake :D :D :D !


I am looking forward to getting her restored !

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by KiwiMB » Sat Sep 23, 2023 4:31 am

Brilliant work Harold.
Greetings from New Zealand

Ian
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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by 70th Division » Fri Sep 29, 2023 8:19 pm

Hello,

Having been in frequent contact with Harold, he has helped figure out the actual serial number of this Dutch Jeep based on a very hard to read data plate from the passenger's side wheel well.
Resized_20230924_185552.jpeg
Resized_20230924_185230.jpeg
Resized_20230924_185228.jpeg
The serial number is 14705 R.
By studying the images and out lines of what was uncovered, this is theserial number.

This jeep was built in Rotterdam, Holland by Nekaf.

Harold was able to confirm this serial number by deduction of possible numbers, of already known Nekaf jeeps, to confirm this serial number.

Thanks so much to Harold, who in my opinion, is a world class expert on these beautiful, and historic Dutch Military M38-A1 jeeps that served so well in Holland in the Dutch Army, and as an integral part of NATO Forces during the Cold War, and around the world in former Dutch colonies.
These jeeps are still serving today as great jeeps owned by the people who now restore and take good care of them !!
Many Dutch Veterans own these jeeps today, and I am sure they get great enjoyment and satisfaction driving them around beautiful Holland, and on longer trails around Europe !
There are several Nekafs in America too, and I am fortunate to have this one to restore in the future.
It will need some body work, as there is floor rust, and the Dutch had put fiberglass front floor patches in it at one time.
But new floor panels are available here, and will be a simple repair, once I get time to start the project.

I will post all efforts right here as parts get restored.
Hopefully I can locate ubut markings on the bumper or bumperettes, and maybe Harold will be lucky enough to locate a picture of this jeep when it served in Holland in an Infantry Division.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Dutch NEKAF M38A1 Project in USA !

Post by AFM38A1 » Sat Oct 21, 2023 2:34 pm

Over on the M38A1 section of the ewilys.com website, they have posted a link to a Dutch M38A1 currently (19 Oct 2023) for sale on ebay.

It is listed as:
"1960 Kaiser Willys M38A1 1/4 ton Military 4x4"... no mention of its Dutch heritage.

It looks very nice and has lots of photos showing the type's unique features.
The photos might be useful for restoration, so it might be a good idea to copy them before the sale ends.

It is listed with a "Buy it Now" price of $14,000.
It comes with Dutch radio equipment...generator, antenna, etc.

Someone on ewillys.com said Dutch A1s were very rare and they only knew of only a few in the country.
The listing says the vehicle is in Eastern Pennsylvania.
M38A1 MD 82551. Built 3/1955. Purchased in Nov. 2021.
Former owner/restorer of 1977 Jeep CJ-5 Renegade Levis Edition.
All stock w/factory V-8. Used as a daily driver for 7 years.


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