Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
- horrocks
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Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Released from US stocks in France in 1956 and bought by a logging company 'G.Falaize Exploitateur-Forestiere' of Collobrieres in the Var, just west of St.Tropez. In 1970 it was sold to the Calsat family, who run a haulage business in Montpellier. Calsat Pêre maintains an impressive collection of impeccably restored post-war trucks. I bought it from M.Calsat's son last week. I didn't intend to take on another Jeep, but the photographs clearly revealed this as something of an unrestored gem. I'm afaid I was bitten by the old bug again.
The Jeep was used as a workhorse by the company for years, but has spent certainly the last decade or two largely in retirement. It has clearly benefitted from the dry Mediterranean climate, the only rot being in and above the outer sections of the top-hats. It has been stored inside, and maintained in running condition. There is repairable panel damage to both front and rear floors, and the tops of the rear wheel wells have taken a hammering, with some apparent repaired collision damage to the drivers side rear panel and an ensuing spiteful crumple to the wheel well top on that side. The chassis appears to be straight and very sound though. There has been a rather rustic repair to the passenger side panel and the floor where the (missing) radio junction box would have been. There is some welded reinforcement on the outer sides of both front chassis horns. Much to my surprise, both because it is unusual to see in Europe, and because I didn't even notice it until after I had collected the Jeep, the rear panel has been very professionally cut to form a drop tailgate.
Apart from the obvious missing items, the Jeep is in fairly complete and original condition. Both chassis plate and the important glovebox plate have survived, with matching numbers. The head and block appear to be wartime, but I can't yet see a number. The surviving paint colour on the engine seems possibly reminiscent of the crated replacement motors that a number of collectors hold. Headlights and blackout markers are present, with lots of original wiring. It remains 6 volt, and starter and dynamo are original Autolite. It has an interesting French replacement horn, and the regulator has been replaced by a very small (but effective) civilian version. The carb is Solex, and the oil filter WOF. The fuel line has been redirected, with an inline filter. The bulkhead filter is still there though. The air filter, crossover tube and air horn have gone, but three of the four air filter thumbscrews are still there. The panel has all the original gauges in excellent condition, the ignition switch and the light switch. The fuel gauge is not connected, and the temp gauge doesn't appear to work at the moment, although the sensor is in place. All the steering components are there, and the steering wheel is perfect. Passenger and rear seats are extant and sound. The drivers seat is an interestingly adapted passenger seat, which tips sideways to give access to the fuel filler. The fuel tank is NOS Hotchkiss. The Jeep has all five combat rims.
The Jeep starts, runs and stops. The rear main seal needs replacing, as does the clutch thrust bearing. It runs smoothly and very quietly, with no worrying transmission noise apart from a slight whine in second gear and reverse. The lower steering is shot - there is some scuttle-shake, it needs a bell-crank kit and track-rod ends, and it feels a bit 'floppy', so I suspect the shock absorbers need replacing. The drivers side rear wheel runs badly out of true. I have yet to establish whether this is the wheel or something deeper.
Note the oil pressure!
The Jeep was used as a workhorse by the company for years, but has spent certainly the last decade or two largely in retirement. It has clearly benefitted from the dry Mediterranean climate, the only rot being in and above the outer sections of the top-hats. It has been stored inside, and maintained in running condition. There is repairable panel damage to both front and rear floors, and the tops of the rear wheel wells have taken a hammering, with some apparent repaired collision damage to the drivers side rear panel and an ensuing spiteful crumple to the wheel well top on that side. The chassis appears to be straight and very sound though. There has been a rather rustic repair to the passenger side panel and the floor where the (missing) radio junction box would have been. There is some welded reinforcement on the outer sides of both front chassis horns. Much to my surprise, both because it is unusual to see in Europe, and because I didn't even notice it until after I had collected the Jeep, the rear panel has been very professionally cut to form a drop tailgate.
Apart from the obvious missing items, the Jeep is in fairly complete and original condition. Both chassis plate and the important glovebox plate have survived, with matching numbers. The head and block appear to be wartime, but I can't yet see a number. The surviving paint colour on the engine seems possibly reminiscent of the crated replacement motors that a number of collectors hold. Headlights and blackout markers are present, with lots of original wiring. It remains 6 volt, and starter and dynamo are original Autolite. It has an interesting French replacement horn, and the regulator has been replaced by a very small (but effective) civilian version. The carb is Solex, and the oil filter WOF. The fuel line has been redirected, with an inline filter. The bulkhead filter is still there though. The air filter, crossover tube and air horn have gone, but three of the four air filter thumbscrews are still there. The panel has all the original gauges in excellent condition, the ignition switch and the light switch. The fuel gauge is not connected, and the temp gauge doesn't appear to work at the moment, although the sensor is in place. All the steering components are there, and the steering wheel is perfect. Passenger and rear seats are extant and sound. The drivers seat is an interestingly adapted passenger seat, which tips sideways to give access to the fuel filler. The fuel tank is NOS Hotchkiss. The Jeep has all five combat rims.
The Jeep starts, runs and stops. The rear main seal needs replacing, as does the clutch thrust bearing. It runs smoothly and very quietly, with no worrying transmission noise apart from a slight whine in second gear and reverse. The lower steering is shot - there is some scuttle-shake, it needs a bell-crank kit and track-rod ends, and it feels a bit 'floppy', so I suspect the shock absorbers need replacing. The drivers side rear wheel runs badly out of true. I have yet to establish whether this is the wheel or something deeper.
