Are there really any bad features on the WW2 jeep? Lets take a look at my MB and find out!
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It has an 'S' clearly displayed on the bonnet. Maybe you should have bought one with an 'M', 'L' or 'XL '.
HaHaHaHaHaHa!! That was good!
Lol
You think the presenter would have since he's just a little O.C.D. regarding the willy's Jeep.
Lol
🤣🤣🤣
Somehow, these ugly tin boxes are the most beautiful cars to me.
I had a Jeep Wrangler TJ for years because it was the closest looking thing to this, without actually having to put up with it's 'character'.
@@simonlloyd7557 The Wrangler and the MB are miles apart. The only similarity is the... round headlights, lol 🤣
Wish I could find a good quality ww2 jeep for cheap
@@stn7172 ...you AND ME BOTH.
The need to operate the dimmer switch is probably why many drivers moved the fire extinguisher to somewhere else, and broke off the straps.
As a former US Army HMMWV driver, I'd field-loss that fire extinguisher every exercise.
Exactly.The location of the fire extinguisher is the flaw! The dimmer switch is located exactly where you'd expect to find it in most cars produced 1930(?) - 1960(ish), and therefore where to put it in a car meant to be used in mass by drivers with minimal training. While the fire extinguisher is easy to reach both from outside and by the driver it does get in the way of handling the dimmer switch. Perhaps it'd been better to have it located in about the same place, but *outside* the vehicle?
I found the dire extinguisher bracket fit well on the wheel well between the drivers seat and the inner body And it sits low enough that your shoulder misses it
We tend to think of the old Willys jeeps along the lines of a regular car or pickup truck. But they’re really more similar to a modern UTV than an automobile. Even of the day.
Yep in fact Mahindra’s UTV, the Roxor is a willys….
@@epicpaper3994 I want one so bad. Can you order one in North America?
@@blakelowrey9620 if I had $15k….. but yes there are dealers scattered around, they usually have one or two in the show room. They are sold as off road UTVs w/o turn signals and such… Indians trying not to piss off Chrysler😁
@@epicpaper3994 Indians not wanting to pay the US fees for making the thing street legal. It would cost a fortune and probably double the price.
@@toomanyhobbies2011 possibly. It’s probably also that they are operating off a grandfathered license from WW2. I assume they mainly want to avoid a legal battle with Chrysler as the domestic version in India has all the equipment to be street legal in the US.🤷🏿♂️
Remember that the Jeep had to survive the American GI. Far harder on equipment then mother nature and combat combines! And the jeep was pretty damn close to soldier proof. and of course if you broke the jeep, there was always another jeep.
squaddie proof, as we call it.
The dimmer isn't much of an issue. In field ops you don't use the lights anyway. For most of the war even in rear areas you used blackout headlight too.
The extinguisher was an afterthought. It wasn’t in the way when it was designed.
Looks like something resolved with field expedient no#2, you know, a stick!
In that case, the dimmer switch position was NEVER an issue. #5 sould be _THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER MOUNT LOCATION._ 😊😊😊 0 seconds ago
Whats a blackout light. That sounds like just spray painting them black. Also anyone got a good story about these jeeps?
@@muddrudder2656 A blackout headlight has a shield that covers about 95% of the surface of the lens. It let's out just enough light to keep yourself on the road as you drive.
For the "small size gripe", I'd also add that its a massive advantage for logistics. The US flat packed jeeps in crates and shipped then everywhere. Smaller size = less shipping capacity taken up = more of what you need where you need ot.
Also driving through jungle terrain you need small and nimble. All the people that think they can offroad today in massive SUV's and get stuck within 2 minutes on a small gulley.
@@MrWolfSnack I agree. I got stuck down a trail with my wife's 4 door Jeep Wrangler and had to make a multi point turn to get back out of there. My wife wanted a 4WD truck which would of been near impossible to get back out given the length of those. Also, when I went down a trail with several other Jeep Wrangler members years ago, I told my wife we were leaving after six Jeeps got stuck in 26 minutes. The group laughed at me, saying getting stuck was the fun part. Not from my military experience. A downed vehicle and soldiers inside is the perfect target for cannon fodder.
@@AstanaxKnight Yeah when they are on a closed course with 100x other people around and a predictable outcome. Try getting stuck on a back pass in a mountain or in the middle of nowhere on the single road for 60 miles in the middle of a cornfield. Maybe it's winter and 10 below, maybe you have no cell phone service, maybe its blistering hot. Maybe you have to walk 15 miles to find the lone house with a cranky old man with a shotgun to attept him to use his 70 years old rotary phone to dial sheriff bob jimbo to get cledus out with his wrecker. I don't consider that "fun" . It costs $300 + for a tow now. $150 alone for a calling charge.
When servicing in the field they were designed to be tipped on their side for speed and ease of access.
Plot twist - this was actually filmed on a typical English Summer day lol
i don't think it's a plot twist, looked like real english weather to me. also if that had been a usa military used jeep the star would have been white with no border, the british military used jeeps had a star like seen in the video.
I once seen a 1942 Jeep at a car show. That thing looked more like a toy by how small it was. The guy displaying it was a WW 2 vet. Told me there was hardly any suspension. You had to hold on for your life wether you were driving or a passenger. Some times your personal gear would bounce out of it while travelling. One uncomfortable ride.
