willysmjeeps.com

I am starting a new M38 project, and I would like to get it back to the best possible. This question is for you Wess, with all the controversy over the color of the frame. If it were your new project, would you have the frame black or green ( US Army ) along with the rest of the Jeep? Do you know what the MVPA conceders correct? Thanks Wess

Same question goes for the M38A1 frame.

Frames left the Willys factory painted black, military painted green over the black. My M38 which has not been stripped and repainted has black under green. That was the way they were painted in the early '50's - how you paint yours will be your decision. More modern coatings are available such as epoxy primer but the military paint job was very simple.

Frames left the frame factory black with no undercoat or primer. Frames left Willys factory with OD 2430 on top of the black.

Look closely at the frame and the inner fender paint on this Willys production line photo:



Even in Black & white photos the visible portions of these factory delivery lot M38's is the same shade as the bumper and fenders.

If it were your new project, would you have the frame black or green ( US Army ) along with the rest of the Jeep?

If my M38 were Army it would have an OD2430 frame. My M38 is USAF Blue and I wanted my frame to cast a nice contrast so I went with chassis satin black.

Thank you Wess. Thanks for putting up the pictures it makes it very clear that they did have an OD coat over the frame. Thank you for you great wisdom. All I need now is for you to move to Arizona to help me with this project, so I do it right. Thanks again

Has anyone figured out the frame colour of the frames that Ford Canada supplied the Canadian Military? I believe it was Black.

Thanks, Lyle Watkins