how to tell a M38A1C

mydadsjeep · Post by **mydadsjeep** » Fri Jun 07, 2019 8:31 pm

I recently posted I had a M38A1.This weekend I took it to a show for the first time and a ex-military guy came up and told me it was a M38a1C. I never heard of that and he pointed out the brackets, the holes under the snorkel port, what looks like a stamped c kinda under the rivets on the id plate, shocks that were different. So he said the C makes this jeep a rare find and worth abit. I DO NOT WANT TO SELL it but want info if he is right or just blowing smoke.. Help please..

Post by **wesk** » Sat Jun 08, 2019 12:24 am

This is where you should post photos of your jeep that show the features this gentleman made you aware of. That would help us properly assess what you have. Or, if you like, you can compare your jeep to my sub-album on the M38A1C to determine what you have.

http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... php&page=1

I would not call the M38A1C rare. It is not as prevalent as the straight M38A1 but I do not call it rare. Rare would be a USMC MRC series M38A1 radio jeep.

Also keep in mind the only production Variants delivered from Willys/Kaiser of the M38A1 were the M170, M38A1CDN3. The M38A1C, M38A1D & USMC MRC series are all field modified variants of factory original M38A1's.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sat Jun 08, 2019 8:05 am

Now, an M38A1D is an entirely different matter!

mydadsjeep · Post by **mydadsjeep** » Sat Jun 08, 2019 7:50 pm

Ok got pictures of the "details" he thought was surely making it a C. But as I get them on here. What is the difference for a radio jeep? I thought it was just a M38A1 with a whip antenna and a radio installed in the back?

mydadsjeep · Post by **mydadsjeep** » Sat Jun 08, 2019 9:16 pm

Ok the plate is stamped M38A1, but the guy states is the C was stamped later on the line as it was picked out to be made into a Cannon jeep. The one picture on the plate you can see it faintly but then other seems like a C is there.
The holes below around the power plug in next to passanger door is for the spare tire on M38A1C

Also the springs have a cowling he said was for shock absorber

You needed the full url and these brackets

for your photos to display in your post.

Post by **wesk** » Sat Jun 08, 2019 10:15 pm

My first question for you is did you take a few moments to review my photo album on the M38A1C. Did you read thru the modification kit instructions? They weren't picked out on the Willys assembly line. The first M38A1C's were chosen from existing Army stocks and modified at an Army vehicle maintenance depot in New York state. Many more were simply kitted up in the field. This will all become very obvious to you if you just review the photo album I linked above. The C stamped after the original M38A1 stamp on your weights plate was put there by the Army not Willys or Kaiser.

Your linked photos above are all evidence your M38A1 is a M38A1C.

This is where you will find the M38A1C plate.

This is page one of the kit instructions found in my M38A1C photo album I linked for you above.

In your side cowl photos you are missing half the required holes for the spare tire mount doublers.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Jun 09, 2019 6:35 am

Congrats!

Brent Mullins in College Station has demilled rifle parts, iirc.