Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

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70th Division
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Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 27, 2019 10:41 am

Hello,

I want to share this 1953 M-38A1 with the G group.

Let me know what you think.

It is my first M-38A1, and it made sense to purchase since it is still in impeccable original shape :D :D :D
The jeep has the early M-38A1 features, which is nice.

It has been in the elements out west, but not a harsh environment at all,
but this one was so clean, I had to get it.

I posted it to the auction site here on the G for someone to get, but no one did, and I kept thinking about it,
and decided to try and get it, but it was sold/delisted.
I looked at the pictures to admire it it a day later .... and voila, it was back on, so I quickly made a deal and got it :D :D :D
They are great jeeps, and ones like this are already getting harder to find, like WW2 jeeps in original condition.
I plan to do a mechanical restoration, maybe re-stencil the numbers if they are rubbed off, and preserve this beautiful jeep !

Here she is, I will post more pics once it gets shipped here to Fla.
M38-A1 1.jpg
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M38-A1 2.jpg
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M38-A1 5.jpg
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M38-A1 4.jpg
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M38A19.jpg
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Best Regards,

Ray


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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by JMZ421 » Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:11 am

Looks solid. Your A1 has the correct fenders with those seams. They are hard to find. You also have the original patent plate on the wheel wheel as shown on the ebay page. This number should match the serial number on the dash tag. Clean and safeguard every one of those tags as there are way too many vehicles out there with non-original tags. You may be able to recover the original hood numbers with a light sanding. The numbers should start with a 209***** being an early model, pretty sure about that but maybe some will chime in. John

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 27, 2019 11:16 am

Thanks John,

I am excited about it for certain !
The jeep is titled as well, and that is a win right there :D
I will definitely take care of the tags , and I love original data plates !!
The battery cover is the early style as well.
I am amazed that this jeep has made in through time in its original condition , and not rusted out, or
repainted as a hunting buggy, especially since it currently is in one of the most scenic,
rugged, Old West Areas of America !!

I read that the number would be a USA number, with USA on the hood, not "US Army" ?
That would be a nice touch as my WW2 Jeeps are also "USA" numbered :D
I have an M-100 trailer that my father bought some years back, from DRMO here in Florida,
that will be mated up to this beautiful Willys-Overland Jeep !!

Plus spare parts are relatively cheaper, and more plentiful as nos, than MB/GPW parts once were,
but I am sure they have started climbing like everything else .


Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by Frank USMC » Sun Mar 03, 2019 2:54 pm

Maybe you can get Ben Dover to tell you what the holes were in the dash to the side of the grab handle?
years ago, I bought a bracket holder thing that a guy had one like it mounted on the dash of his M38A1, it held a walky talky radio (hope I am calling it by the right name, the one you see in all the old war movies)
The jeep looks very complete, should be a great and fun restoration for you.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET
PS, I saw one of the first ones made, a June 1952 one while on active duty in the Marines in 1982!. It was being used by a SeaBee unit.

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Sun Mar 03, 2019 3:27 pm

Hello Frank,

Thanks, it is a nice looking original jeep, and has survived as a time capsule from 1953.
I would imagine Ben would know exactly what went there, as he is certainly a highly regarded specialist
on all things jeep, and in particular the M38A1 !

That would be great to find out, so I could keep a look out for whatever went there.

It is amazing that you saw an original jeep still serving with the SeaBees in the 1980's !!
They clearly must have taken very good care of a high quality Jeep to make it last that long.

I remember a Navy DRMO guy in the early 1990's telling me that there was at the time, a Bantam jeep that they were still using at a Jacksonville area facility. They used it as a train with some trailers behind it to shuffle parts around the depot from building to building.

I wonder what happened to it, as many bases up there were eliminated in that area in the 1990's.

I am looking forward to getting this M38A1 up and running again, and preserved as an original jeep.
Today I bought some parts for it, and likely will only need a few to make it right again.

