Identification of Strange Jeep Please

[Jared Archibald]

G'day everyone,

over the weekend I noticed an ad in the local paper for a 1945 Willys Jeep project with body and chassis only. I rang and went around to check it out as I was fairly sure I did not know about this one.

I was right. I did not know about it...but it wasn't a wartime Jeep either. In fact, I could not work out what it was. The vendor was adamant that he had done the research on Google and that it was a Australian issue Jeep made between 1942 and 1952. I didn't argue as there was no point - but I would love to know what it actually is.

At the time I assumed it was a CJ2 or CJ3 type Jeep. But having looked at pics on the net of CJ2, CJ3, CJ5, CJ6 and CJ7 type Jeeps, the Indian Mahindra Jeep copies, and the Japanese Mitsubishi Jeep clones - I can't identify it (but will stand corrected if I have stuffed up!).

The strange features that are present are:- electric windscreen wiper mounts on top of the scuttle (can't find any type of Jeep with this), dual fuel filler pressings either side of the body, factory right-hand drive, hinged swing-out tailgate with spare wheel carrier, and factory army green.

Please check out the pics and let me know what it is - I really want to know.

Jared - in hot & humid Darwin in northern Australia

[gjamo]

Hi Jared,
It looks like it even has a fold down tail gate.
Graeme

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Well you certainly have my interest piqued. Not Hotchkiss either.
Seeing that this was neatly changed to RH drive (glovebox swapped to left), original pedal holes etc filled in, I wonder if the "extras" may have included electric wipers and another fuel tank and filler?
So just a modified jeep?

Rich

[Stuart Kirkham]

G'day jared

It looks like a CJ3B (high bonnet model). The CJ3B was used by the RAAF so it may be one of those as the spare wheel is also mounted at the back.

It may even be a 1958 army trials vehicle.

http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Mili...tArmyTest.html







Heres a photo of a Willys CJ3B after being assembled in Perth, WA in the 50's.

[malcolm erik bogaert]

guys....that looks exactly the same as my old ex Indian Afrmy Mahindra....certainly the dash is exactly the same...best regards from a very cold north-northumberland. malcolm

[Col Tigwell]

OK the photos taken in Australia going by bith the serial of the jeep and the mod state of the C130, were taken between 1959 and 1961

Regards Col

These jeeps were a heap of crap, especially equiped with Lucas starters etc and used to run through starters and ring gears like no other vehicle I have seen.

[mcafee]

Look at the battery tray. If it is really tall compared to a Cj2a or 3a, then it is a 3b.

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Col Tigwell

OK the photos taken in Australia going by ..... the mod state of the C130, were taken between 1959 and 1961.

Regards Col

Not trying to split this thread, but Col, can you explain why the C130 has both Skippy and RAF Roundels?

[Lynn Eades]

You Aussies stole those wings from the Pohms.

[Col Tigwell]

When the C130A's came from the USA, it was the practice to onloy put the Kangaroo on the fusalage.

If you look at any RAAF aircraft in the late 50's that was the norm. By the early 60's it was kangaroos on the wings too.

The A model in the jeep photos was the first we got and it would have been late 50's and early 60's because there are no pylon tanks fitted.

This aircraft is now buried at Richmond as it was damaged in a bad storm, but by then it was being used as a loading trainer and had nothing except the fusalage left.

Regards

Col

[Anthony Main]

It looks like a Mahindra bushranger built for the Australian market!

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Got to agree with Anthony,
Mahindra has the scuttle mounted wipers, footwell vents, similar fuel fillers and the unusual tailgate design matches. Would have been a Pugeot (copy) diesal. The vendor may need to redo his research, but all jeeps (and clones apparently) seem to be advertised as 42/43 regerdless of fact. There was a 53(?) high bonnett that was advertised locally for over 2 years as a '43. Vendor refused to accept the fact, even when side by side with an original. Yes, it was eventually sold, with the purchaser beleiving it to be a "43........
Rich.

[Lynn Eades]

Have you met the Hotchkiss 201 fraternity that are genuine WW2? They seem to be like young kids...They all want to be older.

[oldlithgow]

It looks to be a Japanese Mitsubishi Military.

http://www.film.queensu.ca/Cj3b/Worl...nMilitary.html

Craig
Cold Lake
M38A1

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Mitsbushi jeep does not have the scuttle mounted wipers, or tailgate, so I will stick with the Mahindra.
Rich.


http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/attach...40-hardtop.jpg

[malcolm erik bogaert]

whilst not claiming to be an expert on jeeps I would be prepared to swear in a court of law that its Mahindra(probably the worst vehicle I have ever driven) and have to say that some advertisers are less than honest when advertising there wares....say 1940's jeep and yopu wil get more interest and more money!dont be foolded Jared its a Mahandra...cheers from a slightly warmer north-northumberland malcolm

[Jared Archibald]

G'day everyone,

thankyou to all those that have commented on my initial post.

As I mentioned in that post, I had looked at pics on the web of each type of Jeep and Jeep clone I could think of - including the Mahindra.

Malcom's first post made me revisit this vehicle after first discounting it. I managed to find a couple of excellent pages on Mahindras released in Australia. These were buried in a site on CJ Jeeps but now I can't find them, or I would add the URL.

As Richard listed (and Anthony mentioned), the Australian released Mahindra fits the bill on each of the strange features I picked up on when I inspected the "project 42 Jeep". A couple of others are that the Mahindra has central dash mounted instruments, they have two fuel tanks (a 40l and a 20l) and that the Stockman (the base model in Australia) only came in green. This explains the now faded "factory army green" paint job.

Once again, thanks for all the responses - the pics of the RAAF "Follow Me" Jeep are excellent.

Jared

[cucvcan]

I'm no expert but that looks like a Toyota FJ