I have been crazy about the Willys Flat fenders since I took my first ride at the age of 7, in my brother’s CJ-2A. The year was 1965. He didn’t keep it long but I had been bit and the bite left a mark. At the time I thought all flat fender jeeps were military and that was where my interest laid. I didn’t own a jeep of my own until the fall of 1983, when I bought a nearly all original M38. I had many hours of fun driving it around on farms and back roads. I hauled it from northern Arkansas to central Texas and back. But after about five years, a few mechanical troubles began to haunt me and the M38 became a source of contention in my family. With three young children I couldn’t afford the luxury of such an expensive hobby. I sold it to a collector that promised to restore it.
Flash forward to spring 2011. I found out about a flat fender in a older gentlemens yard in the town I live in. He happened to attend the same church I did and I began to inquire about it. Initally he was not interested in selling it, but I persisted. It had not been driven or even started for three to four years and his wife was beginning to work on him about the “unsightly” yard decoration. I would tease him at church and say, “you want me to come over and cover your Jeep up? Your tarp has blown off and it is getting rained in, etc.”
About a year later, he approached me and said, “You interested in buying a Jeep?” I was shocked and replied “If it’s priced right, I would be!” He replied, “it will be!” Now, I was not able to stop thinking about the Jeep. I went to his house later in the week and asked him what he wanted to do. We looked it over and discussed its condition. The body is rough, but mostly still original with the military 24 volt system intact and though not working, mostly original condition. It is a 1952 M38, but it has a MB windshield. He said since he knew I was going to a real enthusist, he would take $900 for it. It was almost too much for me to contain myself but managed to keep my composure and having noticed a 1/4 Ton Jeep trailer in the yard, (a mint original M416) I asked, “Does that include the trailer too?” He replied, “yep and all the stuff I have to go with it!” I immediately accepted his offer and made plans to pick them both up the next week.
I towed the Jeep and trailer (full of parts, etc.) across town to my house and have stored it in a barn awaiting a complete rebuild. I have been able to do a lot of research and I pick up parts when ever I locate something I know I am needing. The first two photos are immediately after getting it home and the last one is of it sitting patiently in the barn awaiting restoration.
~ Willys Jeep Life story submitted by Bruce Street
I have been reading the different stories regarding the earlier Jeeps. Your story is almost like the one I recently bought. Thoroughly enjoyed the story and how you got it. It should prove to be a very nice hobby in restoring and driving. Best of everything in your Jeep endeavors.
Sounds like you’re off to a great start. My ’47 CJ2A is in the shop getting a new clutch. Not so much because it needed a clutch, but because someone used what looks like part of a screen door as the linkage. So we are upgrading it to a hydraulic clutch to get past all the adjustments I had to make on it.
I am in Mtn. Home area , I have a M-38 1951 with snorkel , are you near ? Bob
Thans for all the nice comments. Yes, the tires appear very old and are weather cracked or dry rotted. Three of them have the “pointy” tiped tread pattern. These are GoodYear and the tubes are still holdoing air . The fourth has a “rounded” tip and if I remember correctly it is a Firestone tire. Its tube seeps and does not hold air.
So far I have been able to pick up the correct windshield, tailgate, rear seat, correct rebuilt carburator, air breather and a good solid original fuel tank with new fuel pump and sending unit. A big bonus is I was able to locate a very nice M100 1/4 Ton Trailer to accomompany my M38 on its future journeys! The search continues!
I need to sell my 1949 CJ 3A. Rebuilt tranny and transfercase. Has a PTO with working winch. Many new parts. Runs like new. Needs paint. Anyone have price for my Jeep?
Wow! You’re the luckiest guy! Thanks for the great pictures too. I just got a very ruff CJ2A ’46 that looks like it either started out as a military model and was finished as a CJ or started as a CJ and somebody tried to militarize it. Either way – I love it and can’t wait to get it running.
$900 with the trailer? To good to pass up. Looks real nice. Congrats!
I have my M38 – 1959.
Looks like yours – but under the hood she has a totally rebuilt Hurricane. Expensive rebuild but she runs like a charm. Needs new, comfy seats vs original seats. Have not found those yet. Doin the basics to keep the wife happy and then someday a total off-chasis.
Enjoy and do not add power steering…then everyone will want to drive it!
Tom
If you have any extra parts I would be interested.I.m fixing up a 1942 MB and looking for reasonable price parts. Ill use my jeep for reenacting.
Great buy! You will find a site called Kaiser-Willys VERY helpful and they issue a catalog with ALL the goodies you may want or need.> http://www.kaiserwillys.com/ I’m a recent purchaser of an early 1946 CJ2A with the rare colume shift 3spd. It’s awaiting a total rebuild also. Good Luck and congrats on your find.
It looks like you have something great to start with. Keep us updated.
Great going! She’s a beauty, all right. The tires appear to be extremely old and have the original “pointy” tread grooves not available today. True?
What a wonderful story. The stuff that dreams are made of.
Sweet find!
She’s a beauty! You’ll put more sweat equity in then money if you bide your time on purchases. Do as much as you can yourself. Pull the oil pan and clean out the sluge.Good luck!
Great Score! Keep us posted on the restoration process.