M38A1 - year of produced and date of delivery

Hi i'm new. I've just bought a M38A1 (the guy sold the truck said that). Date of delivery (on data plate) is Jan 1969. But I've read here M38A1 was produced 1952-1957. Could anyone tell me if there's something wrong?

It could be a CJ-5 does it have JEEP on the side of the cowl or is there a large hole on the passenger side of the cowl.

I don't know if they were made as late as 1969, but the USMC did order up more M38A1 trucks in the 1960's. I have a 1964 M38A1 which was made on a USMC order. My understanding is that the Marine Corps didn't like the new M151 series MUTTs, so they ordered up new M38A1 trucks instead. So, maybe your truck is one of the late-production ones made for the USMC?

I suggest that you try asking over on G503.com, too. I think there are more jeep guys there than here.

Since you're new, I'm proud to be the first to show you our favorite smiley:



Here's a picture of my 1964 M38A1. More can be found at the link above.

Welcome to the forum!

It has JEEP, but no hole
@nf6x: Thnx for smiley. Will take some pics.

There were a lot of CJ-5s that were purchased by the govt. and the military for use on post, just for running between offices, etc. Up until the early 1970s, most of these had military-style data plates put on them, just like the tactical vehicles. It's possible what you have is a 1969 CJ-5 that was used by the military for base transportation. Not as valuable as the M38A1, or as historically significant. However, the differences between the CJ-5 and M38A1 are very minor. And you won't feel to bad if you paint yours like a military M38A1, and then go off-roading in it and scrape it up.

It could also be an M606A2 or M606A3. The military at one point or another managed to use every jeep product built during the 1945 thru 1971 period except the jeepster. The M606 series were primarily shipped to foreign governments or the Army purchased them for military aid to foreign governments. Some did find their way into US military service. These were produced from about 1960 thru 1961. The last of the US M38A1's are dated 1968 but Canadian M38A1 CDN2 and CDN3's were produced thru 1971. Email me a digital photo of your serial plates on the dash and on the right front end of the right rear wheelhouse.

You can visit our Willys Post WWII M series web site for more data:
www.willysmjeeps.com

wsknettl@centurytel.net

Damn it looks just like M606. Have some old photos.
@ wesk: i'll email the data plate.

I think that's a nice-looking jeep, whether it was built for the military or not.

I just noticed that your in Nam! They (the government) allow you to have U.S. stars on vehicles? What happened to all that good U.S. surplus of equipment we gave the south? Any of it still laying around?

[harry carray] Heck, I'd buy 2, and seal the deal with a tall cool glass of budweiser [harry carray]

halftrack said:

They (the government) allow you to have U.S. stars on vehicles? What happened to all that good U.S. surplus of equipment we gave the south? Any of it still laying around?

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It's a painted star, not a soldier w guns. How could it be a problem?
I found jeep is a nice looking and tough truck, and easy to have one in quite good condition here. US star is cool too think so.

poppep said:

It's a painted star, not a soldier w guns. How could it be a problem?
I found jeep is a nice looking and tough truck, and easy to have one in quite good condition here. US star is cool too think so.

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I love it when common sense prevails. We need more of that here.

WOW!

That Jeep looks like it is in great shape! Wish mine looked that good.