SOLD

David’s selling his running 1953 M-38A1 project.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1660050951307601

“Pretty intact old Army Jeep. Began life in OD green, shows Navy grey in places, now pale yellow w. Civil Defense markings. (reproduction sticker)

F-134 motor. Rochester carb. Originally 24v electrical. I have switched the coil, distributor and starter to try and get it to run. Jeep sat idle for many years on a ranch south of Marfa. Jeep will fire and idle. Shows decent compression. Runs on fuel in carb bowl or starting fluid but not building oil pressure. Have not tried to run longer until I could determine if it was oiling but not showing on the gauge or…

Please call or message me (via the Facebook link) for more info. I’ve tinkered a lot on this Jeep and can give you a good idea of its condition. Would be a great project, much of its original army stuff is still there. Body in pretty good shape considering. The 24v stuff can go with it if desired. Restore, build a ranch / hunting Jeep or get running as-is. Patina for miles.”

AD REMOVED

RARE 1954 M38A1 Ex-Army Jeep Willys and Ex-Fire Brush Truck CA Titled – $12,500

“Andy’s Picks”

Brush Truck M38a1

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/escondido-rare-1954-m38a1-ex-army-jeep/7824886819.html

Seller

Running, Driving, and current Registration til July 2025 (2025 sticker in envelope still).

Legit Ex-Army Jeep that was decommissioned and mothballed circa 1960 (“Radiator drained”) then some time in the 70’s or 80’s it was turned over to the Forestry Service and converted for use as a Brush Truck. Purchased from them when it was again decommissioned and replaced with more modern equipment and now Titled in CA.

Original Hurricane Motor and manual trans with odometer showing just over 7K miles. Fires up first try every time. Has an 80-gallon water tank and 150′ hose on the back. The original Clinton Engine pump motor on the back RUNS TOO! The original rotor water pump (that is turned by the gas Clinton engine) had corrosion and it wasn’t worth cleaning up straight away so a brand new and identical pump was purchased and is included (original pump also included) but not installed. The pipes will need new seals and we are missing the strainer so a new one will need to be purchased and installed (from a landscaping / irrigation supply store).

My son and I have taken it to a few car shows and cruise nights and it gets A LOT of attention, even when parked next to pristine, restored jeeps. The patina with the original Army Green and (fading) red over top with the original Army stenciling peeking through just cannot be reproduced. We were working to get the pump setup spraying again, but now college is imminent, he / we are finding other things more pressing. Has been a fun Father-Son project, but time to pass it on to someone who will enjoy it.

Lots of people say they would strip out the fire equipment and use it as a Desert Runner… but… well… whoever buys it can do whatever they want to with it. But there’s a whole lot of desert jeeps out there but I can’t say I’ve personally seen any other fire truck jeeps.

Can you drive it home? Uh, sure. But if you aren’t comfortable driving a 70+ year old jeep with no seatbelts, no doors, no power brakes and no power steering and are otherwise unfamiliar with the Jeep “Death Wobble”, I would recommend you either take back roads slowly or you tow it.