Old Jeep in a bone yard

[Mike_B]

I came across an old Jeep this weekend that I can't identify, so I thought I'd ask here.

Unfortunately my phone/camera battery died before I got to the Jeep, so no pictures

1. Recessed headlights that swing up to service the engine
2. Willys stamped on both sides of the hood and lower windshield (forgot to look at the rear).
3. Long brass Data Plate in the middle of the dash...weathered and hard to read, but looked like "JEEP" in large letters in the middle of the plate.
4. Tool Boxes in wheel house.
5. No tail gate with spare mounted on the rear
6. Aluminum hardtop and doors

Forgot to look at the rear axle and rims and can't remember if the windshield was divided or not. I was with a grouip of guys looking at about 250 old trucks that are quietly rusting way, so I couldn't spend all my time looking at one truck...none are for sale and most are VERY complete as this is a private collection, not a junk yard.

[wesk]

Your description pretty much says WWII Willys MB. Had you said it had a wild skinny bar grill it would have been AN MA.




1941 MA with the skinny rods grill.

Here's a few candid shots




Korean War vintage MB Graveyard


Here's one in the desert sand.

[Mike_B]

Thanks for all the pictures Wes!

After asking around I found one of the guys on the field trip did take 3 pictures of the Jeep with me looking at it. 99% sure it's a MB, but it's got CJ Hood and Windshield frame because both are stamped "WILLYS". It also has what looks like a '46 CJ data plate (long and skinny with JEEP in the center of the plate).

It also has the divided fold out windshield, floating rear axle and the gas filler under the seat with the tank hanging down below the tub side.

Mike B

[wesk]

You really should let the pictures speak a thousand words!

CJ's did not have solid tub rear panels.

CJ's did not have a machine gun support plate on the frame crossmember just aft of the front seats.

CJ serial plates were on the firewall not the dash.

So without detailed photos you may be looking at an MB with some CJ parts or a CJ with some MB parts.

Ahh I see you emailed the 3 photos to our Administrative Email Address!

OK I took the liberty of adding your photos to your Mjeeps Member's Photo album after I added some comparison shots. I'll load them below.







I've also added a composite I built for greater clarity in the differences.



So, I am convinced that is an MB tub and grill. The windshield is a CJ2A unit but I cannot see the raised stamped "WILLYS" on the side of the hood. If that "WILLYS" is not there then hood is MB as well. The chassis can only be confirmed by looking for that machine gun support plate.

[Mike_B]

Wes, Thanks for going above and beyond in posting and labeling the pictures, that was a big help!

Was the floating rear axle an MB thing only or did CJ's have them also?

Mike B

[wesk]

Early 2A had them as well.

[4x4M38]

Interesting left hood latch..