Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Modifications by service branch
344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Thu Mar 13, 2014 1:41 am

Hello to all:)

I inherited a 1944 GPW last year, the car was made in Dec '44.
The gpw has been in my family since 1966. In 1953 it came to Norway and was used by the Norwegian armed forces up to 1964-65 something. After this it was probably used as a service vehicle for an auto repair shop and was painted gloss green(metallic?)
My granddad kept the car at a mountain cabin until 1968, it was then used in Oslo(the capitol of Norway) for some months. There is a longtime tradition here in Norway to celebrate the graduation from Highschool the last months of their final year. They wear clothes with colors according to the course/education they have completed. Originally there were red, blue, green and black colors. Some of them purchased old cars to travel to school and to gatherings/ parties. My mom and her friends painted the jeep red and drove the car until June 1968.

Image
Image
April/ May 1968

After 1968 the jeep was driven back to our mountain cabin, and apart from 2 trips on a trailer to fix problems, it has been up in the mountains until 8 years ago. We brought it back to our hometown, and it has been sitting until I got the car for my recent 40th birthday.
This is also the first car I ever drove (I was 10yrs old I believe:) )..
Image
approx 1969

The car is now (almost) completely disassembled. The car has been repainted so many times and has some rust issues, so the decision was to strip it down and build it up again. Some areas have been sanded before, so some of the history are already lost.
But I have found some markings (no hood/USN number yet though..) after some careful removal of a lot(!) of layers of paint. There is a lot of history from the Norwegian armed forces, and their modifications(cold weather kit) . But I also found the lovely greyblue color on top of the initial layer of OD.
I found all the Palnuts in place and the tub production is matching the frame number. The engine has been replace by a later cj engine, and the transmission/ transfercase and the front axle has been rebuilt by the Norwegian armed forces. Most of the parts (F-marked) seems to be the original parts.

Image
2013, before disassembly

Just yesterday I found some stenciled text above the drivers side rear wheel..it seems like it was probably reissued and painted green after the USN service. Probably post ww2 service somewhere in main Europe, before being sent north to Norway in 1953. Has anyone seen markings like this before , what can it be ?
Underneath this green layer is the greyblue, and there is some yellow markings on the greyblue layer it seems..
Image


344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Thu Mar 13, 2014 11:58 pm

Yesterday's find was this:

Image


it looks like LKY is 'LKY Ordnance Depot in Chambersburg, PA .
Maybe my jeep was not in Europe before 1953?
In 1953 the car got first it's first Norwegian registration/ license plate by the Norwegian forces in Norway.
Last edited by 344chief on Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:13 am, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
Frank
General
Posts: 4981
Joined: Mon Dec 16, 2002 7:25 am
Location: NORWAY, the land of VIKINGS
Contact:

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by Frank » Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:15 pm

Cool to see some more Norwegians here :D
Found some traces on a 1943 GPW I am working on. I will have a look again and let you know if it is similar.

PS: you jeep history sounds like mine 8)
Willys MB`s
Ford GPW`s
CJ2A
CJ-7
Wrangler JL Rubicon
Bantam T-1`s
Willys MBT`s
Canadien 10cwt trailer
follow me on Instagram #jeepfabrikken

Andrew OBryan
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Sergeant Major of the Gee
Posts: 379
Joined: Fri Aug 01, 2003 5:11 pm
Location: Newburgh, IN.

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by Andrew OBryan » Fri Mar 28, 2014 1:41 pm

That's really cool story .. thanks
812obryan@gmail.com (812)-455-9056
1944 GPW 224803 winner of the G503 award
1944 GPW 229997
1943 Huffman H 123021
1943 Columbia MG137313
1943 Columbia MG156811
1944 Cushman Airborne 53 34129 dod 11/15/44
1944 Cushman airborne 53 34334 dod 11/18/44
1944 Cushman Airborne 53 34430
1944 Cushman Airborne 53 34707
1945 Cushman Airborne 53 36560
1944 John Wood M3A4 27561
1944 GMC CCKW 353 382025

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Thu Apr 03, 2014 4:33 am

Thx!

I also found some gloss OD(somewhat darker) on the car when going through the layers.
From the rebuild markings over the rear wheel, this may be the paint layer applied when rebuilt at LKY.

There is a video on the Letterkenny army depot history page(http://www.letterkenny.army.mil/history.html) showing gloss painted jeeps.. : http://www.letterkenny.army.mil/rv4_ima ... 2_1024.wmv
I would guess the CJ engine in my jeep was a replacement motor which were replaced at the time of the LKY rebuild.

Since my last post, the tub and chassis have been delivered to sandblasting. And most of the smaller parts have been acid dipped (paint stripping) and primed with epoxy (Jotun Jotamastic 87) primer already. The fenders and the grille needs some more work, the car have had a front impact when in the Norwegian armed forces service. The engine is disassembled and has been rebored to +.20.

