New Family Member: 1943 Ford GPW Jeep!
Discussion
Hi all,
After a search of @ 3 years I have finally found 'the one'! He is 1943 vintage and has been mechanically restored to a level I have rarely seen (an am in awe of) by a chap who also conducts car restorations on exotic metal such as Astons, Ferraris and MK1 Ford Mexico's.
During strip down, the Jeep revealed itself to be a genuine USN version, hence the colour which was matched to the stripped panels. Wherever possible, parts were refurbed and re-used.
At the moment, my only scheduled changes will be the removal of the hood star and '20 number' as I am pretty sure USN didn't have those markings. I have the chassis number so will look to research a bit more on it's history and see if I can glean a clue what numbers it should have had.
However, decal change is minor - I really applaud the restorer for doing a job I could never do and securing the future of a little piece of WW2 history.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/WRLws4dH.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/NeKKKU8o" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/NeKKKU8o.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/JlDYPphH" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/JlDYPphH.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/wUXQmJrf" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/wUXQmJrf.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/wZmdCdHD" Target="_blank">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/wZmdCdHD.jpg)
After a search of @ 3 years I have finally found 'the one'! He is 1943 vintage and has been mechanically restored to a level I have rarely seen (an am in awe of) by a chap who also conducts car restorations on exotic metal such as Astons, Ferraris and MK1 Ford Mexico's.
During strip down, the Jeep revealed itself to be a genuine USN version, hence the colour which was matched to the stripped panels. Wherever possible, parts were refurbed and re-used.
At the moment, my only scheduled changes will be the removal of the hood star and '20 number' as I am pretty sure USN didn't have those markings. I have the chassis number so will look to research a bit more on it's history and see if I can glean a clue what numbers it should have had.
However, decal change is minor - I really applaud the restorer for doing a job I could never do and securing the future of a little piece of WW2 history.
Be aware that it appears these Jeeps may well be being stolen to order so be careful where you park it (As I have posted in the linked thread, pull the rotor arm out if you park it anywhere!) : http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Hi
Thanks for the welcome. Have to agree on the keeper element. Your one looks a peach too! My one is 700 miles into post shake down mode and have been warned there will be teething problems to resolve but i can live with that. i know i need to buy a wheel jack and brace; can you still get the period kit or is it a trip to halfords?
Thanks for the welcome. Have to agree on the keeper element. Your one looks a peach too! My one is 700 miles into post shake down mode and have been warned there will be teething problems to resolve but i can live with that. i know i need to buy a wheel jack and brace; can you still get the period kit or is it a trip to halfords?
kurt535 said:
During strip down, the Jeep revealed itself to be a genuine USN version, hence the colour which was matched to the stripped panels.
Confused by that, as when not drab painted, USN Jeeps would have been standard USN grey in colour (same paint as used on a ship) - and not blue in colour!?!Yes, USA based vehicles didn't have the bonnet star, or any stars, as it was a ETO vehicle recognition symbol.
If seen a photo of an original USN Jeep left after WW2 in the Soloman ISlands and it still has it's original grey paint, and it's definately grey not blue.
Like the grey on this one
Edited by aeropilot on Tuesday 21st July 22:13
Stars coming off bonnet and back. I'm also removing the side number and 'S' as that is very much army. i've so far worked out the Jeep is likely to have been 'born' in January 1943.
As for colour provenance, the strip down revealed that colour blue in several places although, to be a genuine Aspies Jeep owner, the chassis and inside of the wheel fenders should probably still be green but it looks pretty so i won't be touching those parts
))
As for colour provenance, the strip down revealed that colour blue in several places although, to be a genuine Aspies Jeep owner, the chassis and inside of the wheel fenders should probably still be green but it looks pretty so i won't be touching those parts
))kurt535 said:
Stars coming off bonnet and back. I'm also removing the side number and 'S' as that is very much army. i've so far worked out the Jeep is likely to have been 'born' in January 1943.
