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Old 07-07-16, 10:55
Johan WILLAERT Johan WILLAERT is offline
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Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Belgium
Posts: 74
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Quote:
Originally Posted by simon king View Post
Would a late GPW have been fitted with a Sheller steering wheel. Surely the steel spoked steering wheel originally fitted would be correct.
Yes, at first glance you are correct...

Because of the ACM II body I assumed it was a late production GPW.
However during disassembly we discovered the original frame number which is GPW62754. It came off the Louisville, KY, assembly line on 7th September 1942 with original hood number U.S.A. 20150051.

Basically it is an early frame and drivetrain, fenders and hood with a late body. The hood has neither holes for the grease gun bracket, nor those for the lube guide... The windshield does not have the gun rack brackets...

It was clear this fairly early GPW had its Ford body replaced with an ACMII tub at some point in its service...
So we decided to keep everything not related to the body early style, while keeping all body accessories matching the late ACMII tub.

Originally GPW62754 would have made with a green Sheller steering wheel... The spoke steering wheel that came on the Jeep had been adapted with a longer steering rod and tube (visible on the first picture) to fit a taller and heavier driver so we went back to the original steering set-up...

In the end it is a mix of early and late parts but still representative of one of the reconditioned Jeeps delivered to the Canadian Army from US Stocks in 1944...

Within the next few weeks the windshield and top will be added, along with markings for the Glenngarian Infantry of the 3rd Division...

Thanks for your interest,

Johan
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