Proud to be an MV Owner at 18 Years Old

[Kolten Hooper]

Ever since I became a member of the Ontario Regiment Museum’s Ferret Club in 2012, I have wanted my own military vehicle. Who wouldn’t! I always knew that It wouldn’t be realistic to own one until I was older, but I kept dreaming. I’m glad I did as just a few weeks ago I found an ad for a jeep that seemed to fit my needs perfectly. So, here I am now, 18 years old and the owner of a 1970 M38A1 CDN-3 and I don’t regret it one bit!

Les Fisher and I went to see the jeep and when transferring over the paperwork we discovered that Les was the original owner of the jeep after disposal out of the CF system, what a coincidence. I made a deal with the seller and brought it back home on the same day. It is now safely in dry storage.

The jeep is CFR: 70-08892, S/N: 99790. According to information I found here on MLU, the jeep was disposed out of CFB Toronto in 1987. That is all I know about its service history. If anyone could verify this info or provide any further information about this particular jeep, it would be much appreciated! My goal is to EVENTUALLY restore the jeep accurately with correct paint, markings and hardware/kit for the unit it served with, if this can be determined. I am a real stickler for detail and accuracy, so I feel this is only necessary. There are bolts screwed into the passenger side body, indicating a GPMG mount was formerly installed. Also is a radio connection on the passengers right side, screwed to the body as well as bolts over the passenger side wheel well and driver side rear body corner, indicating that a radio and corner antenna mount was previously installed. The jeep is an older restoration and luckily has not seen very much work by bubba. The jeep suits my needs perfectly as it is practically road worthy in the state it is in now, yet there are many aspects which I will be able to work on over time.

Here are some images of the jeep in its current state, before any work or cleaning. If you would like more pictures or information feel free to let me know. Enjoy!

[Brian Gough]

Kolten,

Congratulations on getting your first vehicle and a very nice HMV at that. I hope you will be in a position to keep it many years and that you have lots of fun with it. Keep your garage locked - I know where you live and might want to take it joyriding some time soon.

Thanks also to Les Fisher and Barry Churcher who I know were a big help to you in making this happen.

Brian

[maple_leaf_eh]

Two things jump out from the photos. First is the C42 Antenna Mounting Unit (AMU) but no antenna. Second is the two rows of bolts on the right side wall for the GPMG mount.

[Robin Craig]

Dear Kolten,

congratulations on buying the vehicle, as most of us will confirm, often our vehicles are older than we are, so don't feel bad about that.

Start small and build slowly, avoid "take-apart-itis" which sees the entire vehicle spread on every flat surface of your dwelling.

Drive it often and stay away from the evils of cheap fuel, many will warn you of that.

Glad that you have stuck with a Canadian vehicle, you wont look back now

[David Dunlop]

Is that a Sterling clip on the dash?

David

[James P]

C1 SMG mount.

[Tim Bell]

Congratulations on starting your long slipperly slope of MV ownership... mine started with a Ford GPW when I was 22... various vehicles along the way and now... a Sherman Firefly.

It is better to try and fail, than never to have tried at all.

Good luck and enjoy!

Tim

[Kolten Hooper]

Thank-you everyone for your interest!

Brian, and thank-you VERY much for your help guiding me along throughout the process. For you, the garage is always unlocked!

Terry, I figure that if I am not able to find out the vehicles service history, I should be able to narrow it down to a few units in the Toronto (disposal) area that would have used the GPMG as well as a radio, which was evidently installed due to the holes over the rear wheel well.

Robin, I am taking precautions to avoid catching "take-apart-itis". The only "issue" I have now is that a green bug bit me and now I'm interested in anything olive green, but that's the least of my worries!

David and James, your guess is better than mine!

Tim, Wow, I suppose in the future I will be needing a bigger garage!

[Terry Witiuk]

Kolten. It was great meeting you at the OMVA Milton event and as others have said...Congatulations! Awesome MV...look forward to meeting again and seeing your vehicle in person.
Cheers, Terry.

