One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

If you have an unrestored WWII jeep, we would like to see pictures, and hear your comments. NO EBAY or COMMERCIAL SALES.
Hitechhunter
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One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by Hitechhunter » Thu Sep 10, 2020 1:39 pm

This is a very rare WWII Jeep, one of 1588. Built May 1945 at the Ford plant in Richmond, CA. It was crated up and never issued.

My gal's grandpa used his position with the volunteer fire department to purchase it NEW-IN-THE-CRATE in Benicia, CA on June 24, 1946.

Grandma explained to me how he had to unbox it and put the tires on so he could drive it home. He kept it well maintained and always garaged. It still has the original issue tool kit in burlap sack, canvas top, rifle scabbard, black out lights, pintle hitch, 6 volt system, etc.

We bought it off grandma before she passed. We'll pull the tow bar off, buff out the paint (removing some of gramps rattle-can touch up), remove the silver bumper paint, install original style tires, etc. and take it for Jeep rides.


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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by Hitechhunter » Thu Sep 10, 2020 9:19 pm

We have the original canvas in good shape, rifle scabbard, tool kit, manual, etc. (attempting to post pics)
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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by conrod6 » Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:22 pm

Can you put some photos on here ?

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by parker007 » Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:58 pm

is there pictures of uncrating jeep?

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by YLG80 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 2:21 am

This was likely a 1946 sales like that one, also boxed with tools & equipment new :wink: .
Jeep_Sale-1946.jpg
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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by Hitechhunter » Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:00 am

parker007 wrote:
Thu Sep 10, 2020 10:58 pm
is there pictures of uncrating jeep?
Unfortunately, no. Grandma described it to me before she passed.

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by conrod6 » Fri Sep 11, 2020 9:34 pm

What a beauty ! Apart from the wheels and a few other added items it is just as your Grandfather purchased it. I notice original Ford top bow amongst the loose items. The bumperettes are fitted upside down - a common thing.
Wonderful - you will have quite a few envious on here - and requests for photos of this and that will pile up.

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by Jpjedi » Fri Sep 11, 2020 11:04 pm

My GPW is from 5-15-45 built in Dallas with nr 268872, matching. Is yours 266628? (Not sure with the 2nd and 3rd ‘6’.)

Interesting to see yours has vacuum wipers while mine has original manual tandem wipers. (Vacuum hole for the hose is factory plugged).

Nice jeep anyways!

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by BERLIN RED » Sat Sep 12, 2020 3:36 am

I agree. Preserve it. What a time capsule! Please post more pics!

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by Mark Jesic » Sat Sep 12, 2020 3:59 am

A great purchase, it looks like you wont have much work to do on it either. :D

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by nick peters » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:54 am

Mate
What makes you believe your jeep was produced at the Richmond plant?
regards Nick

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by dpcd67 » Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:22 am

Very nice jeep.
However, I have never seen a documented case of a crated jeep in the US; never. But I do get guys telling me that their Uncle's cousin's brother in law bought one, for $50, or was going to buy one but they had to buy 5 of them, etc; all bogus stories fueled by ads in Life Magazine in the 50s and 60s. Those were really ads for getting on the Property Disposal sales list.
Not doubting your Grandmother, but I would like to see a picture. You would think with all the stories, there would be one picture out there. (There aren't any)
All crated jeeps were sent overseas. I, and many others, are still waiting to be proven wrong.
I do know where you can get a hundred crated jeeps, new in the crates; at the bottom of the North Atlantic, sunk by U boats.
U. S. Army 28 years.
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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by YLG80 » Sun Sep 13, 2020 10:50 pm

dpcd67 wrote:
Sun Sep 13, 2020 7:22 am

However, I have never seen a documented case of a crated jeep in the US; never.
./..
All crated jeeps were sent overseas.
Do you believe that the “boxed jeep” shown in the document here above is not a “crated jeep”?
What’s the difference between crated and boxed?
Yves.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
serial 164794

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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by 17thAirborne » Mon Sep 14, 2020 5:33 am

In the sales sheet above, look under the column for type of pkg. (packaging). It states CRT or "crate". The evidence shows they Army did sell Jeeps in a crate.

As for the evidence doubted above:

Why would anyone think a grandma would run and get her camera to take a picture of the "uncrating" in 1946. Mindset was probably, "Great paw paw, we have us a jeep for the farm and some fire wood for the winter." You have to think of the historical post-WWII context and what was important to the average Joe in 1946. No one was "restoring" WWII vehicles. Think of all the bombers and fighters in the NV desert that were sold for SCRAP metal. No one cared about anything other than utility and cash. People bought a B17 just to drain the gas from the tanks and sell the metal.

So yes, the evidence points to the fact that there were crated jeeps for sale after the war.
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Re: One of 1588 crated Jeeps sold new

Post by YLG80 » Mon Sep 14, 2020 6:16 am

I have really no doubt that some crated jeep remained in the USA at the end of the war.
You cannot stop a delivery flow involving different companies and the army in a simple click.
There were people crating jeeps in the Willys plant and in the Columbus ,Ohio ASF depot and perhaps elsewhere.
You don't stop them working in one day, and for sure there was Work In Progress (WIP) all along the logistic chain up to the packaging/shipping inventory ready to be shipped overseas.
Also, hundredths of jeeps returned to the USA...likely in crates never opened at the destination location.
Ford GPW 1943 - Louisville - DoD 12-7-43
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