Do I have a 1955 CJ5 or an M38A1?

by Don
(Newbury Park, CA)

I bought a vehicle which on the pink slip states that it is a "1955 Willys CJ5".

It has no embossed VIN plate on the firewall. The state of California issued it a registration number which is riveted on the drivers door jamb. This is not uncommon here for salvaged or surplus vehicles.

It has a diamond metal tailgate added after the fact, a detachable gauge panel (that has a 60 MPH speedometer, and an original SW fuel gauge), a single pane windshield -- but the VIN stamped on the boss above the water pump has the VIN MD120817.

The transmission's serial is SD 807895 with the number "14" stamped to the right about 6 inches.

Is it just a combination of a bunch of old jeeps? I am just curious of what I have! Thanks!


Larry's Comment: I don't have all of the stats on these early M38A1/CJ Jeeps, but the MD in the VIN you gave would indicate that at least part of your rig is from a M38A1 military Jeep.

To complicate things more there were military CJ's built as well in that era. The military M38A1 had the serial number located on a data plate originally attached to the dashboard.

Many of the M38A1 and CJ parts were interchangeable, which would make it easy to mix and match parts over the years.

Anyone else out there able to help Don identify his Jeep?