Still had these around in the 80's, and drove them a fair amount. My opinion is that driving this thing around in rain, sleet and snow was absolutely awful. I got soaked and froze driving it at Fort McCoy Wisconsin when it was below 40F.
When I joined my Unit back in 88, we still had 1/4 tons.
Just imagine trying to drive one of these in the middle of one of the coldest winters on record through the thin and windy ice slicked mountain roads of Korea at high speed while trying to deliver important supplies, equipment, intelligence, or running from communist bullets.
Those death carriages?! JK, but the new korean models were notorious for flipping like a top if you breathed at it on an angle wrong because they added a spring shock system. It made them so jumpy that the rollover risk was really high. Add that to the list of Korean winter, bullets, and supply running.
"Let's make it faster and more powerful for hauling heavier loads and towing" "Okay, but only if we make the suspension flip it over without even turning the steering wheel" "Approved!" 😄
My dads old 53 mb was a korean war vet.
@@therealbadbob2201 it must've belonged to a motor pool unit... the front line jeeps got scrapped from use and abuse, and the rear area jeeps driven by desk commanders were all rolled over or crashed beyond repair 🤣👍
I drove old HQ10 18BDE around Vietnam in the monsoons and bright sun, on QL1 and off road, of course she was an M151A1 not the old WWII model I believe mine was a Ford product. Several years ago I even picked up a Jeep Station Wagon to tow behind our RV across the US from North to South and back, sadly my little blue baby had a fractured tow bar mount that I didn't see, she dropped off a mountain in Utah. There were no survivors, or course there were no people in the car at the time. I sure do miss my Jeep but I had insurance and replaced her with a Ford Escape. When I was Stateside in 1972 about mid winter I was assigned to take a trip to Yakama Fire Control Center in Washington State and drive old HQ10 3ACR back to Fort Lewis. It was COLD as hell, of course no heater and the interstate was covered with heavy snow so having brought my mummy bag along, I got old HQ10 up to 55 MPH and pulled the hand throttle out, then stuffed my size 10's inside the bag and zipped her up to just below my shoulders, then drove her on home. She did have a winter cover on her and doors so it wasn't tooo bad. My Lined leather Army Gloves kept my fingers warm on the trip and once I got out of the mountains, it became a bit warmer, well above zero anyhow. You know that damn Captain who ordered me to make the trip never even said an off hand thanks! Ah well, the life of a soldier, it was a thankless job.
i always thought the design was they were essentially disposable...you put your best jeeps out for forward recon, send the busted ones back to be repaired, send the refurbed back out and use the junked jeeps for a bone yard...
If you have difficulty getting in a jeep, have someone stand behind you and let them pop a few rounds out of just about any WWII rifle and you'll find it amazingly easy to get in and get it going! It just takes a bit of motivation is all! Cheers, jc
Being difficult to keep the weather out of a Jeep is concerned, you have to consider the era the vehicle was designed. Vehicles with enclosed passenger accommodations and heaters were just becoming standard on automobiles. Tops and heaters were considered a wild, luxurious, extravagant addition.
I drove a 58 Willy's Cj5 for the 2 years i lived in Juneau, and the additional year I lived in Eagle River, above Anchorage, and it never had a heater...what it did have was a set of Hedman headers under the floor boards , and those kept it plenty warm....👍🇺🇸
yep! It was relatively recent (pre-war) that windshield defrosters were required by law on automobiles...
@@branon6565 yes! My 57 CJ-5 had provisions for a windshield defroster, but I never hooked it up. The little heater would eventually get warm enough depending on how far you go...
Radio and heater optional in many cars until the 50s. Vacuum windshield wipers never work good. Isn't electricity is wonderful.
We did have heaters in our jeeps US Army in 1973 But it seemed the orders were always " remove top" 🪖🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🪖🇺🇸🥺🥺🥺
If the average height was 5’8” then the jeep is scaled correctly.
Exactly, a 6'2 guy would be sitting in the back. Same with tanks. I'm willing to bet that WWII tank crews were selected for smaller size men.
@@emintey for a fact Soviets selected shorter conscripts to be tank crewmen.
if you think tanks were cramped just search for ww2 ball turret gunners. That job had to be done by someone small and a lot more flexible than i'll ever be
I had the same problem with a Bushmaster IMV once. I sat in the forward passenger seat and couldn't pick my right leg up over the transmission tunnel. And that's a MODERN vehicle.
I remember reading part of the reason for that flat-topped design was so they could put two of these in a box by stacking them on top of each other with the wheels removed.
As someone else who is over 6’ tall I have found taking the backrest pad off and making it thinner gave me much more room, just found your videos
I owned an MB Jeep for 35 years. Only weakness is handbrake and 6V starting. If handbrake is setup perfectly its okay, but they go out of line or wear. That's why the very last MB Jeeps had an internal expanding drum rather than an external clamping type. Overall they're tough as nails. Nice restoration! Thanks.
