My journey with jeeps started when i was 17, and I purchased a hardcover book of WW2 jeeps. Inside there were a range of black and white photos of various MB and GPW jeeps in all theatres of war. While each photo told a special story, it was the photos of a prototype Airborne jeep that really grabbed me.
Many people will have seen Airborne jeeps, and they are very popular with restorers and Re-enactors alike. However, they are based on late war conversions of either MB or GPW models and feature removable steering wheels and other mods.
The Airborne jeep featured in the book was one specifically developed early in the war for smaller gliders. The UK MOD modified a couple of MBs, shortening the chassis and undertaking major modifications of the tub.
This image gives you some idea of the modifications carried out. The front cross member is inverted, the chassis is modified and shortened, and the radiator has been dropped lower in the chassis.
This image gives you an idea of the changes to the tub, the windscreen, seating and canvas.
Here you can see the major modifications to the engine bay. The battery has been relocated to the firewall, the oil bypass filter is relocated from the block to driver's side of the firewall. The Air Cleaner is located forward, and the radiator is lower in the chassis with a new shroud and pipes.
OK, having seen the photos, and having fallen for the design, where do you find one?? There have been a few articles on the early Airborne jeep prototype. It was understood that only two models were ever made. As with many great ideas, the need for such a significantly modified jeep was sidelined by improved glider designs that could take a full sized jeep.
The prototype survived the war, and would have been sold off as excess to requirement. It was photographed after the war (1948) with civilian tags and registration. Where is it now? no one is sure.
Jump forward some 30 years, and I was able to purchase a sad looking MB project and decided that instead of going down the standard route of restoring a MB, why not build a prototype Airborne jeep.
Sounds easy, but with only a few photographs and no drawings, where do you start? Slowly, is the best guidance I can offer.
After a couple of years work, I had completed the chassis modifications. The rails were shortened, the front cross member flipped over and the many other modifications completed. All the work was decided by looking at a small group of photos and extrapolating the changes and the measurements.
I had the chassis at a point where the body and tub modifications could be commenced. This is where my skills, which had been up to the task with the drive train and chassis work, where not up to the task when it comes to major body surgery.
I was fortunate to be a member of the VMVC and seen the great body work undertaken by Simon Allen building Command Car bodies, Slat Grill and GPW tubs. I spoke to Simon to gauge his interest to build a 'one off' Airborne body. Simon was wrapped, and jumped into the project.
We travelled up to Castlemaine, WW2 body and tub Mecca, and the location of Simon's business. With the help of Simon, John, and Bill, we rolled the chassis into the shed, and set up a Mac Laptop and projector and flashed the image of the Nuttfield Organisation prototype.
With a full sized image on the wall, and the modified chassis to compare to, Simon started the process of establishing a datum line and making measurements of the panels, frame, and other parts so we could make decisions on how the panels were constructed originally. This is where Simon's knowledge comes into its own. While we would all stand around and make a few guesses, Simon is a fully qualified Coachbuilder, who could look at the photos and work out how a 'real' metal man would have attempted the project back in 1943.
Here is one of the first photos after Simon took over the project. The first panels have been folded and are held together with clamps and screws. You can finally start to see the Nutfield Airborne Jeep take shape again, some 68 years after the original prototype was made.
Another Week 1 photo showing the detail of the inner wheel guards. While the standard body and much larger rear wheel wells with tool boxes, the Nuffield Airborne did not have the option of flat fenders. There are some braces across the tub to assist keeping everything square.
The scuttle is significantly different from the original that it needed to be made from scratch. The overall height has been reduced, as well as major modifications to the firewall.
Good view from the rear quarter giving some idea if the differences in this tub to a standard tub. The pintle hook is fully enclosed in the rear panel, and the narrowed tub required external fenders for the rear wheels.
Jumping forward to Week Three, Simon has completed most of the tub, modified the front Fenders, and prepared the scuttle. You can see more of the detail of the rear of the tub and how the smaller tub is shaped.
Here is the dash panel. All the standard gauges are in place, just positioned in a slightly different position in the shorter dash panel. There is no glove box.
Good view of the rear end of the tub and chassis. you can see the shortened chassis and spring packs, the relocated pintle hook and the narrow tub.
Not a lot of original metal is carried over from the donor tub. We have used MB front fenders and Transmission tunnel. The fenders are shorter than the originals.
Here is a great view of the tub inverted. Here you can see the differences in the Hat Channels and firewall.
You can really get an idea of how narrow the rear of the tub is when you look at the front of the tub (normal width) to the rear of the tub. The original designers did not have the luxury of the 'generous' dimensions being carried over to the Airborne version. The specifications for the glider must have been very challenging.
This is where you get to see the real skill Simon brings to the project. All of the complex changes to the original design where considered, what would Nuffield have done? Simon was able to make recommendations based on his experience on other Mil Vehicles, as well as his own research into Brit vehicles and techniques used in the 1940s.
Here is the tub sitting on a few milk crates, lots of detail of the firewall.
About time for the tub to rejoin the chassis. This photo gives you an idea of the modifications to the chassis, the new grill (not with the Ford inspired slots) and the the headlight locations. You should have noticed that only one headlight was fitted to the prototype in 1943 and a Bridge Plate was fitted over the curb side headlight location.
This view gives you some of the details of the engine bay, faithfully reproduced from the original. The new metal is obvious in this view.
Well, I'll hold the update at this point. Simon is currently away in the US at the MVPA Conference, and will be back soon. It is amazing to see what has been achieved. My original goal was adventurous - building a replica of a 'one off' Nuffield Airborne Jeep. Three plus years have passed since I started the original work, and it is just amazing what has been achieved to date.
I'll provide another update in a few weeks, Simon will have finished the tub and it will be time to bring her home and start painting and fitting out the tub. Stand by for the rebirth of the Nuffield Airborne.
.JPG "LTCOL, RA Sigs")
