rear panel / tailgate

[tommy]

Just how much would the rear panel on my 55 M38A1 look like a tailgate?Unfortunatley I didn't get a good photo of the rear and I don't have it home yet , but I am going back to look at it some more tomorrow. It sure looks like a tailgate that's bolted shut. It even has what looks like a hinge across the bottom.Maybe I'm mistaken , as I have been known to be before, but It looked like a gate to me.Thanks

[wesk]

CJ5's/CJ6's and M170's have tailgates.


CJ5


M170

M38A1's do not have tailgates.


M38A1

Now if a civvy owner wanted a tailgate in his M38A1 it was not uncommon for them to cut the rear panel out and install a CJ5 tailgate.
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Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100

Mjeeps photo album: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules.php?set_albumName=Wes-Knettle&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

[BullRun]

Daryl Bensinger sells a very good ready to install replacement panel that spot welds into place if you want the solid rear panel.

While not original I have seen more than a few M38A1's sporting tailgates that look good and give a little more utility I guess for some owners.

[tommy]

I looked at the jeep again today on my lunch hour . It has a tailgate that was not installed by Bubba. It was done better than I probably could have done.It is bolted shut and there are no chains flapping in the breeze. Since I am not worried about originality I will leave it as is.

[tommy]

I mentioned looking up the last owner who drove the Jeep in another post. He said that he owned the Jeep to use when coon hunting.That's why he installed the tailgate. He remembered buying he used tgate for $2.00.I complimented on the work he did installing it. I'm glad the rear seat didn't get trashed to make room for a dog box.

[Luis]

Hi Fellows!

How about this pic??

[chicklin]

Cool pic on a number of levels. That's a hard-working jeep!
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1953 M38A1 #55997