Vehicle Description
1941 Willy MB Jeep
The 1/4 Ton 4x4 Willys MB, (and Ford GPW), was the standard World
War II Jeep used by the U.S. Army and all other branches of the
U.S. military and allied countries during WW II and into the 1950s,
including the Korean War. 640,000 units were built and at one time,
constituted � of the total military support vehicle fleet and
nearly 75% of the light 4WD vehicles put into service. Thx in part
toolive-drab.com
For consignment, a 1941 Willys MB Jeep with a title verified 1,099
actual miles. This is a real deal MB Jeep, first delivered on
December 4, 1941, (just days before Pearl Harbor), and
reconditioned in 1944. It is marked with a unit number and location
that represents the consignors service in Korea in 1966-1967.
Exterior
Aside from the typical Olive Drab paint on this workhorse, and the
gun on the back, (which we'll get to in a minute), we take note of
the slat grille which is the predecessor to the famous slotted and
stamped Jeep grille and was part of the first 25,808 Jeep MB's
produced. Olive Drab does indeed coat the rig, every inch including
the jerrycan, bumpers, hand holds, window frame, latches, and the
16-inch wheels. Wood handled tools are in their rightful place and
a pintle hook hitch is firmly bolted to the back. The gun on top is
a reenactor M2 .50 caliber machine gun with ammo can attached. A
white Army star appears on the hood and rear quarter panels and the
flared squared fenders would find their way to the civilian model
and remain to this day. The exterior is in excellent condition and
would present well at a show, a parade, or museum!
Interior
The Olive Drab spills into the interior, of course, which in some
sense, is part of the exterior. Padded drab seats are very basic
and light with buckets in the front and a narrow bench in the back,
where boxed panels provide additional seating and storage. The
standard black steering wheel leads to the olive dash where even
the knobs are colored. Black faced gauges are towards the center
and lots of instructional and informational plates occupy the
passenger side of the dash. Under a gun cover on the dash is
reenactor M1 (30-06) with several bandoliers of 8-round clips and a
leather sling. The no nonsense floor is bare or painted metal and
houses the shifter, range selector and pedals which are also olive
drab.
Drivetrain
Under the hood, a beautifully clean and correct 134ci L-head Go
Devil engine rated at 60 horsepower and fueled by a 1-barrel
carburetor. A Borg Warner T84 3-speed manual transmission is
underfoot and tied to a Dana 18 transfer case which helps split the
power between a Dana 27 axle in back and a Dana 25 axle in front,
both with 4.88 gears. Drum brakes are found front and rear .
Undercarriage
If the Army had a showroom, we would say this is nearly showroom
fresh. Just tinges of surface rust on some hardware and a few drops
of oil, but the rest is clean and yes, uniformly Olive Drab. Leaf
springs are in front and back and a single exhaust travels through
a stock style muffler a short distance before exiting on the right
side.
Drive-Ability
We're going to stay within the bounds of our test loop so as not to
draw attention to the 50 caliber machine gun, but we're thrilled
and honored to represent this veteran! It's super clean and doesn't
require polishing! The 4 cylinder starts easily, and that familiar
early Jeep tone is emitted from the exhaust. The knobby tires do
just fine on the blacktop and this little fighter has some pep.
It's also evident that hills and bumps would be no problem and
perhaps a bit bouncy like the old films depict. Utilitarian level
of functionality is onboard, and everything works as it should,
except the guns, so we head back to base. While Classic Auto Mall
represents that these functions were working at the time of our
test drive, we cannot guarantee these functions will be working at
the time of your purchase.
This is a fantastically clean military Jeep that is ready for a new
home, and if our record stands, it very likely will. Vintage Willys
rigs are a hot commodity and march out of our mall with predictable
precision. This is one of the earliest and most authentic models
we've had, so TEN-HUT and let us know ASAP.
Classic Auto Mall is home to more than 1,000 classic and
collectible vehicles for sale via consignment in a climate
controlled 336,000-square foot showroom (that's more than 8
acres!). The largest single location consignment dealer of classic
and collectible vehicles in the country is located in Morgantown,
Pennsylvania, just 1-hour west of Philadelphia off Exit 298 of the
I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. For more information visit
www.classicautomall.com or call us at (888) 227-0914. Contact us
anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.
There is no guarantee of mileage. A $299 Dealer Administrative fee
is not included in the advertised price.
With so many great cars, you know we have a lot to talk about, and
we do that each week on the Classic Auto Mall Podcast with host
Stewart Howden. Stewart discusses new inventory as well as trends
in consignments and car prices, while interviewing celebrities and
automotive professionals about amazing cars and their history. Tune
in each week to the Classic Auto Mall Podcast wherever you enjoy
listening. You can also watch on YouTube!
