1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
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- Location: Rochester, Il
1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
long time lurker, first time poster. Finally, I have a legit reason to contribute with my recent acquisition of a 1943 MB.
I got it from my F.I.L. who got it from his uncle Freddie who purchased it from the USG while he was deployed in Japan post WWII as an engineer – and officer. Uncle Freddie brought it back with him when he returned to the mainland US.
On his return Freddie headed off to somewhere on the east coast to work with Sikorsky helicopters until his discharge at which time he returned to the greater Chicagoland area. This jeep was with him as his daily driver the whole time – so the story goes. F.I.L. claims Freddie drove it from the west coast to New York and then back to Chicago and kept in on the road until the “late 70’s or early 80’s”. Since then, it has been parked around from garage to garage to barn from family member to family member; untouched as best as I can tell (other than Uncle Freddies pragmatic and utilitarian upgrades).
I do not know where fiction and facts cross over with this MB though I have seen a picture of Uncle Freddie in uniform, I have the MB (with a title from the state of Illinois) and I have a license plate from 1952 Japan that I found in the MB while cleaning it out.
Right now, I consider this more a revival than restoration and am happy for the opportunity to share the story and vehicle with this group. I have a bunch of questions on this vehicle’s history and am very interested in your thoughts and answering any questions anyone may have.
T.
I got it from my F.I.L. who got it from his uncle Freddie who purchased it from the USG while he was deployed in Japan post WWII as an engineer – and officer. Uncle Freddie brought it back with him when he returned to the mainland US.
On his return Freddie headed off to somewhere on the east coast to work with Sikorsky helicopters until his discharge at which time he returned to the greater Chicagoland area. This jeep was with him as his daily driver the whole time – so the story goes. F.I.L. claims Freddie drove it from the west coast to New York and then back to Chicago and kept in on the road until the “late 70’s or early 80’s”. Since then, it has been parked around from garage to garage to barn from family member to family member; untouched as best as I can tell (other than Uncle Freddies pragmatic and utilitarian upgrades).
I do not know where fiction and facts cross over with this MB though I have seen a picture of Uncle Freddie in uniform, I have the MB (with a title from the state of Illinois) and I have a license plate from 1952 Japan that I found in the MB while cleaning it out.
Right now, I consider this more a revival than restoration and am happy for the opportunity to share the story and vehicle with this group. I have a bunch of questions on this vehicle’s history and am very interested in your thoughts and answering any questions anyone may have.
T.
1946 CJ "uncle mike"; basket case
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
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- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2270
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
- Location: Bellaire, TX
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
That looks like a great acquisition. As a long time lurker you know that asking questions will get you answers. You probably also know that you should take lots of photo's before you do anything else. With the dash data plate matching the frame tag it probably didn't go through a military rebuild and the body and frame are probably a matched pair. The engine serial number and 2 - 11 casting date indicate that the engine was swapped at some point. If you decide to rebuild the engine, or remove the oil pan, I'd love to know the machining date.
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
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- G-Private
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:33 pm
- Location: Rochester, Il
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
I had the oil pan off a few weeks ago but blanked on getting the machine date from underneath. I suspected this wasn't the original motor. I haven't completely figured out how to triangulate the casting dates, serial numbers and date of delivery to validate what is original to the factory but the painted numbering on the block behind the starter seemed odd.
here is what i have gathered so far
frame: 292313
data plate: 292313
DOD: 12/29/43
block stamp reads "-34332"
block casting date: 12-11
block casting number: 636632
block machine date is still TBD
head casting date: 11-13
head casting number: 639660
body stamp: 215975
the stamp on the water pump boss reads "030" with a clock face that seems to show 3:00 or 12:15
I'll drop the pan again here in a few weeks. its missing about 1/2 the bolts and has no gasket - i just have a few more items to get to first.
I like the detective work - let me know if anyone wants to see something specific OR if I should be posting under a different topic.
T.
here is what i have gathered so far
frame: 292313
data plate: 292313
DOD: 12/29/43
block stamp reads "-34332"
block casting date: 12-11
block casting number: 636632
block machine date is still TBD
head casting date: 11-13
head casting number: 639660
body stamp: 215975
the stamp on the water pump boss reads "030" with a clock face that seems to show 3:00 or 12:15
I'll drop the pan again here in a few weeks. its missing about 1/2 the bolts and has no gasket - i just have a few more items to get to first.
I like the detective work - let me know if anyone wants to see something specific OR if I should be posting under a different topic.
T.
1946 CJ "uncle mike"; basket case
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
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- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2270
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
- Location: Bellaire, TX
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
Body is a late ACM type 1 and is in range to be original to the frame. Block casting date is in line with the body date. I’d expect a jeep from this date to have an engine number in the high 342xxx to low 343xxx range. I don’t see any sign of the missing 6th digit. The missing MB and uneven spacing of the stamped engine number leads me to suspect that the engine is not original. Machining date will give us a clue. What serial numbers are on the generator, distributor & regulator?
