WWII jeeps

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mopardads67

mopardads67

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My pap (HE'S 88 years old) has been wanting to buy a WWII era jeep.He served in the 91st infantray division and fought at what he refers to as Casino, calls me today and tells me that there's an auction going on around the corner from where we live that has a few jeeps.I am asking that anyone on here that knows anything about these jeeps chime in and give me some info please.We don't want to go in blind, if he does decided to buy one.I would like to give you more info on his time served........but he is very reluctant to open up about it and I can understand why.Thank you Mark
 
I know they had 6v electrical systems which used a generator instead of an alternator. They were absolutely bare bones work vehicles. Got to love the gas tank under the drivers seat.

Here's a good resource:

http://www.42fordgpw.com/advice.html

Google WWII Jeeps and you will find a load of info.
 
Thank You, I learn something everyday.I did not know the tank was under the seat. Would you happen to know what these things go for?
 
What kinda info do you want? I used to mess around with military vehicles a bit. I only have one rule. Stay away from the M151 MUTT. They were unstable and resulted in accidents with casualties, so they were removed from service. They were supposedly all cut in half and scrapped. All of them I have ever seen in private ownership were cut and then put back together. You can tell pretty easily. Every now and then you see someone claiming to have an "uncut" one, and I guess it's possible, but I have never seen one, nor know anyone who has. Regardless, even if they are put together good, those would be the only ones I would steer clear of. I like the old flat fender M38s myself. The Dodge M37s are my favorite, though.....but they are not Jeeps.....well I guess you could say they are Jeeps on steroids.
 
o you want stock military or fixed up, I do know that a stock one in good condition commands a hefty price. seen them in excess of 10,000 bucks ouch

moe
 
OK .I wrote that down,but more or less, what kind of price you think we should we be looking at.
 
See if he likes the M37. You can get one pretty reasonably. A little bigger than a Jeep, but it'll haul a lot more and go anywhere. Plus it's a DODGE.
 

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I sold my M37 which was primed and sealed ready to shoot and 100% mechanically complete for 4500 bucks. But that WAS about 10 years ago. You should be able to get a good reliable Jeep or M37 for between 5-7K. I want an M35A2 next......be a long time comin though.
 
A very good site for military vehicles.

http://www.g503.com/

A good site for early civilian jeeps.
look and learn the differences between them.

http://www.thecj2apage.com/

Here is a pic of my civilian 48 cj-2a

1002141n.jpg
 
I like that one , as a matter o fact he was talking the other day about buying a weapons carier.Ok for what I don't know?
 
Don't know much about them. My grandpa is keeping his Willys jeep in the barn. Thought about hitting him up about it but I don't need any more projects right now. Has a lift and I think a Buick V6 in it with headers. Think that was a popular mod to do to them.
 
OCDART,Yes sir I will,and have .many times over.I have read that info before many times over and what a living hell that must have been.But His heart is in buing one of those damned old jeeps and I don't want him to get ripped off.
 
That brings me to question?.......What would I be searching for when I am his age???
 
some jeeps were 6 volt electrical system some were 12 volt, when you get into the M-37's and M-35's they were 12 volt and 24 volt electrical systems. I have one thats 24 volt (canadian ones were)
 
All the M37s were 24 volt. If you see any 12 volters, they've been converted. The Canadian didn't get the 230 flathead though. It got the 251. Some US and Canadian M37s also got the rare optional 4.98 gearsets front and rear. Most of them though (like mine) got the 5.83 gearsets. Yeah. 5.83. Course.....you said he wanted a WWII era vehicle, which the M37 is not. they were made from '51-'68.
 
StrokerScamp said:
All the M37s were 24 volt. If you see any 12 volters, they've been converted. The Canadian didn't get the 230 flathead though. It got the 251. Some US and Canadian M37s also got the rare optional 4.98 gearsets front and rear. Most of them though (like mine) got the 5.83 gearsets. Yeah. 5.83. Course.....you said he wanted a WWII era vehicle, which the M37 is not. they were made from '51-'68.
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plus the canadian ones had steel hardtops, heres the one I have, its a 1952 with 5.83 gears and I believe it to be a 230 flathead but I haven't checked the block for numbers has plow gear and a homemade plow
 

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The easiest way to spot a real military Jeep (MB) from a CJ is the tailgate. CJ's have them, MB's don't.
 
66plyValiant said:
plus the canadian ones had steel hardtops, heres the one I have, its a 1952 with 5.83 gears and I believe it to be a 230 flathead but I haven't checked the block for numbers has plow gear and a homemade plow
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Mine had an original steel hardtop.....it was an original one, but not original to the truck. Had the sliding window and all. I think you're right about that being a Canadian only deal because mine had all kinda insulation in it. It was rotten but it was there. Also.....if the M37 had a heater from the factory, it was gasoline fired. LOL There were add on versions that used hot water.
 
StrokerScamp said:
Mine had an original steel hardtop.....it was an original one, but not original to the truck. Had the sliding window and all. I think you're right about that being a Canadian only deal because mine had all kinda insulation in it. It was rotten but it was there. Also.....if the M37 had a heater from the factory, it was gasoline fired. LOL There were add on versions that used hot water.
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cool I didn't realize about the gas heaters, mine has a water heater in it, but it looks from the era of when the truck was built. cool trucks they are, and really low sped, would knock over a building if you tried I think. I can idle around in 4wd in first and switch to second and still not touch the gas!
 
Where's your heater mounted? If it's inside, it's add on. The original ones were mounted on the driver's side fender. I've never seen a water heater on the fender.....but there's always a first.
 
mopardads67 said:
That brings me to question?.......What would I be searching for when I am his age???
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That's an interesting comment. I had zero interest in Jeeps and my dad, who was also a WWII veteran bought one. I drove it around and thought it was a slow, ill handling POS. Then we drove offroad on his land. It was unstoppable. What do I have? A Jeep for a daily driver.

I was always a large caliber double action revolver guy and had a Glock for an auto. My dad shot expert with a 1911 in the Marine Corps and another member here who is also a vet showed me his 1911. I bought one and now it's my favorite pistol.

Who knows, you may just love that Jeep in time.....

BTW SS, I'd love to get one of those M37's and put an early Hemi in it. I saw one set up like that driving around with the engine covers off and it was really cool. I think it had more of a pointed nose on it though.... Maybe a slightly different model?
 
Thanks guys for all your info.It didn't pan out that well.After picking him up after work today we drove out to take a look.Come to find out, none of them were WWII jeeps and none of them ran and we were told they are pretty much scrap metal.They said we could go look at them if we wanted but my poor old pap had such a hard time climbing into my truck that he did'nt want to do it again,so we left.Thanks again just the same.Mark
 
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