Back in the 1970s I was running a running a building company when my elder brother phoned for a chat, he was also looking for some jeeps for the film The Eagle Has Landed. The neighbour behind my property had one, so I asked him if he wanted to hire it. Long story short brother bought it and I transported it to the film location at Maple Durham, my brothers job was to locate, maintain, drive on set all the vehicles required for the film. Well I ended working there and other locations for 3 months in a blazing hot summer. Maple Durham is on the banks of the Thames and we were set up in a near by field housed in static caravans, with workshop tents, 10 or so jeeps, Bedford trucks one burnt out, a small utility van make?? that was flipped using a timber post cannon and a White half track with a wooden body imitating a machine gun carrier. There were extra bonnets for the jeeps all numbered differently to make out a larger fleet of jeeps, so we would be swopping bonnets like mad for the different shoots. I drove the White and had to wear make up, helmet and scarf, just in case I was seen by camera through the front and side letter box slots. Between shots the armourer and I would get out for fresh air, both wearing brightly coloured shorts and T shirts, the crowds of onlookers fell about laughing. It was hard work but a great experience. An uncle drove Monty around UK in his Humber staff car, he was a small chap so getting into a jeep would have been no trouble.
A great film. Pity about the yellow lines just being visible near the church and Larry Hagman sitting at his desk in front of a 50 states US flag. Just making fun of the bloopers. Seriously, anyone who hasn't seen this film, give it a go.
Great movie. Thanks for the first person trivia about its making. Michael Caine's character, Col. Steiner, has always been a role model for me. Smart, brave, compassionate, but ruthless. A model officer and gentleman. My daughter is a fan of Batman movies where Michael Caine plays Alfred. One day she came to me and said, "Dad, I know just what you are going to look like and be like when you get older, Alfred in the Batman movie". I was very flattered and pleased.
@@terrybaird3122 Michael Caine's was very approachable on location and I had a chat with him about wine, he lived near by and if he had free time between takes he would go home and do some gardening, on one trip he brought back a bottle of wine for us the vehicle crew to enjoy with our evening meal. Next day he grilled the guys on the wine tasting.
@@TheByard That is good to hear. I now like the man even more.
Outstanding Movie and cast. Watched it around Age 12.
The Jeep was made so that when the steering column was pulled out and the wheels removed it could all be neatly packed into a wooden crate for ship transport. Most soldiers weighed less than 140 pounds and were about 5'8" so getting in wasn't too bad. The Jeep replaced horses and motorcycles with side cars. It was used mostly on road or at least a cow path and could pull a small trailer. With the top up and a windshield it certainly beat slogging on foot through the rain and mud. It was safer than the M-151 that replaced it. They were so easily rolled over the Army cut them up into four pieces to prevent them from being sold on the civilian market. If you see an M-151 look to see if it has been welded back together and if offered a ride politely say no (my battalion in Vietnam had 4 guys killed in rollovers in three months) .
The kicker is that by the time the Army had fixed the roll over issues with better suspension and aluminum roll cages, the M-151s had already been cut into pieces and replaced by the time the upgrades got delivered.
I am 70. In my youth those WWII jeeps could be had 'still in the cosmolined up box' kit form for (I think) $300.00 US + shipping from military surplus outfits advertising in the back pages of magazines. I am pretty sure the 30-06 rifles were also available (if you were 18) the same way.
I'm 5'8 145lbs. It's nice to know I'm perfect for these jeeps.
Dimmer switch: Just push down the clutch and slide your foot over to hit the switch. It's weird, but punching the clutch for a second isn't that big a deal.
One more issue in case no one has mentioned it to you is that, after having rebuilt a number of Willies engines I’ve found that because of the Trickle style oil filter, if you go faster than 40-45 mph the # 1 cylinder suffers from oil starvation and you end up with broken piston rings. This Jeep could do 60 going down hill if you were being shot at but only for a very short time before engine damage occurs.
That's my personal third gripe after flooding prone carb and cheesy transmission.
One of the jeeps hired on the Eagles Has Landed had been refitted with a V6 Ford engine fitted, it made a hell of difference and out run the standard ones with ease, OK their engines were a lot older as well.
Anything over 50 was sketchy anyway with the small wheelbase.
When I was in the US military I was responsible for many jeeps. The worst feature of them is that they flip too easily. Combine that with the low profile guarantees serious injuries when they do. I saw numerous flips under all kinds of speed/terrain situations. I think that "minor detail" should have been included in this list.
Thanks for your comment, young soldiers and a mini hot rod is a dangerous mix
The WWII era Jeeps were Ford GP & GPW, Willys MA & MB, and Bantam BRC-40 all of which had body on frame construction and “solid” front and rear axles and weren't inordinately subject to roll-over accidents. During the 60's thru the 80's most of the military Jeeps were Ford M151 which were “unibody” construction with all axles independently suspended and were very susceptible to roll-over accidents which is why they seldom appeared on the military surplus market and also why a civilian counterpart was never sold. You must be referring to the M151.
@@seadog686 Yes, we had 3 old Willys that were actually owned by the Smithsonian which I maintained for parades and movies and such, but the rest were the M151 death traps. Back in the day (pre-internet) I heard that they would cut them in 4 big pieces before selling to the public because they were so dangerous. Of course I can't verify that, but I believed it at the time. As for the 40 and 50's model Willy's, I never let anyone get crazy with them, but I assumed they had the same roll-over characteristics. Thanks for the clarification. For clarity I was in the Old Guard at Ft Myer, VA.
...agreed. A VERY dangerous aspect.
It seems as though a ‘ROPS’ system (Roll Over Protection System) SHOULD have been available as a “fold-down” option IF needed OR wanted..
