Willys Jeep

At the Imperial War Museum this morning I re-newed my aquaintance with the wonderful Willy's Jeep.
http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/veteran-accounts/9730-me-my-army-album.html#post264722
Pity that a rope barrier stopped me getting into the driver's seat !

Ron

 

Owen -
the Canadians have used Zamboni's for years at every ice rink in the country always with good results and with no hiccups - this year for the new Speedskating Oval in Surrey B.C. - the Vancouver Olympic Comm. were talked into " becoming green" and thus bought into the tale by the great GM makers to buy three of their latest carbon free machines to clear and level the ice -
When they were needed the other day just before one of the contests - all three failed and flooded the damned oval- took hours to clear by a regular Zamboni - needless to say the three GM's are on their way back to DEEtroit

and according to some UK newspapers(sic) - it was all the fault of the lack of snow at the near sea level bottom of Cypress Mountain in the middle of the warmest winter we have had in the past 100 years.....

I understand that the next Olympics will be held at London UK - do trust it will be as warm as we are at this time of the year when they open instead of the usual rain - rail - mail strikes etc
Cheers

 

Great vehicle indeed and I love the idea of Ron tearing up those Egyptian roads just to get cool!!

 

I love the Jeeps, I grew up driving my Dad's CJ2A which was one of the very first Civilian models, it had a PTO and "stream fording" ducting for the air cleaner. Then when I was in junior high school he bought a second one for me to drive to the bus stop and later to just drive. It was a 1956 CJ5 with the little four-banger still. I rebuilt the engine in both of them over the years, one time for each, and they are still running around on Dad's farm in Central Montana.

Anyhow, here are my three favorite links about the wonderful little Jeep, first two are articles, last one is the best. It has history, and other information contained in it as well.


See:

'Faithful as a Dog, Strong as a Mule': The Mighty Jeep » HistoryNet

and:

The Incredible Jeep » HistoryNet

Here is my favorite of all concerning the Jeep:

History of the Jeep, both the word and the vehicle - How it got it's Jeep Name - Brian's Military Jeeps of WWII -

 

Whilst looking at a recent posting about someone's Grandma who assembled Jeeps in WW2 http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/general/37163-my-nannas-wartime-service.html I was reminded of something that I'd completely forgotten about over the years.

I started my overseas service in April '43 and we landed at Algiers.

After dis-embarking and whilst getting ready to march off away from the dockside I noticed what looked like an assembly factory busy assembling Jeeps that had just been offloaded at the quayside.

Apparently within 5/10 minutes of the Jeep being landed in it's packing case. it was re-assembled, filled with petrol and then driven away to a nearby vehicle park.

Has anybody else heard about this amazing service ?

Ron

 

It was one of the REME's party pieces (and one of the reasons for the popularity of what are coloquially known as 'knock down kits').

Triumph did a similar thing in the 1950s selling knock down TR3As to Belgium. I don't think they were built on the quayside, though

 

If they can build a 10.000 ton Liberty ship in 4 Days then I think they can slap a jeep together in know time flat

 

Technical Manual TM 9-803 Operation & Maintenance MB GPW 14,1 MB PDF

http://jeepdraw.com/images/jeepdraw/ADOBE_ACROBAT_FILES/TM9_803_1944.pdf 10,2 MB PDF


Enjoy!




Jan.

 

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I am in the process of saving for a restoration project that I can handle, not being an expert in it.

For around £4,000 it is possible to buy a complete wartime original Ford or Willeys that needs a complete rebuild, but mainly bolt off and bolt on rather than structural welding etc.

There are many examples in the USA that sell for just a few hundred dollars, but shipping costs to get them over here are very prohibitive so it is a case of finding one over here, parts are not a problem though as there are many suppliers of new panels and parts plus there still seems to be a large amount of NOS parts still around.

I'm really looking forwards to the day I can go out with the cash in my pocket looking for one.

 

You can get the original parts pretty easily. Even though the Willys factory in Toledo OH is long gone they still have a parts shop. Not sure if they ship to the UK or not though, but even so, for most things you might need there are plenty of suppliers over here.

A friend of mine restores wartime jeeps for a living, and he has no problem sourcing parts.

 

I am in the process of saving for a restoration project that I can handle, not being an expert in it.