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
-
- G-Private
- Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:33 pm
- Location: Rochester, Il
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
Thanks for the information. This started eating at me, so I went ahead and dropped the pan this afternoon to get the machining date and other items suggested look at. The posted pic quality is a bit sketchy but I'm confident on all except the 1st character of the generator serial number. It sure seems like a "3" but I haven't verified that a "3" is a valid value in that position. Please let me know if I may be misreading any of these stamped characters.
Here is my updated identification profile:
frame: 292313
data plate: 292313
DOD: 12/29/43
block stamp reads "-34332"
block casting date: 12-11
block casting number: 636632
block machine date: 12/15/43
head casting date: 11-13
head casting number: 639660
body stamp: 215975
generator data plate: GEG 5101D 12X 356482 40
distributor data plate: IGC 4705 12X
voltage regulator data plate: VRY 4203B 9Y008685
thanks
T.
Here is my updated identification profile:
frame: 292313
data plate: 292313
DOD: 12/29/43
block stamp reads "-34332"
block casting date: 12-11
block casting number: 636632
block machine date: 12/15/43
head casting date: 11-13
head casting number: 639660
body stamp: 215975
generator data plate: GEG 5101D 12X 356482 40
distributor data plate: IGC 4705 12X
voltage regulator data plate: VRY 4203B 9Y008685
thanks
T.
1946 CJ "uncle mike"; basket case
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
-
- G-Brigadier General
- Posts: 2270
- Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
- Location: Bellaire, TX
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
I'm not sure which digit is missing from the Engine Serial #, but the beautiful picture of the machining date says that the engine could be original to the jeep. As for the generator serial number a "3" is a valid value in that position. 12X for the Generator & Distributor do indicate that they were manufactured in Dec 1943. This lends credence to the matching engine theory. The 9Y regulator was manufactured in Sep 1944.
As for the numbers painted on the engine block. I suspect that those might be the original bumper markings.
The 193rd Brigade was part of the 97th Division, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/193rd_Inf ... _States%29
The 97th Division was stationed in Japan during 1945 & 1946, https://www.usarj.army.mil/Portals/33/a ... 201806.pdf
Per your original post Uncle Freddie was deployed in Japan post WWII as an engineer – and officer.
You not only have a great original Jeep. It has a great back story
As for the numbers painted on the engine block. I suspect that those might be the original bumper markings.
The 193rd Brigade was part of the 97th Division, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/193rd_Inf ... _States%29
The 97th Division was stationed in Japan during 1945 & 1946, https://www.usarj.army.mil/Portals/33/a ... 201806.pdf
Per your original post Uncle Freddie was deployed in Japan post WWII as an engineer – and officer.
You not only have a great original Jeep. It has a great back story
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB
Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known
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- G-Lieutenant General
- Posts: 5652
- Joined: Thu Dec 03, 2009 5:29 pm
- Location:
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
Hello T,
Welcome to the G, and thanks for posting your great Jeep !!
What an interesting history you have with it !
A Pacific Theater return jeep !
Rare, very rare !
I like the front fender skirts that were added. They look just like how many were done in Europe during the War.
There are a lot of photos with the same type modifications during the war.
I would keep them intact, and leave them on your jeep for your restoration.
Keep us posted, such a great Jeep.
Very nice naming it Uncle Freddie
Best Regards,
Ray
Welcome to the G, and thanks for posting your great Jeep !!
What an interesting history you have with it !
A Pacific Theater return jeep !
Rare, very rare !
I like the front fender skirts that were added. They look just like how many were done in Europe during the War.
There are a lot of photos with the same type modifications during the war.
I would keep them intact, and leave them on your jeep for your restoration.
Keep us posted, such a great Jeep.
Very nice naming it Uncle Freddie
Best Regards,
Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Wed Feb 09, 2022 4:40 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- G-Private
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- Joined: Thu Jan 20, 2022 5:33 pm
- Location: Rochester, Il
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
Thank you very much for helping me work through the history and identity of this machine. I didn't think it would sort out this way and now I'm thinking a bit different. Soaking rusty bolts and star washers to clean up and use later - I spent an hour getting a rusty choke cable to break loose and usable again only because I think maybe the knob is original!
Again, Thanks. I really appreciate the help.
I'll keep with updates and help where I can.
T.
Again, Thanks. I really appreciate the help.
I'll keep with updates and help where I can.
T.
1946 CJ "uncle mike"; basket case
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
1943 MB "uncle freddie"; closer
- Tuareg
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- Joined: Wed Jul 23, 2014 7:28 am
- Location: Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain
Re: 1943 MB: the Uncle Freddie
Fantastic, congratulations.
For me the history behind the car is very important. It will be a pleasure to read about its history.
For me the history behind the car is very important. It will be a pleasure to read about its history.
Willys MB
DOD 27 july 1942
TUB 63439
CHASIS MB161718
Estimated Hood number very high 20214xxx to very low 20215xxx
Probably 1st Armored Division, Operation Torch, still doing research.
Probably Diplomatic number plate by French Government in Morocco. Still doing research. Any information is welcome!
DOD 27 july 1942
TUB 63439
CHASIS MB161718
Estimated Hood number very high 20214xxx to very low 20215xxx
Probably 1st Armored Division, Operation Torch, still doing research.
Probably Diplomatic number plate by French Government in Morocco. Still doing research. Any information is welcome!
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