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Restoration of a 1942 vintage
"Truck, Command Recconaisance Ford Model GPW"
(Serial Number 42357)

On Christmas day 1997 I received A Ford jeep from my father as a gift. I remember opening the package containing the title and for the first time in my life came very close to becoming "weepy" over a gift.

I had determined that I would fully restore this vehicle to such condition as to last me the rest of my life. It was with this in mind that the current restoration project betgan and contiues to this day.

Great strains are being taken to make sure that everything is in new condition or as close to new as possible. The major mechanical components have undergone complete overhauls. Many parts have been replaced. Others have been refurbished and the vehicle is in the assembly stage at this writing.

I am proud to say that I am one of the few WWII jeep owners in the United States who can rightfully claim that his jeep saw service in Europe during the war.

The original data plate on this jeep was replaced in 1953 at the Esslingen ordnance depot in Germany in 1953, A 1945 vintage MB engine which was overhauled in 1950 at the Karlsfeld Ordnance Depot (also in Germany) was installed in the vehicle at Esslingen during the rebuild.

In an effort to rebuild Germany and get the European economy back on its feet (as part of the Marshal Plan after WWII) German nationals were employed, in what was left of key industrial plants in that country, by the War Department. these facilities were established as maintenance depots for United States owned war materiel.

Esslingen was a major depot employing a large number of Germans. Their primary mission was the rebuilding of military vehicles.

Karlsfeld was the main BMW plant during the war where rocket engines were built. After the war the US Army tore down most of the facility, which had been badly damaged in allied bombing raids, and established what was still useable as an engine rebuild facility.

My engine has a data plate on the left side near where the oil line for the oil pressure gauge goes with an ordnance bomb, the initials KD (for Karlsfeld Depot), and the letters BMW underneath.

More information on the Karlsfeld Ordance depot may be found at http://members.tripod.com/~BMWhistory/.

Information on the Esslingen Ordnance Depot may be found at http://www.usarmygermany.com/USAREUR%20Military%20Posts.htm.

There were traces of unit tactical markings on the front bumper but, unfortunately, these were not legible enough to determine which unit the jeep had served with. No trace of a registration number could be found on the hood.

A friend of mine researched the serial number and "assigned" a "USA Number of S-20117720 to the vehicle. If not precise this is very close to the original number.

The Date of Delivery of the jeep falls in the last few days of June or the first Week of July 1942.

I am also actively involved in assembling the accessories which came with the original vehicle and have essentially completed the tool and spare parts kits for my jeep. A few items remain such as the packaging for the gas tank well caps and spare Blackout light bulb, the sleeves for the manuals, and all four tire chains.

This has not been an inexpensive project in terms of the monetary output or of the time involved. I am currently working on a daily basis to meet my goal of having the jeep done by the end of December.

This entails commuting over 30 miles each day to Woodland, Washington where the jeep sits in an indoor shop, as well as numerous trips to hardware and specialty stores in search of spring shackles, bushings, odd fasteners, the clutch plate assembly, tools, and a multitude of other items.

Nights are occupied by long sessions inventorying and cleaning parts and searching for parts I need.

There are days when the project seems to drag on at a snail's pace but i know that as long as I am working on it progress is being made.

You may have noted from some pages of the 3/505th PIR web site that my scanner has not been functioning in recent times. This has been partially corrected and additional photos of the jeep taken during actual restoration have been newly posted. More images which more acurately reflect the current condition of the vehicle will be posted soon. In the mean time these will have to suffice. Please note that these are "before" and during pictures taken during disassembly and the early stages of restoration of the vehicle, they document the location of a number of items and there condition at the time. This jeep is currently in much nicer condition.

Click on the thumbnail to see an enlarged version with text!!!

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