1952 Willys M38 Military Patrol Jeep

This is the last of the flat fender Jeeps. these were the closest the public got to the military model.

There's alot of stuff that comes with this jeep. that I gathered in the past years. From WWII era newspapers covering when Congress declared war. the Nazi surrender and others. There's a case of victory cigarettes. K rations. mess kits. gun oil. a record (LP) by MacArthur about the victory in the Pacific. and more memorabilia stretching all of the way through the Korean War era. and more! That doesn't even include the stuff in the Jeep – there are jerrycans. a gas mask. grenades (hollow. thankfully) short bayonets. a couple of field radios. helmets. and oh yeah – huge . 50 caliber guns! Hoosier Hot-Shot hooked this guy up with simulated fire. ATF approved twin guns that run on compressed oxygen and propane making for a hell of a fire and light show! The guns are fully accessorized with chains of cartridges hanging out of armament boxes!

Designated the M38. Jeeps such as this one were the first postwar redesign. incorporating more power. a heavier duty chassis. a stronger transmission and a host of other improvements. There was still a Willys Go-Devil inline four under the hood. but it now made 60hp and 105lbs/ft. The fuel tank could be filled without removing the driver's seat and gear ratio changes made for easier driving. The essence of the Jeep. though. remained undistilled.

The paint is authentic Olive Drab paint. Obviously the super solid and straight body's coated in it inside and out. but so is the chassis. all running gear. the motor and drivetrain. the wheels – everywhere! You could ford the Pacific and not rust!

Inside you'll find restored seats. all functional switchgear (including the one for the fender mounted wailer siren – too cool) and a dash full of reproduction brass plaques displaying gear patterns. transfer case operation. minimum octane requirement (68!) lift points. vehicle data and more. Turn the large kill switch to on. watch the original gauges rise to their correct positions. and hit the foot mounted starter. I don't think the engine's taken more than three revolutions to start any time we've moved it. and it always settles to a smooth idle. Push in the medium weight clutch. grab hold of the very notchy shifter and take off. The two handles next to the shifter are for the transfer case and front differential disengagement. and both work as designed. New 7. 00×16 military tires are at all four corners and on the spare hanger. The ride is as you'd expect from a 1950s Jeep whose primary mission was off road use. and the all hydraulic brakes function as they should.

Now let's talk about the guns and the mount. These pieces are hand made by an expert who builds props for Hollywood. They are NOT real . but definitely look the part. They fire using a mixture of bottled propane and bottled oxygen. These “guns” come with a certification from the ATF that they are perfectly acceptable for street use. After all. a puff of air isn't going to cause any carnage or destruction any time soon.

If you are looking for a cool nostalgia piece or an ultimate car show cruiser. this is it.

Also published at eBay.com

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