Will I make it? Jeep project!

[Lars R.]

Interesting theory David! Sounds plausible! It could explain the Red also. Would be great to have a picture...
It might also explain, why there is no yellow / red under the hood or not much of it on the inside / underside...

My wife's Granddad trained in Canada as a RAF Navigator!

I have light green primer, original OD, darker OD, Yellow and Red (all over body). The wheels are more like rusty white, with 3 post war and one later war combat rim. No clue how the blue in the rear adds up...it is only in areas were pictured. Windscreen and dash and some of the front end inside is Black.

[Lars R.]

Hmm, a shame there is no view from the rear...and not RCAF...but

img-1.jpg
https://d3at0mnwuyeh75.cloudfront.ne...hter/img-1.jpg

12.1.1943
Canadian Army Photo

The first two of an estimated fifteen jeeps to be converted into miniature fire engines recently rolled out of the Canadian Mechanical Transport Shop at Ottawa. They will be used in coastal areas.

The converted jeeps will join a fleet of heavier fire reels now in use at Canadian training centers. They are expected to be particularly valuable in mountainous and wooded areas.

[chris vickery]

Your fractured frame is concerning. Something to take great care to inspect once it is all torn down. Originality is great but a replacement frame might be a reality depending on how bad your original is.

[maple_leaf_eh]

I'm feeling excited for you, and at the same time sorry for you. That looks like a great project! But, you've fallen deeply into the hole that is research and restoring old vehicles. Some of us here would say the only cure is to buy more and more vehicles!

Lars, I'm a bit confused. The Jeep came from British Columbia; that's a really long way from Germany which is the address you have on your signature.

[Lars R.]

Hey Chris & Terry,

the Frame should be O.K., it is fractured were many Jeep frames brake, especially if used as a snow plough. It is were the tube meets the side rail and it has full thickness, no rust, so, it has been repaird on other Jeeps before and should work.

That Jeep has had a long journey indeed, all they way through Canada back East, then to the US to be shipped accross the Atlantic and via 4 European countries till it finally turned up at my doorstep, but it found a good home I hope. It took over a Year though. In anticipation, I could collect many missing parts in those 12 months!

If it would have been a story about "just a Jeep", it probably would not have happened. We are spoilt rotten with mechanically very sound G503s in Europe, with many only having been sold off by Armies in the 1980s/90s and mostly well maintained! I think the Italians were the last to let some go in the early 2000s, from a Railway Engineers Battallion. But, most of these are complete salads having been rebuilt not only once, but some even three times! I have a Frence cast block (not Hotchkiss!!!), which was casted in 1989 for the French Army and assembled by them with WWII internals to a running engine in 1990!

So, if you want a fairly original 241 / 242 one, you need to look elsewhere and go the extra mile...and be prepared to take on a Challenge!

[Eric B]

Hello

It is not a standard military fire jeep, These brackets were not on the military modification, nor is it a stretcher jeep.

If they are original they create an interesting oddity... and puzzle.

I have not seen any CDN MB's painted yellow. There were some red for fire service. We did not have "Follow me vehicles" like the USA that I am aware of.

It is nothing that i have seen or have in my files. It could be a one of... but what?

Thanks
Eric

[Lars R.]

Lars is Lurchi!

Eric, I am puzzled too. It does not correspond with any stretcher versions I have seen. The airstrip Jeep / Fire Jeep seems a plausible (but unconfirmed) theory.

Looking at fire Jeeps, much seems consistent with what we have here. Although, it might have been a progressive evolution from plain to yellow "help" vehicle to fire truck later. It is all speculation and I do not claim anything.

What strikes me though, is the fact that the inner fenders and tool boxes are near to new, as if protected by a structure over a period of time. The rear brackets look well made and use the genuine TR 20 bolts and rear seat hooks and the modifications show some OD paint...either under it or even on it. Hence, my assumption, this happened early, if not even in Army (CAF) service. Strange, that all unused holes (Fire extinguischer, handles, side reflectors, top bow brackets, half doors. etc) were welded shut and show OD over the welding!. The cut out rear panel shows no trace of a hinge and was very neatly cut.

I simply don't know...

[Lars R.]

I was so lucky to get hold of this original back panel!

A friend of mine restoring a Slat thought it was not good enough for his and cut it out...

It needs some TLC, but I am happy with it!