***WARNING*** I’m long-winded. If you’d rather scroll through and look at the pics, that’s fine by me too.
We’re officially parade / car show people! I can’t wait to sling candy at strangers’ kids (as soon as I find out where I put the slingshot).
I’ve always wanted a MB/GPW, but the ones I’ve come across were always basket cases or out of reach financially. I've owned 2 or 3 CJ2A projects in the past that were "beyond economical repair" for me (at least at the time). I’d always get through the frame/drivetrain part before running out of funds for the body work.
Now that I'm "a bit" older and the youngest is off to college, I've had an itch to finally get that flatfender that I've always wanted. A friend of mine recently restored a '2A into a MB tribute. I asked him for a no-BS tally of what he had invested in it. He said that he had a little over $20K into it before paint not counting time/labor (including the cost of a complete body kit). I LOVE doing the research/work that goes into a restoration, but the end goal is to drive it. After talking to the wife, we decided that our best bet for now is to just buy one that's ready to enjoy. Maybe I’ll buy another project to work on while I drive this one (just don’t tell her).
I remembered a local, older gent (friend of mine) that had one. He's getting up in years and his health isn't the best. I remembered that he had a REALLY nice M38 (along with a better-than-new '57 T-bird, several tractors, etc). We struck up a convo and the rest is history.
Last Friday I brought home a 1952 M38; MC 60043, DOD 3/52 – still 24V. Also included was a later model (but in very good condition) M416 trailer. He also threw in a slough of spare parts, lots of documentation from over the years, tons of receipts and several totes full of MV mags. I’ve even found pictures of it in-service with the Civil Defense. He even said that there’s more in the attic, but I’ll have to wait for cooler weather.
This particular jeep was previously employed at a local AFB (exact one unknown at this time); there’re remnants of blue paint on the underside of the toolbox lid. I’m told that it was then purchased by the local fire department (who painted it red, of course) where they used it out at the lake as a runabout when lighting off the yearly 4th of July fireworks display. After a period of time, it was then handed over to the local Civil Defense. The head of the CD was the father of the guy I purchased it from (my friend was also a member of the CD and is still a member of the local EMA as am I). His father purchased it from the EMA, and then he bought it from his father in 1987. He (Army, Vietnam veteran) turned it into what you see here.
This wasn’t a radio jeep when it was bought by the FD (to my knowledge). The guy I bought it from is a long-time amateur operator (as am I) and he put the radios in it. I’m still researching what I have, but for those interested, I’ve figured out that I have an RT-70A transmitter, RT-110 receiver, AM-65 amplifier and PP-112 power supply. I’m told that it’s 6m wideband (± 15 kHz) FM. It looks like I need to source a mic, speaker and possibly an upgraded generator (not sure yet). I’m a general class operator, but I have zero experience with older radios (I currently use a Yaesu FTM-500 for VHF/UHF and a Yaesu FT-710 for HF).
I removed the PA system that he had installed for playing cadences, etc during parades. I also removed some temporarily-mounted turn signals and such. Our immediate plans are to drive and enjoy it, but I believe at some point I’ll be repainting the hood and other stencils. I’m not sure if I’ll throw some USMC markings on it (I’m a Marine) or return it to that unique USAF blue (have an uncle who was a “ditty bopper” in the Air Force after Korea and just before Vietnam got hot and heavy).
Congrats to those who made it this far; we sure are proud of her!