As for colour provenance, the strip down revealed that colour blue in several places although, to be a genuine Aspies Jeep owner, the chassis and inside of the wheel fenders should probably still be green but it looks pretty so i won't be touching those parts))
Given how the things were repaired in the field at the time with parts from other vehicles, most were triggers brooms even in WW2, so unless there is a confirmed papertrail over the identity, I'd still question the identity based on strip down. And given they all left the factory painted drab, any original colour of any original part would be that?As for colour provenance, the strip down revealed that colour blue in several places although, to be a genuine Aspies Jeep owner, the chassis and inside of the wheel fenders should probably still be green but it looks pretty so i won't be touching those parts
))If blue was found in a strip down, I'd be more inclined to think it had been painted RAF blue at some point (which is closer to what your colour is to) and possibly from a much earlier bare metal paint job?
Anyway, other than anorak squabbling over colour palette, it looks a lovely example
It's too clean though - go get it dirty
kurt535 said:
Ill tell the restorer he should have spoken to you first
I first drove one back in 1985, after a mate and professional mechanic had spent nearly 5 years nut and bolt restoring his back in the days before a lot of the parts were being reproduced and I've driven loads of them since, including over to Normandy and Arnhem and spent a fair few hours fixing them when they've broke and helping out half a dozen owners during the restoration of theirs (and numerous other WW2 era vehicles)
So in that case I'll leave you experts to get on with it then....I'm out.
One of the best things about PH (not) is the passive aggressive way in which people tell you that your car is wrong/rubbish/has the incorrect cupholder detailing/whatever.
PS: That spade has the wrong shaped handle. Looks like Korean war issue (revised Type 17 handle, winterised, Marine Corps variant). Car should be scrapped.
PS: That spade has the wrong shaped handle. Looks like Korean war issue (revised Type 17 handle, winterised, Marine Corps variant). Car should be scrapped.
Okok. I'm at War and Peace down in Folkstone at the moment. Ill see if they can drive a tank over it tomorrow and Ill start again. The wrong shovel is the last straw😀
Talking of which, I met Bruce from Combat Dealers today. Really nice bloke who had time for everyone who came up to him. when he found out we lived close to each other he kindly invited me round to see his toys! My new best mate!!!
Talking of which, I met Bruce from Combat Dealers today. Really nice bloke who had time for everyone who came up to him. when he found out we lived close to each other he kindly invited me round to see his toys! My new best mate!!!
Yep, it's a 3 speed box. Hi lo tsfr box. So far ive only driven once and i didnt once achieve 1st to second on my own! The speedo is buried down on the dash so i dont have a clue how fast i went. Forget a handbrake. Hill starts are more biting point vs throttle. Overall, crude, demanding and utterly utterly addictive.
I discovered today my Jeep's actual birthdate is 1-1-43.
Also, researching the colour of USN Jeeps has thrown up this:
''The following is adapted from U.S. Navy Automotive Transportation, Bureau of Yards and Docks, 1949. Other sources indicate that the same or similar regulations were in effect at least by August 1944, including use of medium gray No. 123 as the color for U.S. Navy vehicles.
The basic color for all United States Navy transportation vehicles shall be medium gray No. 123 as set forth in color card supplement (21 April 1943) of the United States Army Specification No. 3-1. The specific paint referred to is a gloss color synthetic enamel and its detailed specifications are covered in United States Navy Specification No. 52-E-7, Type III.''
So, prior to April '43, it appears the colour a USN Jeep got painted was an on-base activity using whatever paints they had to hand. Therefore, this is consistent with the richness of the unusual colour discovered on restoration and applied over the OD.
Also, researching the colour of USN Jeeps has thrown up this:
''The following is adapted from U.S. Navy Automotive Transportation, Bureau of Yards and Docks, 1949. Other sources indicate that the same or similar regulations were in effect at least by August 1944, including use of medium gray No. 123 as the color for U.S. Navy vehicles.
The basic color for all United States Navy transportation vehicles shall be medium gray No. 123 as set forth in color card supplement (21 April 1943) of the United States Army Specification No. 3-1. The specific paint referred to is a gloss color synthetic enamel and its detailed specifications are covered in United States Navy Specification No. 52-E-7, Type III.''
So, prior to April '43, it appears the colour a USN Jeep got painted was an on-base activity using whatever paints they had to hand. Therefore, this is consistent with the richness of the unusual colour discovered on restoration and applied over the OD.
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