As America still struggled with the Great Depression, a new danger was emerging in Europe and the Pacific.  The country had made great sacrifices in what came to be called World War I.  However, a new global war was brewing, and America began the slow but inevitable buildup needed to face new threats.  One of the developments invented here that changed warfare was the 1/4 ton 4×4 utility truck.  Better known to us as the first Jeep, this vehicle allowed America’s military to leave the horse behind and take a decisive role in the horrific modern mechanized warfare to come.  This 1941 Willys MB for sale on Craigslist in El Paso, Texas is claimed to be the 202nd Jeep of 500 total made on the first day of production for Willys.  This remarkably original and solid Jeep may still bear a scar from the war in the form of a few bullet holes.  Would you be willing to pony up the $6,500 asking price to become the caretaker for this amazing early example of what General Eisenhauer claimed was one of the three decisive US weapons of World War II?  Thanks to TJ for this historical find!

When the United States War Department went to American industry with a request for a four-wheel drive reconnaissance car, only American Bantam and Willys responded.  The Bantam entry was the only one ready at the specified date of completion.  Using many Bantam components with a four-wheel drive system by Spicer, the company produced not only the winning design but perhaps one of the most revered vehicles in automotive history.  Unfortunately, the War Department understood that American Bantam was far too small a company to produce the required number of vehicles.  The design was handed over to Willys-Overland and Ford for a second round of testing on a larger number of prototypes.  Willys won this round, and soon thereafter Ford was brought in to assist in production.  Bantam’s consolation prize was a contract to produce trailers for the vehicle they helped birth.

When production got started in earnest, the Willys version was officially branded the MB, while Ford’s was known as the GPW.  The seller of this sun-baked Jeep claims that it was the 202nd Jeep to roll across the Willys production line on the first day it began to spit out Jeeps.  By the time the war was over, you could add about 640,000 other Jeeps to the combined production totals of Willys and Ford.  Given the rough existence that nearly every Jeep went through during the war combined with the shortages of items like this in the early days of the war, the chances of a production vehicle like this surviving the entire war were extremely remote.  Yet, here this 1941 example is on Craigslist.

The seller tells us that this Jeep has spent decades in the Arizona desert.  It is said to have very little rust and the only major damage is a few bullet holes that the seller does not know the history of.  Under the hood is a Willys “Go-Devil” inline four cylinder engine that is possibly its original powerplant.  The grille is unfortunately not original to the vehicle but was likely a replacement from when the Jeep was sent in for repairs.  It is said to still run and drive.

While the large tires and the open mouth of the carburetor in a desert environment give pause, this is still a very interesting Jeep.  The blue-gray color may allude to it being in Navy service at one time.  Another thing to note is that the seller lives in the Hueco Tanks State Park area on the eastern side of El Paso.  After the war, a large percentage of the surviving Jeep population  ended up in various places all around the United States.  It would not be unheard of for a state park to be the recipient of a few war-surplus Jeeps.  Perhaps a search of government records could fill in the blanks on the history of this unlikely survivor.

Would you be interested in purchasing a World War II era Jeep?  Should this one be restored or enjoyed as-is?  Please share your thoughts in the comments.