Excellent restoration. That engine compartment looks factory fresh.
The jeep being small was its secret weapon, it could fit anywhere other vehicles couldn't, it was airlifted, floated, buryed, cabled across rivers, it was light so it could float over soft ground, biggest weakness in my opinion is its speed
@FigI Boi eight guys do it in the middle of a parade in under 4 minutes, obviously that jeep is modified but there is nothing to them, very basic design
As someone who has driven cars built in the early 1960's, I recognise most of these problems. It is amazing how cars have developed in comfort, reliability and endurance.
Just remember what the Allies specifications were when the US began the bidding process. It needed it to fit in small places; gliders and other aircraft, had to be able to survive an airborne drop and a multitude of of other needs. The last 75-ish years and the jeep still retains enough iconic design features to be easily distinguishable from any other vehicle.
You live in such a beautiful place! As someone from Texas, I’ve always wanted to wander around in a place like that without burning to a crisp in our 100 degree weather. Also, Our woods consist of everything with thorns on it lol.
My Dad was in World War 2 . I used to see those Jeeps moving around in Canada from time to time and I asked my Dad why he didn't buy one. He said the ride was so rough he hated it. Years later I drove one and it is a very rough ride
true enough, there is a injury called "Jeep Driver's Seat" associated with that. It consists of forming cysts, sometimes bleeding, down where you sit. Learned of it back in 1984 from an old doctor who was treating me for it, and I developed it in the 1980-82 time frame.
FWIW, the WWII Stars and Stripes cartoonist,Bill Mauldin,was issued a brand new Jeep to get around in. In his autobiography, he mentioned that at 30,000 miles,it was completely worn out when he turned it in. Quite a bit of a difference to modern engineering,but it literally took decades to get that modern reliability. Nice restoration. Anyone willing to stick with a 6 volt ignition system is worth respect and sympathy. Good luck with it.
I've converted two old Jeeps and I can't count how many farm tractors from 6 to 12 :) ... the trick is do NOT touch the starter, it'll run hot as hell on 12 volts, if you let crank ... and 10 to 12 years down the line it will eventually burn out :) Meanwhile you had double RPM starting the whole time .. get it rewound in 6 volts again :)
Mine is 6 volts and don't have any problems.
@Phil M You do have valid points. We simply do not know ,however,just what level of service Bill Mauldin did or did not with his issued Jeep. There is a good chance he just drove it until it gave trouble. His autobiography indicates he was quite aware of regular maintenance for any equipment,from when he was a child. So did he turn it over to a POL point for service ? It simply isn't mentioned. Much of that 30,000 miles was not only off-road,but up and down Italian mountain tracks. Not exactly Roman roads. Modern engine oil is a very different product from the WWII variety. Grease is grease. Other vehicular fluids are considerable improvements, but not as much as engine oil. How much abuse did he give the little thing ? Again,it is just not mentioned.
My Ford 10 needs the 30 weight engine oil changed every 1000 miles. The oil and filtration systems pre war were much less advanced than even the 1950's. On my car, an oil filter was an optional extra. Most ordinary pre war cars would be expected to need and engine overhaul around 20 - 30,000 miles. That Jeep did well to last as long as it did!
@@paulmanson253 Maudlin did have two famous Cartoons with Jeeps in them. The first being the one with the old Cavalry Sergent Putting his .45 to the Hood (Bonnet) of a Jeep with a busted wheel. The other speaks to what War vehicles went through, A couple of GIs are digging through a vehicle "boneyard" and one pipes up "Hey this one was actually destroyed in combat!".
Haven't seen your channel yet so color me impressed that you recreated the hood with the right yellow paint shade of d-day nerve\gas responsive warning paint in your Army roundel star!
Later models had modifications to improve the water performance. They ran a vent line from the differential up into the fender just under the hood in the front and into the fender storage compartment. They were further winterized during the Korean conflict. As for the vehicle not reaching temperatures, I would look at a bd thermostat or housing. Most of the problems were fixed with the M-38. It was slighlly larger, beefier, heavier and had skid plates, with the differential vents mounted in a manner to prevent water incursion.
well bad as they might be my Grandfather loved his ,always got a twinkle in his eye when speaking of it . I guess it beat hell out of walking in the mud and snow carrying a machine gun and gear
We use to fix the dimmer switch problem by running a steel rod with 2 half loop hooks mounted under the dash like the steering column. Then with the rod you would slide it up or down to use the dimmer switch. Then if something happens you could use this removable rod as a billy club for combat lol or we use to remount the fire extinguisher to the outside of the jeep that worked too. Lastly some guys just tossed it or kept it under the seat or in the back of the jeep. Just be creative if you have larger feet. We seen some female drivers who had smaller feet never had this problem since their boots would fit in between.
Interesting video - I really enjoyed it! One thing that rang true are the maintenance requirements of an 80-year old vehicle. Automotive technology has come a long way since the 1970s, and people today are used to nearly maintenance-free cars (expect for the schedule service intervals, which are often 15,000 miles nowadays). When I was a child in the 1960s, my father had to maintain the family car all the time - pretty much every weekend. Oil changes were 5,000 km/3,000 miles, the carburettor needed to be manually adjusted ... and that was just a simple family car (Opel Rekord in Germany, or similar). Given that the Jeep is a military vehicle with additional complexity like the 4-wheel drive, the engineers in the 1940s will have expected a lot of elbow grease to be spend on it.
