I can’t imagine wanting to trade this 1968 Kaiser Jeep M715 for an ATV, but that’s what the seller says in their listing. They’re really interesting trucks and if they saw duty in Vietnam, they may have had any necessary repairs completed, and there were a couple of known issues with these rigs. This one is listed here on Facebook Marketplace in Bristol, Wisconsin and they’re asking $7.500. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Hans H. for the tip!
The body looks incredibly solid on this example, with some possible bubbling on the lower extremities (I know that feeling). Is that rust coming through former repairs and paint? Probably, as this one is mos-def not wearing 1968 paint. It looks like a very nice start to a full restoration to me, but what do I know about restorations? Or Jeeps? Or life?! (cough) I certainly wasn’t old enough to have been in the Vietnam War, but not by much. Some of you were and I bet there are Barn Finds readers out there who drove these trucks and worked on them on the other side of the globe.
They were made from 1967 through 1969, so a very short time, but a lot of them were made. Maybe too many as they didn’t seem to have all of the bugs worked out of what was the Dodge M37 replacement. Lots of them, especially the ’68s, had frame issues and had to be repaired overseas, and the new OHC inline-six engine was a bit problematic as well, at least due to being different and maintenance personnel not being adequately trained on them.
This one looks nice, though, doesn’t it? I mean, not that a person cares about how nice a vehicle looks when they’re trying to sneak across a jungle without drawing fire. The open cab with a removable canvas top is one of the most interesting features, and this one appears in great shape. The rest of the interior looks good, as well, but maybe I’m the only one who cares about how nice an army truck looks.
We don’t see under the hood and I’m just assuming this isn’t the engine that would have powered this M715. The seller doesn’t say anything about this block sitting in the back, but they do say that this truck isn’t in running condition, but it was when it was parked here, whenever that was. It should have a 230.5-cu.in. OHC inline-six with 132 horsepower, along with a Warner T-98 four-speed synchronized manual transmission and an NP (New Process) 200 two-speed transfer case sending power to all four wheels. They say the engine turns over so that’s good, no? Along with a Dodge M37, a Kaiser Jeep M715 is high on my master wish list. Have any of you owned one or driven/ridden in one overseas? If so, thank you for your service!
To compare a M715 to a J series is strictly coincidental. The M715 is a military hero, just as much as the people who went off to fight in that worthless quagmire. I too missed Vietnam by a couple years, but I had friends that went. Some say it was the biggest party they ever had, others, the worst Hell anyone could imagine. “Hamburger Hill”(1969) offensive was one of the worst.
The M715 and its offshoots, were some of the most basic and vital vehicles to the military. The OHC motor was actually a wonderful and simple motor. It used one cam for intake and exhaust, and passed the rigors of military testing. That alone speaks volumes
The engine block in the back is pure ballast to offset the rough ride, and unless re-gearing, the 5:87 gears are good for about 45mph. Any resemblance to the J series is strictly coincidental, and I’d hate to have relied on one for my life. This is, and should be dedicated, to the people, kids really, that went off to that miserable heckhole. We lost a lot of soldiers that may have missed out on one of the greatest times in US history, the 60s-70s, and a salute wherever you are.
Love old military trucks. Vietnam, sad, a lot of good Americans sent to die in a BS “war” kinda funny to think LBJs wife’s family owned like 50% stock in Bell helicopters…..
Don,t forget Sea and Land trucking company.That did alot of hauling their. I rememebr these over their and stateside. The 3/4 I drove was a gun truck. The other were deuce and halfs that I hauled fuel in. , I took the bolt out from under the fuel pedal and it ran alot better. One trip to Long Binh from Di An taught me that. These trucks and 3/4 tons didn,t have much speed and were really had on gas.
Some of these Jeep Tornado engines had the front motor mounts bolted to the timing cover and leaked oil PROFUSELY
Kick myself in the butt every time I see one, about 15 years ago could have bought one for less than 2k,it was white with civil defense emblems on the doors,plus a big V shape plow,oh well..
I know what you mean…hindsight is always 20-20…
The parts are really high for these and the 3,4 tons
It’s not inappropriate to compare the M715 to the SJ/Gladiator civilian model of the Sixties. Unlike the specifically-designed-for-the-military M37 that it was replacing, the M715 was based on that civilian (or “commercial”) model.
This practice would be formalized even more about a decade later with the COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf) program bringing about the Dodge M880 variant (another 5/4-ton model) into service. (And continued later with the Chevrolet pickup- and Blazer-based CUCV models in the ‘80s.)
Thank you to someone who knows what he’s talking about, and not just talking.
I served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968, and we had the M37B1’s. But later on, I was a Mechanic and Motor Sergeant in a Tank Battalion in the 3rd Armored Division in Germany, and we had these vehicles, and they weren’t much good, as they were always on deadline for one thing or another, and getting parts in Germany took more time to get them. I had one as my motor pool vehicle, and it was only operational about half the time, so we were at the mercy of others in the company for transportation. And at Grafenwohr, for Tank Gunnery, we pretty much walked or rode in a M-88 Tank Retriever.
Spent 1969 in Vietnam and don’t remember seeing any of them there but spent all of 1970 at Ft. Rucker they had a bunch of them there but never really saw one run.
Welcome back Tom. Thak you for serving our country.
another one seems to pop up just days after discussion (? M37 page).
Plenty to like here inc a windshield drop after a top tear off, the
rear views can B placed on fender for door removal & off rd adjustment to safety, the utilitarian bed for toughness, fender liners and so on;
“Yes” a seeming 1st of the COTS so no AMGeneral or… whats the other few companies? Isnt that where the 1st gen Hummer came from?
I like the OHC i6 (st or off rd, just different cam). but 5.87 rear? WoW…
I was a motor pool specialist 1968-69 for the 37th Medical Co, 11th Armored Cavalry aka the Blackhorse. We had Jeeps, ambulances and deuce-and-a-halves. Sealed 24v systems. Damn good mechanics too. When off-base, you the driver became highly skilled in keeping your vehicles track in exactly the same rut as the vehicle in front of you. On one rescue with a 2-1/2, our driver did that precisely and avoided a disaster— there was a big buried bomb later found, that all had straddled, intended for the rescuers. Still jump to the pop pop of a Huey— time to go to work.
I was at Camp Blackhorse in 1967 and Early 68 during TET. 591st Engr. A rare version was made as a dump truck for helicopter transport. I don’t know the M number.
I had one of these about 15 years ago. Sold it when my oldest went off to college. From my point of view great truck. Ran great with no issues, used it often on the south shore beaches of Long Island NY. It was unstoppable even with only about 120 HP. I had the ambulance version (m725) for while as well.
I bought mine in May 0f 1987. Transmission full of water, locked up. Drained case and filled wit WD-40. Rocked it back and forth a week, got it loose. Painted, new stars and decals, built a camper setup in the bed and my wife and I drove it from Houston to Pikes Pike. 3900 miles, 390 gallons of fuel,14 days.
” … bubbling on the lower extremities (I know that feeling)…”
Better see a doctor about that. ;-)
Probably heretical at some level, but I see an awesome restomod if one could find, or build, a chassis with fully independent suspension, disc brakes, and a huge gas tank to overcome those aerodynamics (or lack thereof). Nothing crazy. Not the ubiquitous LS motor. A nice Cummins turbo diesel, or just a Chevy inline size, a six-speed automatic, and gears that would let it cruise comfortably at 70 mph for highway use when needed, and you’d have something that every gear-head who saw it would be talking about for years to come.
In most of my reading and I am a military truck collector, almost anybody who had experience with the M37 all thought the 715 was a very poor replacement in just about every way!