Willys "M38"



Willys M38





The Willys "M38" was a U.S. Army Jeep which had replaced the World war Ford and Willys MB Jeeps. Manufactured from 1949 to 1952, it saw action in the 1953 Korean war. It had a unique 24V electrical system as compared to the 6V

found in the other Jeeps during that time. It was later replaced by the M38A1in 1952. It was also called the military version of the CJ3A, as they were made during the same time and looked similar.

The M38 had a unique 24V electrical system which was water proof

making it able to drive easily in water. Like the CJ3A, it too had similar looks as they both were made on similar blueprints, but the M38 had a reinforced chassis and body. It's windshield could be fully folded for firing up front. It too like the other Jeeps of that era was powered by the "Go Devil" 4 cylinder engine, producing 60H.P. It had a T-90 gearbox with a Dana 18 transfer case and Dana 25 ( full float) and Dana 44 (semi float) axles in the front and rear respectively. It was also able to drive fully underwater and had a air intake and axle system which was vented for crossing rivers, swamps, etc.



M38 with a Snorkel.



A total of some 60-61000 M38's were ever produced. Ford Canada produced some 2300 for Canada Army, but here it was called the M38-MDN. Like in the war, here Ford wasn't asked to forcefully build Jeeps, but it chose to make them on the blueprints provided by the Willys Overland company. These Jeeps had their tools on the passenger side (right side) instead of the driver side (left side).

It's uniqueness was:

1. Like it's civilian counterpart, the CJ3A, the M38 too had a low bonnet and a low grille with big headlights, but it had a waterproof 24V electrical system and a reinforced structure as compared to other Jeeps.

2. It wasn't solely made by the Willys Overland company but made by the Ford Motor company in Canada.

3. It had it's spare equipment tools on the passenger side, instead of the driver side.

4. It was capable of drving fully under water.





M38 Interior.

 

M38 with equipment mounted on the passenger side.





CJ4

The CJ4 proto-type.

It is said that there were only a few CJ4 were ever made, which too were proto-types. It was never put to full production and a hence remained unknown to a lot of people. It was said to have been made in 1951-52 and was mainly made keeping the military in mind. The project never saw light and was scrapped by the Willys Overland company.

It is said to have the "Hurricane" engine, which was a proto-type then (1951-52),  also put in the CJ3B, which came in 1953. It also had a T-90 gearbox, Dana transfer-case and Dana axles. It is said to have had a high bonnet which was curved, resembling the CJ5 which came out later.

The High bonnet which was curved like the CJ5

A military CJ4

There are rumours that it was a experimental Jeep made for the U.S. Army, but somehow the Army didn't show interest and the Jeep wasn't made. There are no fixed numbers suggesting how many were made, some say there were only 2, some say there were even 200-300. 

There are no exact  specifications known about the CJ4, but it is said to have a high bonnet, which had a curved body style of the later seen CJ5.