Good comment thanks
That dimmer switch problem persisted into the modern era! My big feet have a hell of a time finding that dimmer switch between the clutch pedal & the parking brake pedal in my late model CJ! 😆🤣
funny to see the issue of getting in. I have a 1963 Studebaker Avanti, and it's maybe not quite as difficult to climb in and out of, but close. The issue in both cases is that big steering wheel. Back then, when power steering either wasn't available or was at best an option, steering wheels were large to give you more leverage. That meant they were an obstacle getting in and out of the vehicle. I think it's just the price people were willing to pay. Nature of the beast. Remember, this thing is _much_ closer in time to the Model T than to today's cars. We are spoiled by the comfort and convenience of modern vehicles. Back then people simply accepted lower levels of comfort and convenience that we just don't find tolerable today. As for the dimmer switch... I wouldn't blame the Jeep. I don't know about European vehicles, but the dimmer switch in that location, meant to be operated by the left foot, was a universal feature of American automobiles right up through the mid-to-late 1970s, when that switch moved up to a stalk on the steering column. As observed here, not really a problem, until you do something like mount a fire extinguisher on the kick panel so that it's now in the way and you can't squeeze your booted foot through the space that leaves available.
The dimmer switch quickly becomes a problem when a manual transmission is involved! I remember one time coming to a stop sign at the top of a very steep hill in my dad's '64 F100, 3 on the tree, with a heavy load at night. It was in the country, so I had the brights on. Of course, someone else happened to meet me at the stop coming the other way! I didn't have three feet, so I had to dazzle the oncoming driver with the brights...🙄
I bought a 1952 Willys jeep back in the mid 70's. The body and mechanics were is good condition but the gas tank was rusted out, the tires in poor condition, and the motor was frozen up. There were a few odds and ends that needed repair or replacing, but they were simple. We rebuilt the engine, fabricated another gas tank, and replaced the tires. My biggest complaint was the 6 volt system. I ended up putting in a 12 volt generator (used a 50s model chevy generator) and installed a voltage drop so I didn't have to change out everything to 12 volt. Using a 12 volt battery on a 6 volt starter made that thing start up in a heartbeat. I bought it for $450 and sold it 3 yrs. later for $3,500. Now, as I look back, I shouldn't have sold it. But then again, I should not have sold my 66 Mustang (my first car) or my Jeep Scrambler either.
$3500 was big money in the mid- 70s. Not bad-you did well! I bought my 2A in 2018 for $3200. Running and complete with lots of new parts. I do know that you could buy these mostly complete but not running for 500 bucks or a little more, even into the 90s. Bought a 48 Willys truck in 1995 for $ 500 with a 283 swapped in, a snake in the engine, and a mostly empty jar of ' shine behind the seat. I also regret selling that!!!!
The US may have been the only WW2 military where it was easier to get in and out of a tank (the Sherman was famously easy to evacuate) than a complete open topped jeep.
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Nice try, Greendot - a pity that so many of the viewers were too bloody thick, or else they have a hyper-sensitive inferiority complex about anyone expressing even qualified praise of anything coming out of America.
Thanks for your attempts to help, not worth it though jack ;) I appreciate it though, just watched the whole video through again and if you cant win with that then you cant win with anything, cheers Matt
My guess about the non-functional dimmer switch was that the fire extinguisher was probably an afterthought, and the overall design was not reviewed to allow for it.
This vehicle was supposedly named after Eugene the magical Jeep from the 1930's Popeye cartoons. An animal who could get out easily from any situation.😊 " Jeep!! jeep !!!".
@@johnbockelie3899 that is one of 2 commonly accepted theories, the other being that Jeep is just a phonetic spelling of GP for General Purpose
One does not sit in a Jeep, one sits on it.
agree, it was a replacement for horse and buggy.
My since sold '43 GPW used to start exactly like that! Great video!
That leap over the trench was epic ! The viewers / subscribers have got to appreciate your trials and tribulations . We’ve got to get you on jay Leno’s garage . He’s got to have you and your Jeep on ! Oh heavens , how long could jay inhale to take your Jeep around the block ? 😬
Someone may have already pointed this out but I have seen Jeep drivers in the early 1970s use an Army poncho with one side pinched in the hinge of the windshield and the gear shift poking through the poncho hood. The rest of the poncho sat across your lap with the heater blasting away underneath. The rest of you may be frozen stiff but your legs and feet stay dry and warm.
I'm pretty sure the Fire extinguisher on my '44 MB was on the passenger side. I can't even remember how many cracks were in the frame of that MB-I learned how to use a wire welder with that one. My '46 CJ2A had a frame almost twice as thick, and I had no cracks to repair. My MB cranked slow,too. No matter what I did, with the correct 6v cables and good grounds, it cranked slow. I usually started it with the crank to save the battery, which was always a crowd pleaser. I noticed the Dodge WC in front of you-now there is the ideal MV! plenty of room, and a weather-resistant tent to stay in when the canvas was all done up in a rainstorm. I still regret selling mine.
I think I remember hearing the motor pool used to move the extinguishers to passenger side by default if they had time with orders or not do so.
