willysmjeeps.com

So here are photos of my 53. My data tag and patent tag doesn't match so I really don't know the exact year. So with that said, does the location of the floor drains and absence of the locking mechanism for the passenger seat make this a 52 or early 53?

The answer to your question is not that simple. Over the last half century a lot of swapping of parts occurs with these old jeeps. Most of the time when a replacement tub is put on a jeep where it came from wasn't questioned and usually the swapper overlooked the patent plate. Thus the simple general rule is the patent plate you find painted over on your tube is usually the original to that tub. However the same folks that overlook the presence of that plate will often only move the dash plate from the original complete jeep to the replacement tub's dash. Voila, here in lies your present issue.

This usually means dating the tub will not normally accurately date your jeep. Your frame is a better source for dating the rest of the jeep. Early vs mid vs late.

To further aggravate this issue your jeep could be original chassis and tub and just the dash plates were lost. Then someone finds a used dash plate and put's it on again overlooking the painted over patent plate on the tub!

I suggest you review some photos in my albums. I am the second album on "Member's Albums" page: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

and especially the album dedicated to Id'g and dating the M38A1: http://www.willysmjeeps.com/v2/modules. ... _album.php

Also I will send you our M38A1 survey form. We hope all members will complete these survey forms and return them to us to help us better ID specific changes and dates.


This leaves you with a tub that could be any serial between Jun 1952 & Oct 1953.


This battery box lid was used thru OCT 53

Thanks Wes,

I knew I seen those photos on here before but couldn't remember where. Send me that form and I'll fill it out the best I can.