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Nice job Jeff. We have a 52 that is not started. I’m wondering if I should leave the old hurricane engine in it.
Still continuing to look at all the pictures on Pinterest. Live in Houston and AC is required.
Alex
New pictures of the Willy’s at an American Heroes and MIAP Veterans exhibition./Users/vickikido/Desktop/jeffs/P1030283.JPG
Willy’s Wagons were used during the Korean War but as stateside “litter Carriers”. During Vietnam Willy’s Wagons were used in combat areas in Vietnam by US Army Psy-Ops but were just painted OD with large unit insignia but without standard military markings. The Dodge M37 Ambulance was used there so this Willy’s is painted similarly to those in honor of our Korean War Veterans. A windowless Willy’s Wagon was built for Australia as an ambulance and with a larger cargo area, barn doors and painted white. So this Wagon is a US Army Military Ambulance inspired restoration. To preserve the vehicle for posterity all the carpeting, head liner and insulation was removed. That way having it in a wet climate it will dry out quickly and it has no fabric, other than the seats, to hold moisture and lessen potential for rust eating away in hidden ares. Also most vintage military vehicles had little padding and were “bare bones”. This wagon was sanded and had many coats of primer, preliminary stencils to get the measurements and locations marked then a good final sanding and two coats of final OD enamel. Then re-stenciled and decals placed. The wheels were sandblasted, primered and painted then NDCC military tires. Inside is designed and made like other ambulances with a suspended litter carrier/ hanger, vintage first aid kit and vintage fire extinguisher , dash plates. A 28 volt landing light/spotlight was converted to 12 volt and put into the roof. Decals and dash plates were found for that period. The visor is from Amy Perrine Visors, the 1.5″x40′ rope from eBay and most else from Kaiser Willy’s Auto Supply.
Jeff Smith
Disabled Vietnam Veteran