'43 Willys Jeep

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
User avatar
1942 Ford GPW 352nd
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 286
Joined: Fri Mar 22, 2019 9:24 am
Location:

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by 1942 Ford GPW 352nd » Fri Oct 04, 2019 4:37 am

Hello EzB,
My 42 GPW has the same as the "damage" shown in your previous photo (bottom left side of the tailgate) and I was wondering as to why this modification was made? Can you or anyone share as to what was the purpose of this "modification" on the bottom left side of the tailgate? If so, it would be greatly appreciated!


User avatar
Ez8
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:01 pm
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Ez8 » Fri Oct 04, 2019 9:50 am

Others should correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is simply corrosion where mud and water gets in between the bracket and the rear panel rather than an intentional modification. Many of the jeeps I looked at when selecting a restoration candidate suffered from this distinct wound which led me to believe this is a design issue.
MB# 215159 D.O.D 2-25-43
Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=209632

User avatar
Micawber
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2019 4:34 am
Location: Norfolk, Great Britain.

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Micawber » Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:38 am

Well, well, well. EzB may I introduce you to my '43 MB here in England...
11 copy.jpg
11 copy.jpg (54.01 KiB) Viewed 4455 times
Nothing too eye catching there apart from the dark OD maybe but wait, take a look at the data plate

10.jpg
10.jpg (38.38 KiB) Viewed 4455 times
DoD 2-15-1944. Ser No 512303 which puts it 144 vehicles later than yours :D
05 copy.jpg
05 copy.jpg (70.8 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
'

This has stayed with the vehicle all these years..
14.jpg
14.jpg (44.89 KiB) Viewed 4443 times
Last edited by Micawber on Mon Oct 07, 2019 10:52 am, edited 2 times in total.
Steve.
Norfolk. UK.

Owned several G503's over the years.
Lost my previous G503 membership due to changes in email, ISP etc etc.

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Joe Gopan » Mon Oct 07, 2019 9:16 am

It's a beauty!!!
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
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

User avatar
Ez8
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:01 pm
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Ez8 » Mon Oct 07, 2019 3:29 pm

Micawber wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2019 8:38 am

Nothing too eye catching there apart from the dark OD maybe but wait, take a look at the data plate
What a small world! Looks great! I think that's the closest stablemate I've seen. I bet they could see each other on the line in Toledo! :lol:

Are those the original hood numbers? Mine were not present on my hood so I'm left to guess at what they might be.
MB# 215159 D.O.D 2-25-43
Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=209632

User avatar
Micawber
G-Sergeant
G-Sergeant
Posts: 48
Joined: Fri Jul 12, 2019 4:34 am
Location: Norfolk, Great Britain.

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Micawber » Mon Oct 07, 2019 3:38 pm

Ez8 wrote:
Mon Oct 07, 2019 3:29 pm

What a small world! Looks great! I think that's the closest stablemate I've seen. I bet they could see each other on the line in Toledo! :lol:

Are those the original hood numbers? Mine were not present on my hood so I'm left to guess at what they might be.
Yep, small world indeed but the vehicle has only been in the UK since 2013, prior to that it spent it's postwar life not that far from where it was sold by the military in 1946 [as per the form in the photo].

The hood numbers [now removed] are a fantasy made up by the guy who bought the Jeep from it's long term original owner ...the last few digits were a tribute to MASH on tv. Apparently the original numbers had faded out over the decades. That's a pro respray from only 2 years ago so I'm a bit reluctant to start rubbing down on the off chance that traces of the original numbers might be lurking. I'm going to replace the banana shaped front bumper with another I have here so will be looking to see if there are any unit numbers on the old one.
Steve.
Norfolk. UK.

Owned several G503's over the years.
Lost my previous G503 membership due to changes in email, ISP etc etc.

User avatar
Ez8
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:01 pm
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Ez8 » Fri Oct 11, 2019 7:34 am

I was able to take some vacation this week and I was able to make some good progress.
After almost 7 years, the body is back on once again!
For the rest of this week I'll be doing some of the little body work that I need to do inside the tub. It's easier to get to now that it's back on the frame as my homemade dolly was a bit rickety.

Down to the short strokes, as they say!

Image
MB# 215159 D.O.D 2-25-43
Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=209632

IvorGPW
G-Command Sergeant Major
G-Command Sergeant Major
Posts: 244
Joined: Tue May 24, 2016 1:56 pm
Location:

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by IvorGPW » Fri Oct 11, 2019 9:53 am

Nice progress! It looks great
Tate Christensen
1944 Ford GPW #234613 USMC Radio jeep
1943 Willys MB #263100
1945 Willys CJ2A #10226
1941 Ford GP #9687
1941 Willys MB #100161

Mark Jesic
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2473
Joined: Sun Jun 12, 2016 4:56 am
Location: Birmingham, England

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Mark Jesic » Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:51 am

Looking good, is that a Willys Mule in the background ?

User avatar
Ez8
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:01 pm
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Ez8 » Fri Oct 11, 2019 1:11 pm

Mark Jesic wrote:
Fri Oct 11, 2019 11:51 am
Looking good, is that a Willys Mule in the background ?
It's a Baifield A5 mule. Some of the best money I've spent since moving out to the middle of nowhere. Even my wife agrees. :D
MB# 215159 D.O.D 2-25-43
Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=209632

User avatar
Ez8
G-Second Lieutenant
G-Second Lieutenant
Posts: 519
Joined: Tue Jul 31, 2012 4:01 pm
Location: Indiana, United States

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Ez8 » Tue Oct 22, 2019 8:21 am

After 8 years of wrenching I finally, last night, drove the MB under its own power around my yard. It was a quick jaunt, but everything performed well after some clutch adjustment and warming up. Next is to get all my insturments and eletrical installed and we should be off and running down the road.

I hereby proclaim:
Image
MB# 215159 D.O.D 2-25-43
Build Thread: viewtopic.php?f=96&t=209632

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by Boyso » Tue Oct 22, 2019 10:41 am

Congrats! Time to buy yourself a nice bottle and celebrate a little :)
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

DWesol
SGT/USMC
SGT/USMC
Posts: 473
Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 8:22 pm
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Re: '43 Willys Jeep

Post by DWesol » Wed Aug 18, 2021 7:20 am

I just read this whole thread. A great story.
Any updates?
1942 GPW 55791 DOD 8-12-42 USA # 20144366 (Original)
1943 Bantam T 3 21392 DOD 6-21-43 USA # 0270225 (Original)
Midwest Military Vehicle Association - www.MMVA.us
MVPA 28115
www.MVPA.org/Oshkosh


Post Reply

Return to “Original Unrestored WWII Jeeps”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 58 guests