Highlights

Wartime-produced Willys MB dated January 1945 with documented military provenance
Service history spanning the US Army, an Australian Army unit, the French Air Force, and the French Gendarmerie
In current ownership for approximately 19 years, always stored in an underground car park
Extensive engine rebuild carried out in 2013 with invoice available
Retains combat-related features including machine gun mount reinforcements

The Appeal

The Willys MB is one of the most recognisable military vehicles of the Second World War, rugged, versatile, and iconic in equal measure. Produced in vast numbers to serve Allied forces across every theatre of the conflict, surviving examples with verifiable wartime provenance are increasingly scarce and keenly sought by collectors and historians alike.

This particular Jeep, dated January 1945, reportedly carries a documented service history that few surviving examples can rival. Its journey can be traced from the US Army through an Australian Army unit believed to have been stationed in Belgium, then onward to the French Air Force and the French Gendarmerie before eventually passing into civilian hands. A French Air Force repair plate dated 3 January 1955 remains affixed to the vehicle, providing tangible evidence of its post-war military career.

More striking still are the traces of its combat past: machine gun mount reinforcements and a reinforcement plate beneath the floor. During paint stripping, a small yellow kangaroo was discovered painted on the fuel tank, possibly an Australian unit marking, though this was unfortunately lost during subsequent restoration.

In current ownership for approximately 19 years, this Willys MB presents a noteworthy opportunity to acquire a genuine wartime Jeep with a rich and traceable military history.

History and Paperwork

Dated January 1945; registered in France with historic vehicle status
Serial numbers are reported as non-matching which will require verification
Documented ownership history: US Army, an Australian Army unit (believed stationed in Belgium), French Air Force, French Gendarmerie, then private ownership before the current owner
Purchased by the current owner in July 2007
Gearbox (3rd gear) broke on the day of the original test drive and was overhauled in 2007
Extensive engine rebuild carried out in 2013 (invoice available), including: cylinder head cleaning, decarbonising, and resurfacing; engine block decarbonising and boring; press-fitting of four cylinder liners; rectification of eight valve seats (41 and 43 mm); and valve lapping
Clutch replaced, gearbox overhauled, cooling system overhauled, and electrical system repairs carried out
French Air Force repair plate dated 3 January 1955 still present on the vehicle
The odometer shows 13,493 miles; this reading is not believed to reflect actual mileage as the odometer has been replaced or has gone around the clock
Exempt from technical inspection requirements as the vehicle pre-dates 1960
The vehicle has always been kept in an underground car park

The Condition

Repainted several times; most recently approximately three years ago and driven very little since
Original bodywork with a double-skinned (reinforced) rear body; welding and holes are visible where a machine gun mount was supported
Original reinforcements and drill holes for the machine gun mount behind the seats are retained, along with a reinforcement plate under the floor
Tyres have been replaced
No soft top is included with the vehicle

The Mechanics

2,199cc ‘Go Devil’ ‘L134’ petrol engine with six-volt electrical system
Three-speed manual transmission
The vendor describes the engine as rebuilt with very few kilometres covered since the 2013 overhaul

The vendor also tells us:

The Jeep was inspected and test-driven this weekend (May 2nd/3rd) by a professional, whose conclusions were as follows:

The engine does not start immediately, which is perfectly normal for a 6-volt vehicle and does not in any way constitute a defect
Shifting from 1st to 2nd gear can be slightly notchy, which is a classic and well-known characteristic of Willys MBs, without any concerning mechanical implications"

BEFORE YOU BUY

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