Image

Found some greybluish on the wheels as well: Image

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:36 am

.. a short update..
After the tub and frame had been sandblasted they primed the frame(and the tub..).

The tub was in worse shape than expected..lots of holes and leafthin metal in the floor, lower part of the body panels and in the rearplate.

Image
Image
..and so on.

Spent several long evenings and weekends to weld in new fresh metal and beating/shrinking out the worst of the dents.
I want to keep some of the history, while making sure the car lives for another 70 years.:)
During the process I considered buying a brand new body tub, but I don't like the 'brand new' look.

Anyway, eventually the body tub was ready for priming and painting. I have used a system based on two-component epoxy based mastic paint/coating. Jotamastic 87 as primer and Jotamastic 90 (tintable to RAL colours etc) topcoat. The topcoat is somewhat glossy, but I have experimented a bit with the paintgun needle and the amount of thinner to make the last thin layer near lusterless.
The toplayer is still more durable than the typical paint they use for the jeep around here.

Due to the short summer, I have to paint the larger parts first. I have a tent outside the house which I use as a paint booth. Noe running out of time, as the nights are getting colder and wet. But I think I will be able to paint the remaining parts within 2 weeks from now. The frame needed some repairs and bending so the tub got ready first, but the frame should be ready for painting this week.

Image
Image


Checking if everything fits.. before the final coat(s) of paint:
Image

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Fri Sep 12, 2014 2:57 am

..not much action in this forum..?

But here's the latest(last?) update on the restoration:

Image

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by Boyso » Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:10 am

Usually people browse the unrestored section more, but that's some amazing progress you've made so far!

Great to see a jeep that's been part of your familly for so long, nearing its completion :)
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by Joe Gopan » Fri Sep 12, 2014 4:43 am

The 86th Engineers at Ft. Dix was repainting their 24087 colored vehicles to a color called NATO Gray in 1960-61.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:40 am

Ben Dover wrote:The 86th Engineers at Ft. Dix was repainting their 24087 colored vehicles to a color called NATO Gray in 1960-61.
Hello,

actually the car came to Norway in 1955 (just found out).
It was in use until 1966 when my grandfather bought it as a surplus car.
Don't know why it was only in military service for 9 years, maybe because someone chrashed it.
The front bumper was then replaced by a heavy steel beam.

Anyway, the markings I found from the LKY 8/52 rebuild was on a layer of gloss green(brown)....and then some layers of paint from the Norwegian army..and then green metallic, red and then some newer norwegian army green etc..

Have been busy with some work travels.. but the gpw project is still moving ahead..slowly

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Wed Mar 18, 2015 3:42 am

Some progress lately..

Most of the wiring is hooked up. Drivetrain is ready, still need to assemble the engine.
Hope to do the final coat of paint as soon as the weather gets warmer.


Testfitting the grille and fenders after lifting the bodytub back onto the frame:
Image

User avatar
Boyso
G-Colonel
G-Colonel
Posts: 1386
Joined: Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:32 pm
Location: Quebec, Canada

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by Boyso » Wed Mar 18, 2015 4:07 am

Wow!! Great work
44 GPW 231738 10/23/1944
MVPA #36162

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Wed May 06, 2015 4:24 am

Getting close to the end of this project.

But I need to find stencils for marking the car. I have been thinking of marking the car as some kind of service vehicle for a dock/ harbour, if there were any such jeeps.
Maybe with some relation to the Nortraships merchant/ liberty ship organization.
Does anyone have some good links/ sources/ experience with regards to stencils for the USN jeeps.
If any digital downloads are available I do have access to a cutting machine where I can make my own stencils/stickers if the fonts/ graphics are in a standard format.

344chief
G-Corporal
G-Corporal
Posts: 27
Joined: Mon Feb 24, 2014 3:09 am
Location: Norway

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by 344chief » Mon May 11, 2015 2:04 am

The gpw still needs some adjustments and stencil markings, but at least it was back on the road this weekend.


Image


Image

sjalbert
G-Brigadier General
G-Brigadier General
Posts: 2265
Joined: Mon Jul 30, 2007 10:28 pm
Location: Bellaire, TX

Re: Greyblue GPW found in Norway, new forum user:)

Post by sjalbert » Mon May 11, 2015 6:42 am

As they say in the US Navy Bravo Zulo (congratulations)
Seth
******
1944 MB 349858, 20620361
1942 MBT 10968 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=149552
1942 MBT 15799, USA 0217497 viewtopic.php?f=18&t=225199
MVPA # 8587
Com / Inst. SMEL
CFII - ASEL
KI5LYB

Collecting Willys Engine Info. Please send me Engine #, Casting Date & Machining Date if known


Post Reply

Return to “Jeeps used by: USMC, USN, USCG (-NO EBAY-CRAIGSLIST-COMMERCIAL SALES-)”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 56 guests