The dimming switch had always lived down there on US made cars and trucks prior to WW2. It is my understanding that early testing was conducted where the dimmer switch was relocated to the steering column to simplify things but some of the allies kept getting their pant leg caught on the turn signal switch and causing accidents.
Wartime maintenance, as in "why bother, its gonna get blown to bits tomorrow anyway". I heard a story from a Hungarian mechanic during the retreat from the east in WW2, if a truck had a conrod knock or a broken piston, they just removed that piston altogether, and the engine kept running on one less cylinders. It would probably get strafed a week later, but did its job until then.
That is the cleanest engine compartment of a military pattern vehicle I have ever seen;). Good on you for that level of restoration and maintenance.
thanks appreciate that comment
Great presentation, I have a couple. 1942, and 1952, Love them
Took mine to work one day. Didn’t know that snow was in the forecast. I was dressed for the cold okay but the freezing up the windshield was another matter. Scraping the inside glass and not being able to get to the outside. Even my glasses were frozen over.. 30 miles to home. Man what a blast!
Only having the opportunity once to sit behind the wheel of an mb/gpw , I was in my early teens . I was probably not at my full height of 5’7” but never considered the seating arrangement . I did immediately realize that this Jeep is not much larger than an MG orMGB or even a triumph spitfire . Didn’t really care because I was just in my glory “ wow ! A real WW ll Jeep ! “ it was painted over , rusting , modified for plowing and boat trailer haulage but it still had the blackout lights , minus the b/o driving light . No matter how much money I saved on my paper route and odd jobs , no sale “ get lost kid ( off with ya mate ) “ . Today , I contemplate modifying the front edges of the rear tub wheel wells to relocate the drivers and passenger seats on both my CJ5 ‘s . Even my dad , who stands 5’5” complains it’s tight behind the wheel of the CJ5 . And I installed a tilt CJ7 column in one . Weather resistant : nope , Jeep’s are weather proof . Not for very long anyway . But I try to remind myself that guys had it a lot tougher than I did . Appreciate everyone that shows their pride in restoring painstakingly an mb/gpw to honor all who served . 🇬🇧🇺🇸
For feature #6, a previous owner of my CJ-2A changed the from the original 6V battery to an 8V battery because it wouldn't crank fast enough to start easily enough for him. And he had to tweak the 6V voltage regulator to put out enough to keep the battery charged (but they don't last a long time being overworked like that). It cranked fairly quickly though. I remember that we had to "go downtown" to a battery shop to have a custom 8V battery built for it when the "original" 8V battery had to be replaced. I eventually changed to a 12V system with an alternator because I wasn't driving it enough to keep the battery charged so that I could drive it whenever I wished. Now it's disassembled and awaiting "restoration" -- I'll go back to the 6V generator when I get to that point.
@@jamierodg1 Yeah, but that was lost a very _long_ time ago! ;) I'd still like to have one made for my Jeep though.
I've the opposite problem on my M38, it's 24V. 24V made sense for the military, as it allowed electrical parts commonality with the rest of their fleet, but it's a right pain when you notice a tail light out and all the bulbs at your local auto parts store are 12V.
OMG, I remember taking one of these with nothing but a rain bonnet down the Pacific Coast Highway in winter. Freezing and wet. But as a teen we had great fun.
Pacific Coast Highway in New Zealand?
It’s amazing how quickly you get things done and how many things don’t matter when someone starts shooting at you…this was the opinion of a late friend who used them in the Malaya emergency. RIP Richard
"she's a weak thing in some ways" Glad you continued on and said "not really." seeing as you can still find some of those 80yr old Jeeps on the trails. I have owned multiple Jeeps, from the CJ2A all the way to the YJ and when someone would say "that looks fun, should I get one?" I would tell them to really check them out before committing to buying one because their are only 2 types of Jeep owners, those who love their Jeeps and those who hate them. There is no in between!
I owned a 1960 Willyes jeep years ago... every time I took it on the highway up to the mountains a mile up, the engine had problems running right at that altitude... several time the engine needed work on it when I got it back... It quit altogether on the way back the final time... note the manual wheel locks on the front wheels to put it into and take back out of 4 wheel drive were a bear to operate...NEVER ever operate the 4WD on pavement or you will not be able to get it out of 4WD the whole thing will jam up... going back off road a while MAY loosen it up after a while... after the third engine breakdown after going up to the mountains I gave up on it sold it... It was fun to drive, but in 4WD you got maybe 8MPG...
If you had it restored it is an awesome job! Looks like it came right off the showroom floor, I commend you for that
I guess we now know why the fire extinguisher and mounts are broken/removed. So dimmer switch can be accessed. :) I enjoy your vids
You have put out another great vid thanks
i just got a 1941 mb with a willys 6cyl (148 or 162 not sure-- it is far from being on the road but has new frame shocks, new radiator, tires rims and i am going broke with the list i must still buy!!!! - you have the best channel covering this amazing 81 year old vehicle!
My father was an officer during WWII and had a Jeep at his disposal. He told me that he had built a canopy out of plywood to make it warmer and drier. All fine and good until he took it into a town that Patton controlled directly and the MP's made him take it off. "Not GI". He also told me that he kept an M3 submachine gun "grease gun" kicking around on the floor. He had that in preference to a Thompson because the M3 would handle dirt and abuse better.
I believe you just convinced me to mount my extinguisher elsewhere when I get that far. Mine is a CJ2a and is a resto-mod anyway. Perhaps behind the driver seat, where you can still reach it.
