I've picked up a GPW...

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

Nice looking jeep done up as a desert one. A minor point. The rope's coil wrapping around the front bumper tends to be the American method. Brits tended to wrap it as a "Figure 8"

Originally Posted by warren brown

I recently picked up a Ford GPW - it was sold to me by a farmer who was clearing stuff belonging to his Dad who passed away about two years ago. I bought it more or less sight unseen - it was a bit of a lucky dip - the farmer thought it was a Willys, but on arrival it turned out to be a GPW. He didn't know how long his Dad had had the jeep, only that it had been a farm hack all his 48 years - he sought-of-thought his Dad bought it around 1960. In any case it hadn't been started for more than 25 years. It came with all the accessories - square tyres, pigeon poo, rat poo, dirt, a bit of rust - but it is very straight - except on the bumper gussets - and hasn't been fiddled with. It still has the grease-gun bracket under the bonnet, has - surprisingly - no rust on the window frame, still has the straps for the axe and shovel etc. just a couple of questions for the brains trust - there are a few odd/intersting bits 1. there's the remains of a sticker on the bonnet about not leaving the vehicle in gear when transporting -has anyone seen this before? Is it something to do with army auctions perhaps? 2. the rear reflectors and stop light. Are these actually military or aftermarket?Many thanks if anyone has an idea. (BTW - when I brought the jeep home, we got it running within about 25 minutes. It's a beauty!)

[Mike Cecil]

Colin,

You didn't mention the post-war .50 cal box on the front mudguard (oooops- fender). I dare say that Warren would be hard pressed to legally 'arm' his SAS jeep in Australia with 'dewatts' or replicas, such are the draconian firearms rules prevailing, especially in NSW.

Still, a nice looking example and no doubt lots of fun! The new acquisition is an example to desire: lots of originality just in need of some TLC....

Mike C

[warren brown]

Thanks everyone! Wow - what a response! Little Jo - thanks for the tip - I've been following the life story of your jeep for some time - and it's an inspiration. Mike - thanks for your knowledge - at this point I need to crawl all over it and jot down everything I can find - sadly the glove box IDs are missing - but i'll get the engine and chassis IDs this weekend. I had my little bloke (6 years old) with me last weekend - and he needs ten times the attention of an ageing GPW. And thank you for your interest - I haven't given you any numbers for the White Scout Car or the Blitz as you've previously asked - flat out like a lizard drinking lately. Colin M/S - I don't think we're any different with our gun laws - if I follow right to the letter of the law I can probably do something about Vickers K deactivated or replicas but I need to deliver my grandmother to the firearms registry as surety. And Dave M - interestingly, the jeep has had at some point a coat of paint - at least in parts - of a green with a touch of blue in it - something like that USMC colour used in The Pacific series you were involved in with your GMC. I can see OD - the original under the toolbox lids - and I think bronze olive and another coat of drab and then this blue green colour. It's a bloody Picasso.

[warren brown]

A few other photos...

[Ian Fawbert]

Hi Warren,

Great find on the jeep! Please post more and more photo's of her. These original jeeps are the ones which, while they might have been through an army rebuild, can share so much to jeeps which are being rebuilt due to being in parts or rusted beyond repair.

If you can, please DON'T restore it. There are too many original jeeps like this that shouldn't, especially be restored which are, and as you well know, once restored, it can't be original again. It's great you got it running though!

While it has a little bit of rust (which it only seems to), if that's the worst thing, you are laughing! That rust on the side panel at the fuel tank could be easily fixed and reprinted to match the current paint/patina.

If you do want to restore it, please let me know as I would gladly buy it from you in its unrestored state to keep it that way.

Cheers,
Ian.

[warren brown]

Ian - I'm so glad you said this. The thing that has stung me about this jeep is its originality. I've only ever really seen jeeps renovated - ie: green with a star on the bonnet - or beautifully restored - or ready for the wreckers. I don't have an urge to strip it down even though I have a complete - ready-to-go body with bonnet, windscreen, tub, grille, I bought thru Darcy Miller many years ago. There's something lovely and fascinating about this old jeep.

[warren brown]

So - can I ask -If I want to preserve/conserve the jeep - where do I start? What about staving off further deterioration?