For around £4,000 it is possible to buy a complete wartime original Ford or Willeys that needs a complete rebuild, but mainly bolt off and bolt on rather than structural welding etc.

There are many examples in the USA that sell for just a few hundred dollars, but shipping costs to get them over here are very prohibitive so it is a case of finding one over here, parts are not a problem though as there are many suppliers of new panels and parts plus there still seems to be a large amount of NOS parts still around.

I'm really looking forwards to the day I can go out with the cash in my pocket looking for one.

Just a word of advice Bradlad, before you part with any money at all, get the Jeep looked at by someone who knows a bit about them, I in my time have seen Jeeps put together that "just need finishing" sound ideal for you, you cant drive it it needs a battery or a carb, but when you eventually move it under its own steam ,its then you find your great combat rims are all buckled. Under scrutiny they are a pile of near useless bits, that have been abandoned as fit for use in a proper restoration ie --severally cracked blocks ,bored to the maximum, cranks ground to minimum ,gearboxes full of very rusty badly pitted gears, , the list goes on, original Jeep parts in first rate usable condition, are now very valuable, and jeeps commanding the price they do, makies it viable to put together in any way possible something resembling a jeep and sell it, and people do.
There are many decent honest Jeep suppliers out there, honest people who will look after you in your restoration project with help and advice, go and talk to one, see what they recommend, but please watch out.
Finally , please don't be put off in your goal of owning a Jeep, your plan is quite viable, but get it wrong to start with and it will defeat you.

 

Hi Lofty, thanks for the info.

I am very lucky in the fact I have a neighbour/ friend who restores WW2 vehicles and who owns a jeep ( amongst other vehicles ) and is very clued up on them so I have instant access to knowledge and experience, which I have no doubt I shall be frequently using.. lol.

I have a reasonable level of mechanical knowledge, however I usually restore japanese motorcycles, so 4 wheels and something as old as a Jeep is a bit of a step up for me.

 

Gents, I bought my Jeep about 5-6 years ago.

The idea of owning one was sold on the following logic.
1. Buy a Jeep and get a loan from the bank - fixed rate and very low interest at present say for 5 years.
2. Watch values grow - about 10% a year since I bought mine.
3. In 5 years time your Jeep will be approax 50% more valuable than the loaned amount.
4. If you are minded, sell the Jeep, pay off the loan. As long as you keep it in reasonable condition:-

a. The cost of ownership is the interest paid less the increase in value. Look at it as 'renting' the vehicle.
b. Running costs - Tax £0, Insurance with £XXMillions public liability £120. Only down side is fuel £17-£20mpg
c. Weighed up against the years of complete and utter pleasure of owning, touching and driving a genuine piece of WWII history and the most influential vehicle of C20th - PRICELESS

Needless to say I never made it past 3.
Indeed, after 5 years I have at least doubled the value - thank you ebay!!

Go on, you know you want one.

Visit G503.com Message Forums • Index page

You'll find all of the advice and guidance that you'll need. Believe me, I hardly knew what a spark plug was 5 years ago!!! (My wife might think I still don't, the amount of time I spend at that forum and greasing Rosie's nipples!)

 

good day kieron hill.sm,03 feb 2009 10:59pm.re:willys jeep.i have read this old post with interest.and note everybody loves a jeep.so i thought i would let you know.back in the 50s in n.z.you could go on the car lot of war surpluss and buy a geep .they let you pick the one you wanted for fifty pounds,drive away or tow away,you would think that would be like wining the lotto today.all the best for xmas and the new year to you and your family.regards bernard85 :m8: :group2:

 

Parts List:


https://archive.org/stream/SnlG-503StandardNomenclatureListWillysMbFordGpw/MbGpw-Parts#page/n0/mode/1up

 

Adam

Thanks for bumping this old post.

I scrolled back a few postings and found one from dear Bernard85

I then simply had to find my posting http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/59093-forum-roll-of-honour/ to prove to myself thast he was truly no longer with us

Good luck Bernard, wherever you are !

Ron

 

Apparently over 400000 jeeps were manufactured during the war to military contracts.

Knew a young man,at least he was young man 60 years ago....Jack lost a leg at Anzio when he stepped on a mine....told me he received first aid and was taken to casualty held securely on the bonnet of a jeep.