Great War truck Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 On E Bay is this lovely "Barn find" Jeep (although as his dad parked it in the barn i dont know if it can be considered to be a barn find). It has plenty of the Metamet conversions still on it. My question is should it be best restored back to as it was as it left the Metamet workshop, or change it back to its original WW2 specifications (which probably mean it will have either 82nd or 101st markings). Discuss with liveliness and passion please, because i love a good argument. Tim http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/171003483918?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lauren Child Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 As it says "rebuilt by REME" it's got a known British history, so I'd like to see it restored as a British jeep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry275 Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 As it says "rebuilt by REME" it's got a known British history, so I'd like to see it restored as a British jeep. That as they say will be the choice of the owner. But this is a dillema that i am deciding on with mine- we wanted an American jeep- it turned out mine was used by the British, rebuilt by the British, renumbered by the British sold by the British and later I will return it to M1501237 - I am still looking for that elusive pic of it in service (or as 49Yh39):nut: I look forward to the debates on it not being original- This was a debate that evolved in the RS Escort world. End of the day Enjoy your Motor.:wow: There as some fantastic military conversions out there, would you return them to "factory Spec"?:undecided: Just my thoughts. Regards Gerry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 If you get something that is unusual in the way of a vehicle why change it? My ambulance has repairs on it dating back to at least 1952 when she was rebuilt. I'd argue that the repairs changes are part of her life, they are her fingerprints of history! (Sounds pmpous dosen't it:D ) There are oddles of Jeeps out there, how many like this one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_bish Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I personally think it would be interesting restored as the Metamet conversion Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Locolines Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 Personally I would keep it as is. It's original history Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 16, 2013 Author Share Posted March 16, 2013 I agree with you. I would restore it back to its civilian just post war Metamet configuration. it would be unique as i am not aware of there being any Metamet restorations. I always thought if i were to do another Jeep i would restore it as a "Hawlets" one. Anyway, i have got enougb to be going on with so i cant imagine that happening any time soon. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 So it boils down to what you're after. If you want a budget Jeep project to make into what you want - a wartime U.S. buggy for example - it is of no consequence if you undo any mods, however interesting they may be. If you have an interest in the history of the vehicle, or an appreciation of what you see - the specific post war mods in this case - then fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M8Greyhound Posted March 16, 2013 Share Posted March 16, 2013 I would love it just for the tax disc.....thats the month and year i was born.... Regards Lloyd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Ashby Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 Interesting philosophical question. To come at it another way think about this, a jeep with a war time frame a war time engine and drive train but with re manufactured new parts installed, a reproduction body kit and new canvas what do you actually have ?. It's a question I'm sure most of us who have done a number of restorations/rebuilds have considered at one time or another. My Leyland Retriever that keeps getting pulled to the front of the workshop for a bit more welding/fabrication when nothing else is around is a classic example of building a truck around a nut and bolt. Now we come to the Metamet vehicle, if you consider it in the light of the above example I'd suggest that to restore it in it's Metamet guise would make it a more original example of motoring history than either the examples I sited above. At the end of the day it's the individuals choice and there's absolutely nothing wrong with either except perhaps when it comes to resale and things are not always what they seem :undecided: Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Burley Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 My late father had a Metamet Jeep back in 1957. He had all ready had a 1942 Willys that he bought from Pride And Clarkes that he had for 5 years and run it into the ground. He wanted something different next time around with a bit of comfort but did'nt want to stray to far from a Jeep type vehicle. It was then that he noticed Metamet were producing "station wagons" and after looking through one of there station wagon brochures he bought one. I would say return it as a Metamet Jeep. But at the end of the day it,s your vehicle and your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcspool Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I fear it will end up as yet another 82AB jeep. But at least some of these type of converted jeeps are restored as such. Here's an example: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mungaman Posted March 17, 2013 Share Posted March 17, 2013 I would love it just for the tax disc.....thats the month and year i was born.... Regards Lloyd lloyd there is a guy on ebay doing repro tax discs 1940 s / 80 s search TAX DISCS REPRO FOR SHOW DISPLAY ONLY iirc good luck ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1944 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Hi Folks The jeep will be restore back to Ford GPW 1942 in British guise. Probably as 56th London Infantry Div. known as the "Black Cats". My father served in North Africa and Italy with them. Best regards MB1944 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gerry275 Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Hi FolksThe jeep will be restore back to Ford GPW 1942 in British guise. Probably as 56th London Infantry Div. known as the "Black Cats". My father served in North Africa and Italy with them. Best regards MB1944 Look forward to pics and updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Ashby Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Hi FolksThe jeep will be restore back to Ford GPW 1942 in British guise. Probably as 56th London Infantry Div. known as the "Black Cats". My father served in North Africa and Italy with them. Best regards MB1944 Good for you, my Father served in N Africa, Sicily and Italy with 692 Inf Troop Workshop REME Regards Pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoseman Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 Hi FolksThe jeep will be restore back to Ford GPW 1942 in British guise. Probably as 56th London Infantry Div. known as the "Black Cats". My father served in North Africa and Italy with them. Best regards MB1944 I know the guy who bought it and he is returning it back to original. Compliments his other Jeep and trailer!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1944 Posted February 17, 2014 Share Posted February 17, 2014 Hi Guys Just to bring this one back to the top, the restoration is underway. Having sanded the tin work on the windshield I have uncovered the Royal Signals blue and white square with what appears to be 67 in red letters superimposed, on the other side there is the start of a red background but I have not been able to identify a divisional marking. This result is interesting to me as my father was in a signals section in the Black Cats which had a red background, so fingers crossed, could there be a cat under the paint? How scary would that be? I have already had one strange coincidence with Ebay. On his return from the war he had brought home a copy of "The Two Types" (a send up cartoon book about British officers in North Africa, and a later edition for Italy). My wife spotted a pair of hand painted wooden cut outs of the cartoon duo, she bid, and won them. When they arrived painted on the back of one of them was written Souvenir Leghorn Italy 1945 and on the other "to L/C Young from paintshop", his name was Young and he was a L/C and he had been to Leghorn. He had often said that many souvenirs including his collection of propaganda leaflets were lost when a weapons carrier fell of a hillside road in Italy. Maybe all just a coincidence or.....? I will get some pictures of the project on in due course regards John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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