Jeep M38 (MC)
The M38 took the flat-fender CJ-3A and hardened it for the Army with a stronger frame and springs, a waterproof 24-volt electrical system, and sealed vents so the engine and driveline could wade deep water. It kept the 60-horsepower L-head Go Devil four, the T-90 gearbox, and the two-speed transfer case, and added military fittings such as blackout lights, guarded headlights, and a fold-flat windshield. Some served in Korea, though most jeeps used there were rebuilt wartime MBs. The M38A1 replaced it in 1952 after a short run, put at anywhere from about 45,000 to 61,000.
Engines
| Engine | Power | Torque | Fuel | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willys L-134 Go Devil L-head I4 Gross, at 4,000 and 2,000 rpm, with 6.48:1 compression (Wikipedia). |
60 hp (45 kW) | 105 lb-ft (142 N·m) | Gasoline | 1950 to 1952 |
Transmissions
- 3-speed manual (Borg-Warner T-90) (1950 to 1952)
Sizes and weights
| Measure | Size |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 80 in2,032 mm |
| Length | 132.9 in3,376 mm |
| Width | 62 in1,575 mm |
| Height | 74 in1,880 mm |
| Ground clearance | 9.3 in235 mm |
| Curb weight | 2,625 lb1,191 kg |
| Fuel tank | 13 US gal49 L |
A range covers the body styles and trims of this generation.
Worth knowing
- The 24-volt system ran on two 12-volt batteries in series, and the ignition and wiring were waterproofed for fording.
- Spotting features include headlights that stand out from the grille behind wire guards, blackout lights, a battery panel on the cowl, and the axe and shovel on the passenger side.
- Ford of Canada built about 2,300 for the Canadian forces in 1952 as the M38-CDN.
- A 1951 M38 stood for the jeep in the Museum of Modern Art's 1951 exhibition of eight outstanding car designs.
- Willys kept building export M38s after U.S. production ended; JeepTech's records show 3,880 in 1955.
Year by year, newest first
- Ford of Canada built about 2,300 M38-CDNs.
- Replaced in production by the M38A1 later in the year.
- A 1951 M38 appeared in the Museum of Modern Art's exhibition of excellent automobile design.
- Went into production in the fall as the militarized CJ-3A, with serial numbers starting at 10001.
Notes
Wikipedia dates production from 1949, while Reed Cary (cj3b.info) and JeepTech start it in the fall of 1950. Jim Allen says an export version was built from 1953 to 1955, and JeepTech lists 3,880 export units in 1955. Totals disagree as noted under units_built. Payload was 800 lb off-road and 1,200 lb on road (Wikipedia).
Sources
- en.wikipedia.org /wiki/Willys_M38
- cj3b.info /Poster/M38.html
- cj3apage.com /index/m38.htm
- terryhowe.github.io /JeepTech/models/m38/
- cj3b.info /Siblings/CJ3AOrigins.html
- cj3b.info /Siblings/MD.html