Hi all. Just a quick note to let you all know I am actually writing, albeit a little slow and somewhat infrequent at present. Early in 2015 an opportunity presented itself for myself to embark on a journey to obtain and restore a World War Two Jeep. Like many I had always been fascinated by this iconic vehicle that became known world wide for its versatility and usefulness during and after WW2.
During the 1939 - 1945 world war it was deemed necessary to find a replacement for the humble horse in modern warfare in the form of a utility vehicle, in June 1940 the US Army sent out requests for bids for a suitable robust 4 wheel drive capable vehicle with a list of specifications (among others) such as a wheelbase no more than 80 inches (2032 mm) a length of approximately 129 inches (3276.6 mm) and weighing no more than 1300 pounds (589.6 kg). Prototypes were produced by a number of companies including The Bantam Car Company, Willys Overland and Ford. Bantam’s design won the US Army’s choice, however; Bantam only had a small workshop numbering around 15 staff and with the impending likelihood of the US being drawn into the war, the contract was awarded to both Willys and Ford using Bantams design. Bantam had built about 69 Jeeps, but was ultimately given a contract to design and supply trailers to be towed by the vehicles being built by Willys and Ford. The US Government deemed the life expectancy of a jeep in a combat zone was just 90 days.
It is uncertain and highly debatable where the name “Jeep” came from as many claim credit for the term. The comic strip “Popeye” by Elizie Crisler Segar had a character named “Eugene the JEEP” which first appeared in US Papers in April 1938 and the Haliburton Oil Well Company of Duncan, Oklahoma built a truck called Jeep also in 1938. US Servicemen and women also nicknamed the new vehicle “Jeep” after it was initially referred to a “Peep”. Regardless of how it became known as a Jeep, the Jeep began its life in 1940 as a wartime command and reconnaissance vehicle and was produced at an outstanding rate. By the middle if 1941 there were more than 4,500 Jeeps in service built by Bantam, Willys and Ford with some 612,145 standardized jeeps being built before WW2 ended. Many of these jeeps were destined to go to many allied forces around the world including Russia, England and Australia under a lend-lease agreement, ultimately none of these vehicles were to be returned to the US. Following the end of WW2 many vehicles held by the US, including the iconic Jeep, were either sold, scrapped or dumped at sea so as to not cause a glut on the post-war economy of the US. Many other countries that had the jeeps simply employed them in their locations, following WW2 Australia retained its jeeps through-out the occupation of Japan, in Korea and initially in Vietnam.
In 1946 the US factories which made the wartime jeep modified the production lines to produce the post-war jeep called CJ’s (civilian Jeep’s) these jeeps had a 7 slot front grill (as opposed to the 9 slot war-time jeep) tail-gates, side mounted spare tyre, external fuel filler, chrome around the headlights, indicators and some had a PTO (power take off) fitted for farm use. Many service personnel became obsessed with their war-time jeep during the war and a good number were offered an opportunity to purchase a vehicle post-war.
Like many war time vehicles, the world renown jeep had become a collectors item. Even today, collectors and restorers still search earnestly for that ever elusive “Barn find” which are few and far between. Even the CJ version of the jeep has become a collectors item. Collectors of any vintage vehicles or the general public, young or older, find it hard not to stop in “awe” when a Jeep is seen in public, regardless if it has been lovingly restored or has much patina. The humble jeep evokes many and varied feelings and memories from within.
For me, I guess it was sort of a “Bucket list item” as I actually had an unspoken desire to own a jeep, I say unspoken because I never actually thought I’d ever find one to restore let alone own it myself. The journey this vehicle has taken me on already is incredible, imagine what it will be like once I install an engine. The research I have undertaken is endless, but constantly rewarding. I found my jeep’s Engine Number, chassis number and ARN (Army Registered Number) recorded in the archives at the AWM (Australian War Memorial). My main source of information is found on the Internet and from the “All-American Wonder, The Military Jeep 1941 - 1945 Vol 1, 2 and 3”.
Interestingly enough I have found many Jeep Club members from Australia and around the world more than keen to help anyone with information and or parts to help “save another jeep”. As an ex serviceman myself I am humbled to have found the opportunity to restore a portion of our military history though this jeep, I am proud to be the current custodian of Jeep ARN 159219.
Perhaps you may say this has been the reason for my slow or infrequent writing habits of late, and you’d probably be quite right. I guess I’m starting to combine to two.
Rick Canhan
