This is my 1952 M38, purchased for $200. I bought the Jeep in August 1994 and it was a basket case. It had been neglected for who knows how many years sitting in a vacant lot off an alley in South Columbus, OH. I'm told it was bought from the Army by the City of Columbus and used as an insect fogger vehicle before being retired. It's taken me 17 years of off and on work to restore to its present condition.
Bob Moledor
Pickerington, OH
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1951 M38 Jeep - Purchased in 1977, added Chevy 231 V-6 with Muncie 4-speed, Warn OD and Detroit Lockers front and rear. Added Long Leaf springs and painted finally in 2010. Purchased with money saved while bagging groceries in 1977 for $2,750.00 from local San Diego Jeep dealership. Drove and climbed all over southern California deserts, Baja California and Death Valley to High Sierra. Now nearly 35 years later all of my kids (now grown up) still love to ride in "The old Jeep"-- we have gone through 1 Cherokee and have 2 GC's for daily drivers! The "Old Jeep" is here to stay and hopefully the grandkids enjoyment some day!
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My mv is an Willys Overland MC M38 - Year 1950, I started restoring it two year, it was all disassembled, with all mechanically adapted to 12V, and did not have anything military. I had to do the inverse operation to all this that he suffered for many years, but I am slowly bringing back to life this great car. My name is Ederson Zier, I am a collector of military vehicles. I am a member of the MVPA # 32056, I'm from the town of CaÁador state of Santa Catarina - Brazil
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When I first got “Willy”, he was fire engine red. UGH! Black grill. Body "fair", but intact with minimal rust. Have stopped the rust. Some engine work. Generator has stopped charging---will rewind at local gen shop. 24V system mostly intact. He has been "bubba'd" some with a mixture of 12V wiring and 24V. Hope to tear all that out and start over. Well, daggone it, Willy is semi-retired now and he won't be jumping any more ditches and wallowing in mud anymore! So long as I am his owner, I best not catch anyone misusing 'im, either! :) I used him a bit in the snow this winter when I couldn't get out of my yard! We had about 3" of snow/ice that stayed around for awhile, and I HAD to go to the grocery store!
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1951 M38 purchased in 2006, from an individual in Pittsburgh,PA who purchased it from a Fire Company in Maryland, vehicle was used as a brush fire, didn't see much action, it sat in the garage. The vehicle was painted red with yellow pinting on it, after its life in the military.
I don't know if the vehicle was sent over seas and saw any action in Korea. There are still some drap olive green on the vehicle. Engine, drivetrane, axles, suspension are still original from the day it was manufactured. The vehicle was changed from a 24 volt to 12 volt electrical system. I possess the original wheels, tires and various parts which makes it a prime vehicle for restoration.
I am enjoying the vehicle as it is, thinking of in the future to swapping the engine to a 225 odd fire V6 buick and four speed trany to improve roadability. I installed an overdrive from Advanced Adaptors to improve speed.
I also owned a yellow M38 1952 for which will be intended for future sale.
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A few years ago I bought quite a few parts from you including a body tub. Here is what those parts became. Still in work, but this type of project really never gets completed. 1950 M38, Muncie 4 Speed, Warn Overdrive, Chevy 327, Dynatrak Axles.
Basically a "New 1950 M38", the one the Army really wished they had.
Mike Young
Gearhart, OR
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Paul Bierman from Alaska with a few pictures of my neverending Willys M38 rebuild project. I began this latest rebuild on January 1st, 1986 but I only work winters on the Jeep. The summer season here in Alaska is very short and I try to be outdoors as much as possible during this all too brief season, so work on the Willys stops in late March and resumes again sometime in October.
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My friend John London (we both live in Nashville TN) and I wanted to share our M-38 photos - These photos include our run at Fort Campbell KY, home of the 101st Airborne Division, and our trail run at Turkey Bay (LBL) - Kentucky Lake and State Park (Land Between the Lakes). I also have three projects for the fall, a '46 column shift CJ-2a; a 1944 military and a '47 pick up.
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Here are a few pictures of our M38 Jeep, a 1953 Willy's that I painted in a Naval Shore Patrol version. It took me about six years working on it in between traveling for work and moving from Kansas to Colorado to Illinois where I completed the process. After much waiting and filing paper after paper we were able to get a VIN on it, get a title and finally license it. It is street ready and we are looking forward to many years of enjoying riding around in it on our lake property in Oklahoma. If you use our pictures we would love to have a copy of the catalog or magazine it is in. - Tom & Sharon Dittme
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Hi Mike, Here is my restored M38. It came from an Arizona utility in yellow. There is one mystery around it that I can't quite figure out. During the frame-off restoration, the painter says that there was no evidence of a previous color other than the yellow that it used to be. Do you have any knowledge that the M38 was produced new for purposes other than the military? Thanks, Tom Fitch Ft. Collins, Co.
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Have a hardtop for 1951 M38 that needs to be restored, if it can be. Any idea where to find one if it can’t be restored?
I am restoring a 1950 M38 and need to find detailed info on what goes where as far as military equipment. Also need sources for parts, military specific stuff.
Hi Tom!!
My 51 M38 started out as a od green Navy and then was
painted flight line yellow (transient parking follow me jeep). It had the front driveshaft and the front axles removed from the housing. then it went to the forest service, then to mosquito abatement,then to a warehouse for 35 years , finally to me. Gottas love the flat head flatties!!