UPDATE: I’ve added engine photos to the bottom of the post.
Rusty was owned and driven (apparently very roughly) on a farm near Billings, Montana. There are numerous welds, necessary to fix the cracks that appeared. The hubcaps have all kinds of dents, as does the body, the grille, hood, and the fenders. No part seemed spared. According to Lloyd, the man we bought it from, he purchased at an estate sale. The fact was, the farmer who owned it refused to sell it while alive, so Lloyd had to wait until he died. Lloyd was told it ran until it was parked and that it was parked due to the man becoming unable to drive it. At least, that’s the story. Still, the engine spins, the tranny shifts, and the jeep rolls easily.
Glenn tells me this was manufactured in late 1955 and made available for sale in 1956. I believe the color is pine tint, not far from the sea foam green color I’d intended to paint Biscuit (before I receive the wrong color from the paint company, but that’s another story).
Here are more than thirty photos that show the good, bad, ugly. What I can’t photograph is the smell emanating from the seats. lol.
That’s awesome Dave. I would have picked up that dj too. It’ll be a fun project. Are you going to restore it?
Did you know the Navy and I believe the Air Force had DJ3A s. Air Force might have been DJ5s. I ran in a Navy one at the Wildwood Naval Air Station (NJ) the weekend. At first I thought it was a salad jeep.
Yes, it will be restored, eventually. But, getting it running is the first thing. Next is fixing the things that keep it from being drivable (there are many), then collect the parts that will return it to stock. Finally, at some point I”ll have to remove the body, repair it, and remount it on a clean up chassis.
Bill,
Willys (throughout the different company changes) sold the military just about everything they had I think. That’s neat that you got to run around in one. Here’s some photos of one with a data plate:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/22021033@N06/sets/72157629794999316/
– Dave
Didn’t get a ride, it was in their museum. With all kinds of things militarized by civilians for parades and reenactments my thought was it wasn’t real, but when I got home and thinking about it being in a museum I researched and found the Navy had them.
Well Dave, You most certainly have your work “CUT OUT FOR YOU”. I don’t see a whole lot of rust through on the body, but all the dings and dents wiil give you a lot of practice doing body work. (One of my favorite past times) Good thing these old Willys Jeeps were made of thicker gauge metal, get yourself one of those electric stud dent pullers and old style Hammer & dolly. If you ARE going to restore this body, even the best body guy around, will need to use BONDO, I know, bad word in the restoration business, (a little goes a long way, A little dab will do ya) Just my opinion. Hope you got a good deal, I admire your ambitious spirit.