In 1953 the CJ-3B was first introduced by Willys-Overland into the “Universal” jeep line promoting it as an agricultural, industrial, and personal “all-purpose vehicle, while still very similar to the CJ-2A and CJ-3A’s its predecessors, it had one main difference; the engine. The CJ-2A’s and CJ-3A’s had the “go devil” 4-134 L head motor while the CJ-3B was upgraded to the F4-134 “Hurricane” motor.
The engine delivered more horsepower but required a higher hood, a distinguishing factor from earlier models. Increased fuel economy, a noticeable improvement in performance, and larger intake valves in the head. In the same year the CJ-3B was produced by Willys-Overland the company was sold to the Kaiser-Frazer Corporation, which kept the Willys Motors name until 1964.
The CJ-3B was the transitional model between the CJs and the M38-A1. The production total hit 196,000 where public sales ended in 1964 and the CJ-3Bs were still available for commercial/military markets until 1968. The CJ-3Bs are still produced in some variation under license from Willys by India’s Mahindra and Mahindra.
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CJ-3B: What a wonderful little vehicle! The US Army purchased this model, many don’t know that. I was in the Air Force (Air Weather Service) and stationed at Fritzsche Army Air Field, Ft. Ord, Ca. and we had one for a maintenance vehicle due to the deep sand at Fritzsche.
I was there for 3 1/2 years then PCS’D to the Mekong Delta. The US Army gave us outstanding support during my time at Ord, including providing an Otter to make emergency flights to McClellan AFB (Sacramento Area) for spare parts – mostly aneroid barometers our weather observers knocked off the observation desk or high intensity bulbs for the cloud height measuring set. Got some time in the Otter!
A great big “Thank You” to the US Army!
Tom Mason
MSgt, US Air Force – retired
In 1970, I bought a 1953 CJ3B with Arctic cab from a local fireman in Winslow, AZ. The Jeep had been purchased through Military Surplus by the Navajo County Search and Rescue Unit and subsequently purchased by the firefighter. It still had its US Navy Nomenclature data plate that plainly stated it was a CJ3B and not a M606. The numbers all matched and I have no doubt it was originally a CJ3B purchased by the Navy for service in a cold region! I wish I still had it.
Thanks for sharing your experience with us Tom!
I’ve heard people say the CJ-3B never served with the US Military. That’s absolutley wrong! From February, 1963 to May, 1966 I served with the US Army at Fort Ord, California as a technician with Detachment 7, 16th Squadron, 2nd Weather Group, US Air Force, at Fritzsche Army Airfield and, due to the sandy conditions around the field, I was provided a US Army CJ3B as a maintenance vehicle – in OD paint and Army registration numbers – it was a military vehicle.