074: Jim Hamilton’s 1944 Willys MB
I bought this 1944 MB from my brother in law who bought it at the Maine Owl’s Head auction in August of 2010. It actually looks presentable, but on close inspection, the body is held together with a bit of Bondo here and metal plates there with a wooden front floor. It came to me with some mechanical work performed, but the four wheel drive got stuck and I couldn’t keep it running so I took it to a nearby restoration mechanic I know who re-wired it, changed the electrical system to 12 volts, added new dials, front parking lights, rear parking lights and we welded a KW rear panel as replacement for that cobbled together tailgate you see in the rearview picture.
We thought we could save the body, but once we pulled it off the chassis, we decided DO NOT RESUSCITATE, and I ate the work. We ordered a complete body from Mike at KW, will send back the front floor plate I previously ordered for 100% credit and clean up the chassis, weld on new front rails for a proper size bumper and now for the big question on paint–I want a dark blue body, black bumpers and jerry can holder (the spare will be mounted on the back like all army jeeps which this was). Tire rims will be cream colored. You’ll note the front grill and lights are not army so they’ve been replaced, but I like it this way since I want the jeep (nicknamed Rocky) to look more suited for farm work. Can you help me with paint color selection?
I know that dark blue and cream aren’t the authentic color scheme for the years 1944-45, since the original color was OD (under at least four coats of hand brushed paint), but still have this color scheme in mind, most likely because the first CJ3 I ever saw in the 1950s was that dark blue I would like Rocky to be. Plus I registered as a blue jeep after the six months to create a clear title. Massachusetts is very strict on having a clear title to register a vehicle, antique or not. In Rocky’s case, we finally showed the bill of sale and got the Owl’s Head Museum people to stand up and show the bill of sale for us to guarantee Rocky wasn’t stolen.
-Jim Hamilton
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Thanks for the comments. Over time, this 1944 MB has had CJ additions which includes the grill. We know it’s an MB because the windshield is original and most of the body–such as it is–is MB which includes the 30mm machine gun mount, M! rifle holder inside windshield, and the single piece back end which was cut to add a wooden tailgate. When we got the body off the frame, the machine gun mounting plate is also on the frame. The gas tank filler is under the drivers seat as in all MBs. Because the body was so rotted and cobbled together with mending plates and Bondo, I ordered a replacment MB body from Kaiser Willys. The restoration should be done this summer (2012), one year since we started. It’s going to look like a CJ in coior, but with army tires, canvas seats, spare and jerry can positioned on back. This will please the farming-civilian jeep lovers as well as some of Greatest Generation who remember these work horses. Jim Hamilton
John H. Smith, I retired from the Army in 1989. I have a M38A1 that I have kept in original condition. This model was gone when I went in the Army in 1969, but the Marines still had them in Vietnam as did the Australians. It is a better jeep than the Ford M151 that replaced it. I can imagine how much your WWII buddies enjoyed your jeep at the reunion. Veterans always want to touch my jeep and talk when they encounter me on my local drives. A jeep is to a soldier what a horse was to a cavalryman. Good luck to you and your buddies. Gene Phillips, LTC, Ret.
John, thanks for your input, but more importantly thank you for your service to our country.
Agree with Larry and Carlos. The jeep in question is surely a CJ-2. From what I can see in the picture, the rear axle cover is for a tapered axle which the MB did not have. Grill is classic CJ.
I drove MB’s in France and Germany during and immediately after WWII. Wanted to restore an MB to take to our battalion reunions but couldn’t find one. Bought a 1946 CJ-2 in 1960 which my five sons drove in high school. 3 engines, 4 sets of brakes, rebuilt transmission and transfer case and kajillion miles later, restored it to resemble an MB (including a blackout light) and took it to the reunion in 1995. Old buddies had a ball driving it. All original – 6 volt, WO carburetor, military tread 600-16 tires. Only a dozen or so of us left from 620 in the battalion so it’s purpose has been served.
Carlos, you are correct, the grill, and rear axle are CJ, and the tub has a tailgate opening. Does anyone know the engine and body serial number?
I’m a WILLYS fan, and I own 3 diferet models. CJ2-CJ3-CJ3B. if this is MB 1944, the front grill it’s no right , that grill is for CJ series.