If anyone knows these jeeps best and your looking for correct expert answers you've found the right guy and that would be "Wes" if he states something I wouldn't question it, he is like an encyclopedia when it comes to these things if he says post a picture then post a picture haha
and many others on this forum know these jeeps very very well.
These jeeps did not come with electric fans and Im not quite old enough to be 100% but I don't think that came about till probably the 60s or 70s so no its is not correct for your jeep.
Some of these jeeps I believe got sold off to the fire or forestry departments so yes that is why yours is probably red but do some sanding or looking under parts and you'll find some green. Mine was also purchased red and was converted over for the local fire department.
Yes they came with a rear seat except for the Recoilless Rifle model.
as Wes stated to best answer your questions as to what you may have and how much it has been modified pictures are going to get you the best answer as over the years these jeeps got parts swapped out a lot and modified.
Spending a little time doing some Google searches of M38A1 images and looking through the photo gallery on this forum under members albums then under Wes Knettle will give you a wealth of some really good info on these jeeps and should give you some idea of what your jeep has going on with it and what shouldn't be going on with it. I was a newbe and still feel like it sometimes.
I was in the same boat as you when I bought mine and didn't know or realize how much was missing that should have been factory until I started combing through pictures and reading up everything I could and doing Google searches on questions I had.
The toughest question for everyone at the beginning is what you plan on doing with the jeep and how much time and money your willing to spend and then go from there and yes at times you'll feel like your drowning
