“Meticulously and authentically restored” 1941 MB? With all due respect to Mr. Weinberg, it’s nicely rebuilt, but this has authenticity shortcomings (the grille, the dash, the wheels, and the gas tank for starters).
https://youngstown.craigslist.org/cto/d/1941-jeep-willys-mb-1-4-ton/6444265643.html
“Seller’s Description: 1941 WILLYS MB MILITARY JEEP for sale. Motorcar Classics is proud to present this spectacular 1941 Willys MB Jeep. This genuine WWII Jeep, which saw service in the European Theater, was meticulously and authentically restored by Max Weinberg to honor the military service of his wife, Beckys, father, uncle, and cousin, whose names and service records within the United States Army Signal Corps are inscribed on the right side of the vehicle.
Mr. Weinberg personally researched the history of the Jeep with the Department of defense and its history is documented. The markings, numbers, and military insignias are true to its original configuration. We have never seen a military Jeep restored to such a high standard.
The Willys MB (commonly known as a Jeep or jeep, formally as the U.S. Army Truck, 1/4 ton, 4×4) and the Ford GPW are four-wheel drive utility vehicles that were manufactured during World War II. Produced from 1941 to 1945, it evolved post-war into the civilian Jeep CJ, and inspired both an entire category of recreational 4WDs and several generations of military light utility vehicles.
This Jeep is powered by the Willys Go Devil Engine with 3-speed transmission, 2 range transfer case, and 4-wheel drive. It is cosmetically and mechanically superb.
FROM THE MAX WEINBERG COLLECTION
Max Weinberg, known to millions of music fans all over the world as the King Of The Big Beat, is an iconic American drummer and a 2014 inductee into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. Most widely known as the longtime drummer for Bruce Springsteens E Street Band and the founding bandleader of The Max Weinberg 7 on NBCs Late Night With Conan OBrien and The Tonight Show, Mr. Weinberg is a passionate automobile enthusiast and the choices in his collection come from a lifetime of emotive automotive connections. Purchasers of cars from this collection will be invited for photographs with Max and the car.”
And the lockouts
Interesting. So nobody else on earth can find the service history of their particular Jeep, but this guy can?
Incorrect seat covers. No combat rims. No rifle rack on the windshield. I wonder how much he paid for his meticulous restoration. Other than what I can see in the pictures, it looks pretty good.
I think my 43 MB landed on Iwo Jima, and was driven by Chesty Puller until his retirement. It was so salty the Marine Corps decommissioned it because the newer Jeeps in the motor pool could not keep up. The guy up the street told me the whole story.
The ‘razor straight’ seams on both sides where the cowl panels join the the
quarter panels suggest to me … that this is a repro body.
MD Juan anybody!
What … no ‘snot ‘ welds???
John C
Okay, I need some help. I get the wheels, the seat cover material, the hubs, and the wheels. Please tell me what’s wrong with the grille, the dash, and the fuel tank…..I am not an expert (wish I knew half as much as some of you guys- I swear you were there to design and build them!) and I’d like to know more about these when I look at them.
Thanks,
David
It’s listed as sold on the motor classics website. I wonder about the final selling price. No excuse for a MB finished to that quality to have the wrong wheels. What a glaring oversight.
I believe a ‘41 should have a slat grill with no glovebox and square fuel tank sump. Experts, did I pass the quiz?
JW … yep, those were the most glaring items to me.
David … The MBs and GPWs are particularly challenging “models” as they evolved at the factory and then were often modified after the factory, sometimes by the motor pool and sometimes by soldiers. So, these “simple” vehicles require lots of time to learnhow the parts differed between the MB and GPW and then how the changes evolved. I’ve never owned or worked on an MB or GPW, so I’ve found myself depending on reader input over the years.
Thanks. I’m going to invest some time into getting to know these things. Any suggestions on books or websites?
David
David (not you, Dave Eilers),
You’re on a GREAT resource for learning more about WWII jeeps: eWillys.com. I’ve gained a ton of general knowledge, rules of thumb, and things to look at/for from Dave’s site, here. AND he’s found all 5 “flat fenders” I’ve bought here in Arizona (and some incredible deals on parts), published here for all of us to see almost every day.
But wait, there’s more! Next I recommend:
1. Books: All American Wonder, Volumes 1 and 2, by Ray Cowdery
2. Social Media: The “G503”, especially on FaceBook. G503.com is also good, but harder to use.
3. Book: The Jeep, J-G Jeudy and M. Tararine
4. Clubs: Your local MVPA chapter (Military Vehicle Preservation Association).
David,
I believe JW answered your questions… specifically, if this jeep IS 1941, it would have the “slat grill” (made from flat bar). The classic 9-slot grill on this jeep was adopted in 1942 and used through 1945 MBs and GPWs. This dash, as JW pointed out, has a glove box (which is great) but might not be accurate for such an early (1941) MB. And shouldn’t the hood number be 201xxxxx, rather than 204xxxxx?
I’m no expert, either, but am a bit obsessed with WWII jeeps (“a bit” might be an understatement).
So, are the MDJuan bodies an acceptable thing for MB and GPW restorations, or are you better off to try to find an original body to replace panels on? I have a friend who has, from what we can tell, a 1943 GPW. Complete frame and axles, engine (in pieces), transmission and transfer case, windshield, front fenders, seat, hood, and fuel tank. The tub is missing. The thought process is putting it back to road worthiness without spending big bucks on a restoration, but to keep it as original as possible. The problem is finding an original GPW body on the east coast (western Pennsylvania area) Would break my heart to part it out but, financially speaking, that would probably be the best thing to do.
Thanks for the help,
David
I agree with Joe. Those are great resources. G503.com is a great knowledge base (I search it often), but it may take some searches to find what you need. Learning the terminology is key to being able to search the site effectively.
As for MD Juan bodies, there are folks that fall on both sides. There are purists who dislike non-original rebuilds and there are others who have satisfactorily bought and used the bodies. I would set those opinions aside and ask your friend he wants out of the jeep. A jeep with an original body (and all else original) would be expected to out-sell a jeep with an MDJ body, but that doesn’t mean it wouldn’t sell with an MDJ body. Pretty much for everything else (for show, for use, and even for eventual resale) using an MDJ body works fine.
If you were able to find a GPW on the east coast, it will go quickly. There are lots of vintage jeep folks looking for bodies like that, so you’d be best off having a phone app that alerted you to any listings, then be able to buy the body quickly.
I looking for a part for the V6 JEEP CI.5.V6 engine.
I have the engine front insulator engine but I need the parts (arms) that make the connection.
Anyone know where I can find this piece?
Thank you for your attention
Paulo Ramos