I've picked up a GPW...

[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?

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by warren brown

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

Hi Warren,
A very lucky find you have there, well done. If it were mine, I would do a thorough inspection of the vehicle for wear, leaks, cracks, rust, etc. and of course all the necessary light strip inspections, such as brakes, where you would be able to visually inspect components. From this you will be able to see how much dismantling is necessary. I like to see an original body, with their little weld repairs and dents, rather than changing for a modern replica. Get all the roadworthy and reliability items sorted out and then enjoy it for what it is.

regards, Richard

[warren brown]

Thanks Richard! I think i'd just like to get it operational - starts, stops, steers. At this point, I don't think I'm intending to get it registered - just cleaned up. But how do I clean it? I have two concerns - firstly damaging the paint - I'm worried a Gerni water blaster might obliterated the paint and secondly - the rust - do I just neutra-rust what's there or do I get it cut out and repaired? I want to conserve the jeep warts and all - but rust never sleeps as they say....