Commonwealth jeep mods in WWII...

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Tim,

Don't mistake me, I love jeeps... they're versatile, easy to drive and easy to store. I've driven WW2 MBs and GPWs, owned an M38A1 (which I used as a daily driver for years) and several civilian variants since then.

If I were to do an MB as a WW2 jeep in Canadian service, I would be inclined (at this point) to set it up as a Normandy-era ambulance, with homemade stretcher racks. Little could be more poignant than that. If you're more inclined to a combat unit, I will selfishly suggest my friend Art Bell's TAC HQ jeep from the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment. He's still alive and, I'm sure, would be astonished to see the recreation.

Other than that, and since you're in Hamilton, go RHLI and interface directly with their Regimental Association.

If you're building this from scratch, feel free to improvise as far as extra gas/water cans, camouflage and personal stores are concerned. At the unit level, all was fair game! Pics of all can be found.

Keep us posted and take some pics!

Geoff

Originally posted by Tim Sullivan
All,

Just wondering if anyone has any info on the common modifications that the Canadians and British made to jeeps during WWII? I just picked up a Willys and would like to do it up as accurately as I possibly can for Commonwealth service.

If anyone has any books and/or websites they can offer for information as well that would be great!

Tim