1953 WILLYS M38A1 JEEP

2200cc petrol, manual. This Willys M38A1 Jeep has received a very thorough overhaul since arriving in the UK from Arizona last year. The vendor has owned it for 15 months, 12 of which were spent on the renovation, and it has not yet been taken to shows. Clearly a lot of time and money was spent bringing it to its current condition, although it arrived in the UK as a solid base vehicle. We're told, “The chassis is in excellent condition and just needed a good clean and paint. The tub is solid too. The four-wheel drive system all works, and it drives great with good oil pressure and goes through the gears smoothly, with synchro on all gears.”

For the renovation, the tub was removed, repaired and repainted, and the chassis, gearbox and engine were completely cleaned and painted. All the steering has been renovated, including a rebuilt steering box, with new tie rod ends, dust covers and a Rancho steering damper. The brakes have all been refurbished with a new master cylinder and an 11-inch drum conversion, new brake lines and hoses, and an original handbrake system. The fuel system has been overhauled, including a new carb, fuel lines and pump, the tank has been cleaned, and a K&N air filter has been fitted. The ignition system was also refreshed with a new Autolite electronic distributor, new leads, coil, cap, rotor, NGK spark plugs and a new ignition switch.

The Jeep has been rewired from scratch, with a modern fuse box, 12V alternator, high-torque starter motor, heavy-duty battery and starter cables, and a battery isolator. New headlights have been fitted, and the front indicators have been adapted into the driving lamps. The brakes have received new fluid, and all the grease points have been greased. The engine and full driveline have received fresh oil, the engine tappets have been adjusted, and the cooling system has been flushed, given a new coolant pump and refilled with 50/50 Prestone coolant. Other work included renewal of various gaskets, seals and shafts, with many parts being sourced from the USA, France, the UK and Greece. 

The spec list now includes a roll cage, bikini top, voltmeter and rev counter, and the Jeep sits on a set of 7.50/16 tyres, including the spare. It is supplied with spare keys, a 20-litre jerry can, an A-frame and a tow rope. The paperwork file comprises the current V5C showing only 1 former keeper in the UK, and a large pile of parts receipts for its recent overhaul. The odometer shows 48,637 miles.

The registration number is non-transferable.

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