Somewhere where you can easily reach when still in the vehicle and also when you're standing next to it.
if you're doing a resto mod, you could also just wire in a secondary dimmer switch in a easier to reach area, the factory one would still be functional, you'd just have a more convenient option
I think the fire extinguishers were unbolted and perhaps tossed by the GIs so that dimmer switch could be accessed more easily.
i served in 101st just before they got the new night mare replacement. dimmer switch was the starter when i drove this thing it was to insure that the clutch was depressed when you started it , (safety first) their was a start power switch on the panel you turned it to on and hit the clutch and that switch at the same time and the thing would start right up. it probably got changed at some point with a keyed start switch and they wired the switch as the dimmer switch like in most old cars
In regards to the dimmer switch, my grandfather said they would push the clutch down with thier heel and click it with thier toe when they needed to or just take the extinguisher out all together!
On the topic of small, as a service member before the last of these were completely replaced by the comparatively massive HMMWV (which began rollout in 1985), we used to STACK these one upon another for shipment in aircraft and ships. In a C130, for example, you could fit two side-by-side inside the fuselage forward or aft of the wheel well.
I totally Love your blog. You know I hate dimmer switches on the steering column. But it would've been a life saver on the early Jeeps. You know on the new vehicles I always have a free foot but my hands have plenty to do. But back in the day I would've jerry rigged a dimmer on the dash. But back in the day you may not have the same Jeep for a day probably. But anyway love what you are doing. God Bless and keep y'all safe.
The fuel tank right under the driver's seat I would not consider favorable in a combat situation. Certainly if I were the driver.. BOOM.
I call the drivers seat in my Willys the Ejector Seat. Get into trouble? Drop in a match and hold on!
The Jeep is influenced by the Austin 7. The Bantam car company primarily made licensed copies of the Austin 7, prior to designing the Jeep.
That’s a BEAUTIFUL Willys...wow. No doubt, like a LOT of things manufactured, it was designed to accommodate the AVERAGE size soldier ..ergonomics-wise. Great video
Don't forget, they really were built for lowest price possible in era, when vehicles was supposed to have much more maitenance:)
Hi I have some original Australian army sides and doors used with the standard top I have also seen soft canvas sides that you can fold and put away
I never noticed the size of an army jeep due to being about 13 when I was driving one. I worked on an apple orchard and that's how I got around. It was the perfect size for me then.
Many hours on the DMZ in the winter wishing I had one
:) The patent on the WW2 Jeep is owned by the military. It was filed in 1942 and it takes 20 years for a patent to go public. I see potential with this design to create a series of utility vehicles.
The early transfer case was weak; the emergency brake on the front of the drive shaft was a joke; and the carburetor had a tendency to drip gasoline on the exhaust manifold when it got a little worn; Warn front hubs that could be locked out hadn't been invented yet; and they were so underpowered that even with an aftermarket overdrive, reaching 55 mph was a rare thing. Even so, when they came out, they were light years ahead of what had gone before. I owned a 43 Willys that had seen some hard use after the war. I was once told it was the biggest pile of ugly on the road, but it was a thing of beauty to me, warts and all.
The dimmer switch is why the fire extinguisher arms get broken.People take the fire extinguisher out and then their leg breaks the arms.
Underpowered, lack of a full cage roll bar, open differentials, unforgiving suspension, lack of seat belts....I've got a '49 Cj2a, and in my Jeep I've remedied all of those issues...Ford 289 K-Code that's .030 over, posi front and rear, full cage roll bar, Simpson racing belts, Sky Jacker soft ride 3" suspension lift, Warn manual overdrive....what I'm actively searching for is a somewhat decent Cj3b, that body style was my Dad's favorite of all the Jeeps he's owned over the years, and up until this past Monday, he and I were gonna try to acquire and restore one...but instead of us doing that, he died from a massive heart attack right in front of my Mom, his wife of 51+ years....so, those plans cancelled, but I'm still lookin for a Cj3b though....
As always good video and great jeeps
My father was WW2 vet canadian mechanic heavy tank recovery . Before d-day they where all wet proof kit included snorkel. And water proof ignition system . I had all the stuff he kept for my jeep. Until the x frame rotted out.
I am 6' 2" also and I had no real problem driving my '42 Ford GPW. After driving/riding in it a few miles you can kind of shift your body around in the seat to where it really isn't to bad. I found the engine to be under-powered, the clutch plate to be to small (I installed a larger one), and the brakes to be very poor. Otherwise not to bad for an antique vehicle as long as you don't try to keep up with modern vehicles - you got to drive them slow.
I am intrigued by the placement of the HF Radio antenna base, as they were generally mounted on the rear between the jerrycan and the left side of the vehicle, that way they are out of the way of the roof bows and also they don't hang up on things or take out people you drive beside. The only Jeep that had anything on the side of the back was the later series made by Willys Overland after WW2 which had a side mounted spare wheel on the right side of the vehicle as it had a tailgate.
The canvas top may be the only feature the Kübelwagen has that is objectively better than the Jeep's. The Kübelwagen's canvas stays folded with it's supports on when it's down, so the only thing you have to do is pull the cage over the windshield where it locks itself on. I've used both and it is a whole lot easier flipping up the top of the Kübel with one person, even from the inside in less than a minute instead of two men taking 15 minutes to put the bars in place, slot the canvas into the windshield and stretch it over the top on an MB. That said, it doesn't matter much to the effectiveness of the vehicle, but being able to put the top on before it starts to reign is a still a feature soldiers appreciate.
