5 Attachment(s)
What IS this? M38; Early 3A, or a US military hodgepodge?
Mark here. I'm posting this for a friend who's also helping me remotely with my jeep.
He bought "something" that he can't truly identify.
This is the letter he wrote explaining the details. It's long but should help.
I really am at a loss to positively identify it. It seems neither CJ 2
or 3, nor is it a proper M38
The history, as I know it is that it lived it's entire working life
since 1952 as an "Air Police" Jeep at Kanehoe air force
base on the windward side of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii.
It is supposed to be in the same condition, minus a few years in
Hawaii's weather, as it was when it was retired from service.
When the senior Sgt. retired, he was allowed to purchase his beloved
Jeep and take it with him.
I purchased it from his son, when Dad could no longer drive........
I got approximately an entire pick up truck load of spare parts with it
as well.
Lots of carbs, clutches, brake parts, springs, sumps, distributors,
gears, etc........
I think 'ol Sarge was squirreling these away over the years.
When I first saw it, I thought M38 !!
On closer inspection, I became rather confused.
In no particular order, here are the odd aspects. I am sure there are
more.....
1- M-38 style instrument cluster.
2- Large diameter Gas tank filler hole, but small diameter filler neck.
3- Full sized M38 style transmission access cover.
4- Clean passenger side dash, with no evidence of there ever having been
any id plates riveted, or screwed on to it.
5- Basic 6 volt electrics
6- No provision for 2 batteries on passenger side below windscreen.
7- No holes near underseat tool box for id plates.
8- NO ID NUMBERS AT ALL..........anywhere...........There is a 5 digit
number stamped in the top of the frame
member just forward of the firewall on the passenger side. This
does not correspond to anything I can find.
9- Hand brake handle matches nothing I know of in type or position on
the dash.
10- Windscreen. Single piece.
When I talked to Gus Gower about this, he said it was possibly a
"Factory Mule" that was mocked up out of parts to
be a technical, mechanical model for the M38. This would then have been
sent out in to the field and rather than being listed
as a fighting asset, was allocated to the Base MPs for their use.
I've attached a few pictures he sent me.
Also on the body tub inside passenger side, in front of the tool box, is "JIFFY 74297."
