Steve McQueen’s jeep

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 4:39 pm

https://www.foxnews.com/auto/steve-mcqu ... or-auction

Post by **wesk** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 9:45 pm

I find it quite interesting that the narrative says Steve purchased this WWII jeep at it's military surplus sale and was it's first of 2 owners. The 2nd owner bought it at his estate auction 1984 for $ 6,000 and has it in England. The narrative also says it is a 1945 model but the plaque from the Steve McQueen Estate sale in the early 80's calls it a 1946.

https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews. ... ?ve=1&tl=1

RonD2 · Post by **RonD2** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 10:07 pm

I find it interesting that Steve was born in 1930. Was the Army selling surplus MB/GPW's into the 1950's? They don't say the year he bought it or where he bought it (what state). His bio says he didn't get to California (from New York) until 1955 when he was 25, and he married his 1st wife in 1956. I suppose it's possible a 25 year old actor with a new wife in California would spend money buying a jeep from the Army for his transportation? Unless I'm missing something, it doesn't all quite add up to me. Very cool actor, enjoy his work to this day. And seeing as he was an honorably discharged U.S. Marine, I'm on his side.

I think there might be a load or two of hype in selling "his" MB/GPW for $125,000 but only time will tell. I'm positive there are plenty of people out there with that kind of cash. Ever watch Barrett-Jackson?

Post by **wesk** » Thu Oct 18, 2018 11:45 pm

MB's were selling surplus from 1944 in Europe and 1946 in the US thru about 1960. I do not doubt that Steve bought the jeep as a first time civilian owner and with his well known love of the dirt, rock and sand both 2 wheel and 4 wheel I am not surprised he had an MB before 1960.

Did you watch either Mecum or barrett-Jackson when the M38 went for $100,000 + with two 50's mounted?

RICKG · Post by **RICKG** » Sun Nov 18, 2018 9:56 am

$108K...
https://www.autoclassics.com/posts/news ... ep-auction

The Jeep is chassis MB452936, and has a two cylinder 2200c engine, labelled as DSL 2188R in official records

Copied the above sentence from the article, engine swap?

Post by **wesk** » Mon Nov 19, 2018 12:04 am

Someone got a bit mixed up on that engine. It's an 80's vintage Toyota 4 cyl 2.2L diesel.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_L_engine

http://www.silverstoneauctions.com/stev ... ys-jeep-mb

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Mon Nov 19, 2018 6:56 am

There’s a guy here locally who swaps Toyota or Nissan diesels into Willys pickups. Seems like sacrilege, but anything that keeps these old guys on
the road can’t be bad.