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CJs Converted for Military Use - A Lefty?
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calndrman View Drop Down
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Points: 125 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote calndrman Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: CJs Converted for Military Use - A Lefty?
    Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 4:09am
My wife and I host trips to Israel. One of the stops we make while in Jerusalem is Latrun. It is the Israel Defense Force (IDF) military museum with many tanks and other military equipment used down through the years.  So naturally, the Jeep display always catches my eye and arouses my curiosity. 

A few months ago I sent these photos to Fred Coldwell to confirm that the Jeeps were in fact 2As, both the one on display and the three in the historical photo. All have Willys stamped on the hood but the Jeeps in the historical photo definitely do not have CJ grills. Because of this and the outside fuel filler, it was Fred's view that they were CJs. The one on display is a reproduction of Jeeps used in the 1948 conflict. 

You can zoom in on the large yellow placards and should be able to read the descriptions. 

Most interesting to me is the fact that they are CJs and how they got to Israel.  The modifications to military are also very interesting. Another other curious thing to note is the heading on the placard, "Villys/Bantam Jeep". I know about the Jeep/Bantam connection before WWII, but how would that have worked it's way to Israel in 1948? Finally, is the Jeep on display a true "lefty" or was that just a convenient place to mount the spare during the military mods?

Since there was a barrier around the Jeep, I could not get in to open the hood to see the motor or data plates. Maybe I can accomplish that on a future trip.

I know many of you probably have not seen this display. My hope is that this post will generate a good discussion about what the core vehicle is, about the heavy modifications, and your thoughts on how CJs made it so far from Toledo relatively early in CJ production?

Photo 1


Photo 2


Photo 3


Photo 4


Photo 5


Photo 6


Photo 7


Photo 8
Bruce
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Mark W. View Drop Down
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Points: 7986 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark W. Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 8:28am
the tub appears to be a 3a based on the ignition switch position. Front fenders are not Willys notice the sharp corners. Also notice the M38 style headlight trim rings. Also the word steering wheel and hanging pedals. I think this is a put together to create a display rather then an actual vehicle from the time period. Museums do that all the time. There is a huge car museum here in Tacoma that has a 51 chevy 3100 pickup with a 235 in it labeled as a 216 that should be in the truck. Granted very few visitors to the museum would notice.


Edited by Mark W. - 18 Feb. 2020 at 8:55am
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If you scroll in on the yellow sign...

"An authentic replica of a combat Jeep that was first used in the war of independence...."

Based on this description, I agree with Mark.  


Edited by athawk11 - 20 Feb. 2020 at 1:16am
1- 1946 CJ2A   
2- 1949 CJ3A
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Points: 942 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 64CJ5 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 3:13pm
The tires are 700-15 with an interesting tread pattern.  Wonder where they came from. 
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Points: 4950 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lee MN Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 3:25pm
Originally posted by 64CJ5 64CJ5 wrote:

The tires are 700-15 with an interesting tread pattern.  Wonder where they came from. 


Perhaps Jpet went international

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Points: 2391 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Stev Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 4:03pm

Here is a Lefty used by the IDF in 1948 and 1949.



Edited by Stev - 18 Feb. 2020 at 4:08pm
Stev
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Points: 4151 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote athawk11 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 Feb. 2020 at 4:41pm
Originally posted by 64CJ5 64CJ5 wrote:

The tires are 700-15 with an interesting tread pattern.  Wonder where they came from. 

Looks like the NATO version of the NDT tires...
1- 1946 CJ2A   
2- 1949 CJ3A
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Ol' Unreliable View Drop Down
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Points: 4226 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ol' Unreliable Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 Feb. 2020 at 3:33am
Anyone who has a copy of the book Jeep Goes To War by Will Fowler can see on page 84 a Lefty in use by the IDF (or their predecessor organization?).  Like the photo above, that one also has combat rims. 

The muffler on the one above is MB-like.  The one in JGTW is not.  The Israelis were likely not picky about that...
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Points: 366 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 48walker Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Feb. 2020 at 12:25am
Anyone know if there's a Yiddish word for 'bubba'?
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IRQVET View Drop Down
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Based on the photos, all I can conclude is: Bubba has been in Israel too . . . LOL

Did notice the hanging pedals, which leaves me more confused. . . . 


Edited by IRQVET - 22 Feb. 2020 at 5:12am
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Points: 991 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tamnalan Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 23 Feb. 2020 at 5:53am
Originally posted by 48walker 48walker wrote:

Anyone know if there's a Yiddish word for 'bubba'?

Wikipedia to the rescue:

(In Yiddish, the word Bobe [with a vowel similar to a shortened version of the vowel of caught + beh] means "grandmother" and as a form of address, is often rendered by English speakers as "Bubba" or "Bubbie".)
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