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| Willys MC / M38 | |
|---|---|
 A restored Willys M38 | |
| Type | Quarter-ton[a] 4x4 utility truck |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| Wars | Korean War Vietnam War Laotian Civil War Lebanese Civil War other conflicts |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Willys-Overland |
| Produced | 1949–1952[1] |
| No. built | more than 45,473 produced[1] |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2,625 lb (1,191 kg) Empty |
| Length | 133 in (3.38 m) |
| Width | 62 in (1.57 m) |
| Height | 69+3⁄4 in (1.77 m) |
| Engine | Willys MC[2] 60 hp (45 kW) |
| Transmission | 3 spd. x 2 range trf. case |
| Suspension | Beam axles on leaf springs |
| Fuel capacity | 13 US gal (49 L) |
Operational range | 220 mi (354.1 km) |
| Maximum speed | 60 mph (97 km/h) |
The Willys MC, formally the 1⁄4-Ton, 4 x 4, Utility Truck M38, or the G‑740 by its U.S. Army Standard Nomenclature supply catalog designation, is a quarter-ton four-wheel drive military light utility vehicle made by Willys between 1949 and 1952. It replaced (in production), and succeeded the World War II Willys MB and Ford GPW models, with a total production of some 50,000 units — less than one tenth the number of WWII models built.[1] Unlike during WWII, Ford was no longer involved in the production.
The M38 was a military version of the then-current civilian Jeep CJ-3A.[1] It differed from the CJ-3A in numerous ways, including a reinforced frame and suspension,[3] waterproof 24-volt electrical system,[1] sealed vent system for the engine, transmission, transfer case, fuel system[1] and brake system.[citation needed]
Some M38 jeeps served in the Korean theatre of operations, but the majority of units used there were remanufactured World War II jeeps. Approximately 2,300 M38 Jeeps were manufactured by Ford of Canada for Canadian Armed Forces in 1952, designated as the M38-CDN jeep. The M38 Willys MC was succeeded by the M38A1 Willys MD in 1952.
The M38 windshield could be folded flat for firing and the body was equipped with a pintle hook for towing and lifting shackles front and rear. The headlights were no longer recessed as on previous models, but protruded with a guard wire in front. The "pioneer" tools (axe and shovel) which were carried on the MB's driver side were transferred to the passenger side of this vehicle.[4]
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- ^ a b c d e f Brown 1994, p. 64.
- ^ TM-9-804–1⁄4 4x4 Utility truck M38, p.89
- ^ "About Willys Vehicles - M38".
- ^ M38 Jeep Reference Guide, Miller 2009