It was designed for a purpose, in a hurry, and anticipated that it was likely not going to survive for long. I think, for the time, they did a great job...but we've moved on since then, most of the survivors now will be coddled but is a product of the time.
couldn't agree with you more. the thing was fit for purpose and cheep. very good bit of kit.
Couldn't have said it better. It did what it was designed to do and it did it well. Might as well point out the problems with a Connestoga covered wagon which BTW was built by the Studebaker Bros. Yes, THOSE Studebaker Bros. They started out building ambulances for the Union Army during the Civil War.
Well, the German Jeep, the Kubelwagon , was merely a beetle redesigned. ( Remember the 1970's VW. " Thing" ?, a redesigned Kubelwagon for the public, in fancy bright colors. " I'll take mine Afrika korps tan !!".) The American Jeep was used everywhere.
My great grandpa (or some men in his unit) was sleeping under the camo canvas one night when it collapsed from being waterlogged. He was in a head-on collision and was tossed clear (a small injury in his knee). Also the drainage inside the JEEP is still a problem. My grandpa gave me his old 2002 and if the front is facing downhill it will flood as the drain holes are in the backseat.
proper brilliant vid mate
Best WWII jeep videos and entertainment anywhere (awesome English countryside scenery). Love your videos and always look forward to seeing the new ones. Great job!
Too kind ;)
Interesting video.. I just found your site. I have a question about your gas/jerry can. Is it a German or American can. Years ago I bought a German cleaning kit that came with a 4 liter can with the same flipy top. Any info would be interesting. .
This video kinda makes me wish that there was a company that made reproductions of The Willys Jeep but more modernised like giving it more all weather abilities, a change in the ergonomics of the display or improving the suspension capabilities while keeping its looks . So that more people who are less keen on restoring a vintage jeep to be able to own an iconic vehicle
I was 6'2" ((1.9 M) in the US Army in Vietnam 1969-1970. I drove a Ford brand "GP" and I don't recall it being that tight to enter or exit. I don't recall a fire extinguisher, either. Maybe they increased the passenger compartment dimensions a bit for Vietnam. We did have a radio (but no radio operator, but that is a story for another day ...). Well done presentation and explanations.
Surprised there were any MB/GPWs left in service by then. I have a Korean War vintage M38, which was a militarized CJ-2A. I'd expect there to be some M38A1s in Vietnam but I was under the impression the Jeep had largely been replaced by the Ford built M151 Mutt by then. I remember seeing those in the motor pool of our local NG depot, and hated that the DOT wouldn't allow them to be surplused without being cut to pieces.
Drove by a collectors one like this (huge vintage car show in town) on the side of the road and what immediately struck me was how small it was.
Number 6: The top of the windshield, when up, is at eye level. You have to stretch up to look over it, shrink down to look through it, or lean out to look around it. This is why the later civilian models, CJ3, had a raised windshield or raised bonnet.
Just discovered your channel and have subscribed and I also live in Jamaica. Jeeps first came to Jamaica during WW2 and many, I understand were sold out locally after the US closed it's last base hear Vernam Field. I know of one WW2 Ford build one that was restored and running a few yours ago and I remembered seen one rust out to nothing on another WW2 former US naval base, Little Goat Island. Jeeps on a hold almost disappeared from out roads but as made a dramatick come in resent years but as high end cars with very fancy costom body parts. Kingston Industrial Garage, which open it's doors in 1908 selling Model T's and is the oldest Ford dealer out side the US, are now our local Jeep dealers also.
I totaled a 1945 Willies in 1972 by running into the left side of 1967 Suburban when the brakes failed. Previous owner had welded on a metal top with metal doors. Loved it, but it was very basic. Left frame crumpled back over itself so my dad accepted the total from insurance. Three you men inside it and only minor injuries in spite a lack of seatbelts and we were are own airbags. I bent the steering wheel over the left side, a lucky thing as it isn’t a crumple type mechanism. The fire extinguisher was probably a after delivery add on by the military (private, go find a place to mount this fire safety device). Anyway, everyone who has had a four wheel drive vehicle owe their legacy to this little war winner.
I suspect that from the perspective of a WWII soldier bottom line is it was a step above a horse, and beat the hell out of walking.
Thankyou for your 2 cents
JEEP: Just Enough Essential Parts.
Regarding the dimmer switch complaint... you may have forgotten about the combat covers they would put on the headlights with a narrow slot cutout to permit Vision on the road but not give quite so much visibility for the enemy oh, so that they could blow you up..
My grandpa who was originally a Boeing engineer actually has a Willys jeep he used for hunting… From what I know it’s from the Korean War he has the winter top on it except he actually modified it to be include doors with the covers so rain didn’t seep in he’s still alive today and the Willys still runs I hope I can get it after he passes because I love WW2 and history and hope I can keep it going
I had an M43 made in early 1945 and it was water proof quite a lot,It ha distributor cap covered with metal can and ignition cables were going thru hydraulic pipes with spark plugs aloso hermetically enclosed, It also had foldable snorkel from air filter.