Note the oil pressure!
Last edited by horrocks on Sat Jun 02, 2012 4:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Toby
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
- horrocks
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Firewall padding in place!
Toby
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
- horrocks
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:34 pm
- Location: Ongar, England
- horrocks
- G-Colonel
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- Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:34 pm
- Location: Ongar, England
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- Sergeant Major of the Gee
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Congratulations on a wonderful find! This is a clean looking jeep to be sure. Just one question... The headlight... Is that an amber colored lens? Is that normal? I like how it looks!
Dutch
My New Midlife Crisis
43 Willys MB217048
DoD March 8, 1943
Project Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=202295" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
My New Midlife Crisis
43 Willys MB217048
DoD March 8, 1943
Project Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=202295" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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- G-Master Sergeant
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- Location: France
Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Good find and beautiful jeep !
For the yellow headlights it was normal in France (as far as 1992) all cars have yellow headlights !
jedburgh
For the yellow headlights it was normal in France (as far as 1992) all cars have yellow headlights !
jedburgh
Jeep Willys "MP" 354074 dod: july 24 1944
Jeep Willys 288001 dod : december 9 1943
Bantam trailer sérial body 116858 dod august 44
Jeep Willys 288001 dod : december 9 1943
Bantam trailer sérial body 116858 dod august 44
- spyder
- G-Command Sergeant Major
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
What a nice find with very little to do.
Will it stay off white, or is Olive drab in order?
Will it stay off white, or is Olive drab in order?
- ironage
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
You really must keep it just the way you found it with the olive drab just peeking through, a wonderful find!
- hell-fire
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Excellent Jeep Toby,
For me it makes a pleasant change to see an unrestored Jeep in this part of the "G".
Once again, very nice & best of luck with it.
For me it makes a pleasant change to see an unrestored Jeep in this part of the "G".
Once again, very nice & best of luck with it.
John
Australia
Member VMVC #192
1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
Australia
Member VMVC #192
1942 Willys MB-BRT 135673 D.O.D. 4-16-42 Now 97% finished
- horrocks
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
I am going to get it fully roadworthy, then live with it for a few months whilst I consider options. At the moment I am veering towards taking the tub off to repair the floor and straighten the bent panels, cleaning up the chassis and running gear, and painting all the underside, chassis and running gear in correct olive drab. I would like to retain all the upper/outer surfaces of the body in some variation of the existing off-white. There are plenty of olive drab jeeps about, and it would be nice to retain the memory of the fact that these vehicles generally had a far longer civilian existence than they did military. To that end I am very strongly tempted to retain the anyway almost invisible tailgate - the only possible negative to this seems to be that there is not quite the same taughtness as in my other MB, though perhaps this relates more to the floppy shock absorbers. Perhaps owners of early CJ2s might be able to comment on this?
I have a small problem. Graham (ironage) will be commissioned to do the work on the tub. He has seen the Jeep, and as you can see from his comment above, he doesn't want me to touch it. Strongly. The denting on the floor and wheel wells is worse than the photos really show, and I would like to straighten everything out and get it looking really clean. Graham likes dents, because they tell a story. Perhaps I could invite some votes from G members!
Tentative investigation seems to confirm my suspicion that the original paint on the upper surfaces was roughly removed prior to the Jeep being 'civilianised' in cream. There seems to be cream, a grey primer then bare metal, though areas around obstructions such as the hood catches were ignored. OD under the paint on the underside of the hood though...
I have a small problem. Graham (ironage) will be commissioned to do the work on the tub. He has seen the Jeep, and as you can see from his comment above, he doesn't want me to touch it. Strongly. The denting on the floor and wheel wells is worse than the photos really show, and I would like to straighten everything out and get it looking really clean. Graham likes dents, because they tell a story. Perhaps I could invite some votes from G members!
Tentative investigation seems to confirm my suspicion that the original paint on the upper surfaces was roughly removed prior to the Jeep being 'civilianised' in cream. There seems to be cream, a grey primer then bare metal, though areas around obstructions such as the hood catches were ignored. OD under the paint on the underside of the hood though...
Toby
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
- ironage
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
I'm just trying to keep the value of it down for when you sell it to me!
Repair the rot, but don't replace the dented metal is my vote!
Repair the rot, but don't replace the dented metal is my vote!
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Nice jeep,
Repair the rot, Straighten out the worst of the dents and creases.Preserve the patina.
Repair the rot, Straighten out the worst of the dents and creases.Preserve the patina.
- horrocks
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
The engine bay..
Toby
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
- horrocks
- G-Colonel
- Posts: 1810
- Joined: Fri Aug 31, 2007 12:34 pm
- Location: Ongar, England
Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
Toby
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
Willys MB 3/13/42 127415
Willys MB 1/9/45 404620
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- MechTech
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Re: Willys MB 404620 1-9-45 'Calsat'
What a gem!
I echo the sentiments of ironage and dirtydiesel, preserve as best you can, it has had longer life in civvy street with the last owner than in the military and erasing that history would be a shame.
Still it's yours to do as you desire so enjoy your unique MB.
cheers
Bill.
I echo the sentiments of ironage and dirtydiesel, preserve as best you can, it has had longer life in civvy street with the last owner than in the military and erasing that history would be a shame.
Still it's yours to do as you desire so enjoy your unique MB.
cheers
Bill.
Member of G503 since 1999
GPW-178721 Under restoration.
GPW-178721 Under restoration.
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