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readers jeeps
Jim's 1951
Willy's 2 Door Station Wagon
Jim has got
questions about this Jeep.
His question:
"I am trying
to find someone that can help identify my Jeep. I have a lot
of "hear-say" info from the original purchaser from the U.
S. Army, but nothing in writing to back his story up. I
believe it is a 1951 civilian station wagon 4x4, purchased
by the Army as an experiment with using them as Litter
Carriers. According to Military Vehicles Mag the Army bought
1,000 as a test. It has the military ID tag on the glove
compartment door. It was purchased at a Salvage sale at Camp
Atterbury, Indiana by a neighbor, when the camp closed in
1954. I bought it from the son of the purchaser. I have
"hear-say" from a couple of members of the hospital unit
there during the Korean War period, that remember driving
it. But nothing of real proof.Any ideas or a place to go to
??"
Here is what Jim
thinks about it:
1951 Willys Jeep 2-door
Station Wagon, 4 x 4, Hi/Lo, 3-Speed. Differential
5.35 (I don't know enough about vehicles to know if I
stated that right - but it has a tag 5.35 on the rear
diff.
I was told by the son of the
original (civilian) owner that his Dad bought it at a
salvage sale at Camp Atterbury, Indiana near the end of
1954 when the camp ceased being a Federal facility.
 He
said the Motor Pool changed out the original 4-cylinder
engine with a Super Hurricane straight flat-head
6-cylinder in late 1954. His Dad worked in the Motor
Pool. Deceased several years when I found it sitting
behind his barn.
It has a Military ID tag on
the glove box (right - click for larger image)
The Editor of the Military
Vehicle Magazine sent me the photo (on the left)
following my question to him. That was all the info he
had.
The motor must be a VERY
early model, as it has no oil filter, has never had one,
and has no taps available to add one. This was verified
by a real mechanic, not me.
An image of the motor on the
day Jim bought it. (right - click for larger image)
Final story is that the
Military bought 1,000 civilian station wagons and
converted to military use, to test as a Litter Carrier
(not an ambulance). This one was sent to Camp Atterbury,
and carried Korean War wounded flown in to Atterbury
AFB, to the Army Hospital at Camp Atterbury, a distance
of 25 miles.
At a reunion of the 388th
Evac Hospital Group, which was at the Camp Atterbury
Hospital at that time, two members stated they
remembered driving it. But I don't know how much I can
count on that.
I know this is a lot, and I
don't expect you to be able to use it all. Anything you
can do to help prove all of this will be appreciated.
One problem, is that I was at work the day the Sheriff
stopped by to verify the information so I could get a
title. The wife thought I had said it was a 1958, so the
title ended up with that date, and the Motor Vehicle
Bureau now tells me there is no way to change it. Seems
very odd that I can't correct something, but that's what
they say.
Jim West
If you can shed some light
on this Jeep for Jim, we would like to hear from you.
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