[Robin Craig]

Kolten, I have pm'd you about your next vehicle. . . . no need to stop now

[Frank v R]

Happy days Kolten , do some wet sanding in all the correct places and you should find some parts of your puzzle, also what we talked about by speaking to the former owners to see if they have any photos of the vehicle, with the GPMG mount it can only have belonged to a few units in the Toronto area , QYRANGS, GGHG, ONTR, come to mind

[Ryan Harriman]

That was a great deal on that jeep...it went for 1/3 of its value. Nice find.

Ryan

[Ed Storey]

It was disposed of out of Toronto in Aug 1988.

[chris vickery]

Holten, I own CFR 08889 which was held by the Queens York Rangers. Mine has provision for radio and gpmg mount as well. Actually mine came with the plate for the gpmg still attached. If interested the plate is available for sale.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Originally Posted by chris vickery

Holten, I own CFR 08889 which was held by the Queens York Rangers. Mine has provision for radio and gpmg mount as well. Actually mine came with the plate for the gpmg still attached. If interested the plate is available for sale.

I have 08876 ex QYRang (pronounced Kwai-rang), which came with the GPMG base installed.

I have my doubts about the left rear quarter antenna base. In my limited experience with Quebec's reserve armoured units, none had that particular feature. If they were for an additional radio, I don't remember ever seeing one. I am suspicious that it is someone's "improvement" to make it look like a photo.

[David Dunlop]

Terry, FWIW, many years ago, QOCHC here in town had a pair of these jeeps in a basement lockup at Minto Armories. One was equipped with a pair of C42 sets, one either side at the rear. At the back end there was a large corner bracket assembly mounted left rear corner supporting one aerial. The second aerial was as per the photos posted here. The left side aerial base sat about a foot and a half lower that the one above the spare wheel assembly.

Kolten's jeep looks like it might have had the left corner aerial mount setup at one time. What strikes me as odd though is the antennae tuner meter is facing outwards. Totally useless for the operator inside the vehicle.

On reflection, the two jeeps at Minto may have been RWR property, or 735 Sig Sqdn.


David

[chris vickery]

All three of my CDN 3 jeeps have provisions for the LH rear corner mount antenna bracket...

[rob love]

The holes for the corner mounts were on all the Cdn2 and Cdn3 from the factory. This is evidenced by the weld nuts on the inside of the body.

From my days in the FGH, the high mount over the spare tire carrier was standard with the C-42. We had the ATU mounted with the dial and gauge facing towards the Jeep, and a suitable hole cut in the canvas. The ATU had to be adjusted, and either the recce tactics did not allow for the stop, or just as likely, it was too damn cold in Manitoba to get out of the truck and walk around back. As the line went on apocalypse now: never get out of the jeep man, never get out of the jeep.

When the unit changed to the 524 sets, the corner mounts started making their appearance, and some of the Jeeps were changed over.

From my mechanic days, I can tell you that the high mount over the spare tire carrier, combined with the extra weight of the ATU or AMU, resulted in cracking of the rear body at the spare tire mount and body where it met the wheel wells. The corner mount is preferable for integrity purposes.

[Kolten Hooper]

Terry, Likewise and thanks! I can’t wait for you to see the jeep!
Robin, Pm sent.

Frank, I am very tempted to break out some sandpaper to see what is hidden beneath the paint, however I want to make sure that I have some paint made up first to do touchups once I am done. I am also looking into contacting the previous owners and am considering doing a “freedom of information request”.

Ryan, Thanks, I am quite happy with it!

Ed, Interesting, I have also seen 1988 listed, however the ownership says 1987. Hmmm.

Chris and Terry, Cool, you both have ex Queens York Rangers/ QYRang jeeps and our CFR’s are very close as well.

Chris, Thanks, Pm sent.

Terry and David, thank-you for the information however Rob gave us our answer above.

Rob, Thank-you very much for the very informative insight, It is much appreciated!


Can anyone provide me with information regarding a radio being formerly installed within my jeep by considering the placement of the radio tray bolts?
Considering their placement, was a C42 and/or 424 set installed at some point?

The image I have included is the passenger side, however what I find interesting is that an almost identical bolt pattern is present on the driver side, although some of the holes have been covered over with rivets.

Was the radio placement changed from one side to the other when the C42's were switched over to 524's or were there two radios installed in my jeep at one point in time... or is it a case of something else which I have not considered?