UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay

(10/23/2012) This has an unusual story.

“O.K. military personnel, here’s your chance to own an iconic piece of history. This is an authentic 1942 Military Jeep (Ford GPW); matching frame and I.D. Plate. This jeep is probably one of the numerous leftovers from World War 2, Asian theater, as it was rebuilt at the 229TH Ordnance Base Depot, Oppama Ordnance Shop (OOS), located in Japan.

I’ve been told that this was a former Japanese navy aircraft rebuild facility located in Yokohama, Japan and was converted to the 229TH Ordnance Base Depot, after the war; much of what they rebuild went to the Korean conflict. I corresponded with a soldier who was stationed there during that time period and he told me that depot rebuilds were performed at the component level; every piece removed and replaced. That may account for jeeps that we find with a mixture of GPW and MB parts on them. I’m not sure if that is when my jeep was fitted with the body tub and windshield for a recoilless rifle, but it is a recoilless rifle version although it has round buttons on the rear tool boxes which suggest it is a MB tub.

According to Fred W. Crismon’s book U.S. MILITARY WHEELED VEHICLES, recoilless rifles were first tried in April 1945 on flat fendered jeeps. It became more commonplace during the 1950’s on M38 (flat fendered) and M38A1 (curved fender) jeeps although my body tub still has the gas tank filler under the seat suggesting an earlier version. The open back of the body tub suggests to me that this tub may have been designed for use with the latter M79 mount instead of the earlier version M75A1 mount, but I don’t know.

Therefore, I can’t be sure when it was installed unless this information is part of the Ordnance Depot Job Order Number detail, and I’m not sure if that data is still available. I don’t have the recoilless rifle and mount, but they do appear for sale from time to time which would significantly increase the value of the jeep. Included with the jeep is an authentic tow bar and 1951 Dunbar trailer. I’ve been told that the trailer is a typical companion of a recoilless rifle for carrying ammo and ancillary items for operating the rifle.

Somehow the jeep ended up in the Greek Army and was then imported to the USA. This I believe to be true because we found Greek coins inside the tub. The jeep is drivable and I used it mostly for running errands. I’ve taken it to a couple of car shows and it cruises at 60 mph with no shake or shimmy. Every time I drive it people beep their horns, wave, crowd around it, and want to talk about it – really a lot of fun.

It still has the original 6-volt system and is all military except for the following:

– It has a CJ engine in it (comes with the original depot GPW engine)

– I installed an electric fuel pump underneath (out of sight) as it seems modern fuel is hard on original pumps and I got tired of rebuilding and replacing them – they are a pain to replace.

– Turn signals that make it safer to drive on the street, but are easily removable

It has a new fuel tank installed. The body is in fair shape with some rust-through, not too bad, but needs work to be really nice. Replacement “hat” channel is included to replace what is rusted out. Also included are a BUNCH of spare parts (everything I have) including, but not limited to the following:

– 2 engines (both apart), one CJ and the other is the original GPW motor from the depot rebuild

– Additional front and rear differential

– Transmission

– Transfer case (in pieces)

– Another combat rim for a total of 6

– 3 carburetors, 3 fuel pumps, 2 distributors, 2 regulators, and many boxes filled with assorted items.

Following is the specific information from the various ID tags:

Glove Box ID Plate
– Frame and ID tag: GPW-59102 (matches good NJ title)
– Mfg.: 08/26/42
Original Engine Stamped Data
– GPW-i086i4
– GPW-6015
Engine Reconditioned Tag (attached to engine)
– MABRY Ordnance Shop, Austin Texas (named after Brigadier General Woodford H. Mabry)
– Cyl. Bore: 0.30 over (I’ve seen replacement pistons in 0.20; 0.30; 0.40; 0.60 over)
– Rod Journals: 0.10 under
– Main Journals: 0.20 under
– Date: 12/28/46 (not sure about 46 – very hard to read)
– Engine Number: GPW-i086i4
Depot Engine Tag (attached to engine)
– Rebuilt by 229TH Ordnance Base Depot
– Shop: TEWOS (Tokyo Engineer Works Ordnance Shops)
– Job Order #: T07 53 54
– Date: 09/02/1953
Depot Rebuild Tag (mounted on the dash-board)
– Rebuilt by 229TH Ordnance Base Depot, Oppama Ordnance Shop (Japan)
– Rebuild tag: 22 Sep 51
– Job order No.: P460-0755

Hood Number 02021191 (running the serial number through an online estimator at http://wwiijeepparts.com/Tools/WWIIJeepHoodRegistrationNumberEstimator.html suggests a hood # of somewhere around 20144101)

What this jeep needs is for someone to take it apart, clean it up, seal the slow oil drips, straighten out the body, install the original engine, and repaint it. If you do that, you will have a very nice piece of history. If you can find a recoilless rifle and mount you will have an exceptional and valuable piece of history. Or you can simply drive it around and enjoy the novelty of being seen in something most people have only seen pictures of.

Trailer 1951 Dunbar Kapple, Inc., Geneva, Ill.
¼ Ton, M-100
Model: 73-1000
Mfg. Serial No.: 01212234
Delivery Date: 12/51
Inspected: LPW