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Orygun,
"GPW" was Ford factory identifier for the Jeep.
"MB" was Willy's factory identifier for the Jeep.
That is why the earlier Willy's (and never was a Ford) Jeep was an MA....and yes, they're are referred to by collectors and enthusiasts as "Ma Jeep's".
Mark's right about the grill. The change came about because the way the headlight was mounted changed when the "WWII Jeep" became the CJ series (Grill changed on military Jeeps with the M38A1, which we also know as the CJ-5).
Ford hated the fact that Willy's was brought in on the Jeep, too. They had assumed that once they won the contract, the Jeep would be their's and only their's, however, management was now in the hands of the Army. Ford was simply a contractor working for them, so if they wanted a piece of the pie, they had to share.
Incensed, Ford wanted EVERYONE to know which Jeeps were built by them, so every single bolt they used to assemble the Jeep had the Ford stylized "F" stamped on the head.
It used to be a common thing to run across one, once in a while, when I was a kid.
I didn't learn the full story until years later, though.
Dean
"GPW" was Ford factory identifier for the Jeep.
"MB" was Willy's factory identifier for the Jeep.
That is why the earlier Willy's (and never was a Ford) Jeep was an MA....and yes, they're are referred to by collectors and enthusiasts as "Ma Jeep's".
Mark's right about the grill. The change came about because the way the headlight was mounted changed when the "WWII Jeep" became the CJ series (Grill changed on military Jeeps with the M38A1, which we also know as the CJ-5).
Ford hated the fact that Willy's was brought in on the Jeep, too. They had assumed that once they won the contract, the Jeep would be their's and only their's, however, management was now in the hands of the Army. Ford was simply a contractor working for them, so if they wanted a piece of the pie, they had to share.
Incensed, Ford wanted EVERYONE to know which Jeeps were built by them, so every single bolt they used to assemble the Jeep had the Ford stylized "F" stamped on the head.
It used to be a common thing to run across one, once in a while, when I was a kid.
I didn't learn the full story until years later, though.
Dean
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