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 04, 2019 1:49 am

U.S.A. Registration was changed to U.S.A. around 1956. It left the factory in 2" font. Your instruments all match and are the factory original AC's Those holes to right of intruments appear to be for a Fire Extinguisher. They are not "factory".
Original tires were Goodyear NDCC and the date of manufacture would be on the sidewalls, it would match the Jeep.
Long front bumper and early battery box cover indicate early 1953.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Mon Mar 04, 2019 5:02 am

Hello,

Thanks Ben !!
Much appreciated information on this M38A1.
It is a 1953, with all its data plates.

There appears to be a data plate on the lower driver's side of the engine.
Maybe a rebuild tag .

Looking forward to getting the jeep delivered !


Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Mar 04, 2019 8:56 am

Your Jeep may have had a repaint by its support unit, sometimes theseshops write the USA Number on the back of the data plate assy in order to keep track of the USA No.
Your paint appears to be original ss not many Bell Housing Drain Plug and High Beam decals get replaced during a repaint.

Factory applied O.D. used on M-38A1 was 2430 S.G. O.D.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by Chuck W. » Tue Mar 05, 2019 12:11 pm

Sweet looking A1, don't change a thing! Holes in dash were probably for something like this:
Image

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Tue Mar 05, 2019 4:17 pm

Hello,
Thanks Ben and Chuck !
I appreciate the comments and information on this M38A1 !

Chuck, that pic looks exactly like what was there, I can see an area where a strap was outlined by fading.
The paint looks good, and likely will come back nice with some lube oil, or boiled linseed oil turpentine mixture.
I will research that, but I like the looks of it as it sits.
I will order a top from WeeBee, and some top bows from Ron F.

Just need to get it delivered to Florida now.

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by mdainsd » Tue Mar 05, 2019 6:35 pm

...
52 M38 2X, '52 M37, '44 WC51, '42 WC 56/57, '50 CJ-V35(U), '42 GPW, '44 M3A1 Scout Car, 2010 M-Gator

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by Chuck W. » Tue Mar 05, 2019 7:02 pm

Just need to get it delivered to Florida now.
You need to bring it to the USS Alabama show in Mobile, Alabama in April
http://www.ddmvpa.org/?p=events

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by mdainsd » Wed Mar 06, 2019 6:58 am

I watched this Jeep on eBay for a while. Wanted to pull the trigger, but I just could not justify another Jeep at this time.

Im glad it went to a G member, and what a nice example! The price was right too.
52 M38 2X, '52 M37, '44 WC51, '42 WC 56/57, '50 CJ-V35(U), '42 GPW, '44 M3A1 Scout Car, 2010 M-Gator

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Mar 06, 2019 7:41 am

Hello Chuck,

The USS Alabama would be a great meeting, but I am 450 miles from there here in Fla, and it would be almost a 900 mile trip.
However, if I can get there, it would be a good expedition !

Ray

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Re: Original 1953 M38A-1 So Very Nice !

Post by 70th Division » Wed Mar 06, 2019 8:23 am

Hello Mdainsd,

I looked at it for a while too, and it was gone, but was relisted a day later.
It is such a nice original un-restored, rust free jeep, that I figured it had to be mine :D :D :D
If I ever planned on getting one of this model, this was it.
I have a squadron of jeeps and military vehicles that all need to be restored, but what is one more :D ?


I will put it in my current jeep barn but ....
My main issue is I have to get started on the next jeep barn, before I have completely finished the current one.
I built it to hold 12 jeeps, and it will, but I have a half track in there already, that takes up some of my jeep space.


So I have a busy, busy , busy time set for this year to get construction rolling.
Naturally, I have to build it all my self, as funds are not there at all to hire it done.

But it is so much fun, and gives me a great satisfaction building, and seeing a strong, insulated, all weather, structure built,that will house and protect the vehicles from the elements
that have been assaulting the vehicles since WW2 !!

I am now getting my 42 GPW repaired, and running again, so I will have 1 jeep
ready to go, then back to work, to get the 44 VLTT MB running, then another one , but it is coming together.
Slowly ....

Best Regards,
Ray


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