This 1954 Willys M38A1 was utilized by the Army National Guard in Wisconsin, the Michigan National Guard, and the United States Air Force in Michigan before being decommissioned from military duty in the late 1970s. The seller acquired the vehicle out of Georgia as a disassembled project in early 2025, and it was subsequently refurbished between February and September of that year. The truck was repainted in tan over replacement Olive Drab cloth, and a replacement 134.2ci inline-four was installed along with an overdrive unit for the three-speed manual transmission. Other equipment includes a dual-range transfer case, Warn lockable front hubs, 16″ painted steel wheels, a green Beachwood canvas top, a folding windshield, turn signals, a pintle hitch, and seatbelts. This M38A1 is now offered with historical records, refurbishment photos, and a clean Florida title in the seller’s name.
A photo of the vehicle before the body-off refurbishment began is provided above. Dozens of images taken during the refurbishment are presented in the photo and video galleries below.
The truck was stripped, the body and frame were sandblasted, and the body tub was rebuilt during the aforementioned refurbishment, which involved replacement of the front underbody rib stamping, the rear floor pan, and the windshield frame before a repaint in tan with white U.S. Army graphics. A replacement green folding canvas top sourced from Beachwood Canvas Works is positioned over replacement top bows. The light fixtures and wiring also were replaced during the refurbishment, according to the seller. Other features include a body-color front bumper, a slotted grille, blackout lights, turn signals, rounded front fenders, a folding two-piece windshield, windshield wipers, a driver-side mirror, a pintle hitch, and rear bumperettes. A jerrycan is attached to the rear of the vehicle next to a spare wheel and tire.
Body-color 16″ steel wheels are mounted with Firestone NDT six-ply tires measuring 7.00–16. The brakes, wheel cylinders, brake lines, and fittings were replaced during the refurbishment. Additionally, the steering gear was rebuilt, and the leaf springs were disassembled and rebuilt.
The individual front bucket seats are trimmed in Olive Drab cloth; the seat covers, foam, and pans were replaced during the recent refurbishment. Interior appointments include a painted metal dashboard, seatbelts, a glove compartment, and a passenger-side grab handle.
The three-spoke steering wheel fronts replacement LED-illuminated instrumentation that consists of a centrally mounted 60-mph speedometer flanked by gauges for battery status, coolant temperature, fuel level, and oil pressure. The five-digit odometer shows 200 miles, which is said to reflect the distance accumulated since completion of the refurbishment; true mileage is unknown.
The 134.2ci inline-four has been rebuilt and was replaced during the refurbishment. Other work included:
- Rebuilding carburetor
- Replacing fuel tank and fuel lines
- Recoring radiator
- Replacing wiring and harnesses
- Overhauling voltage regulator
- Overhauling starter
- Replacing exhaust system
The seller states that the underside of the hood is the only part of the vehicle that was not repainted under current ownership.
Power is sent to the rear or all four wheels through a T-90 three-speed manual transmission, a Dana 18 dual-range transfer case, and Warn lockable front hubs. An overdrive unit was added during the refurbishment, and the axles were disassembled and resealed.
Equipment log books that will accompany the vehicle indicate that it was used by Troop B of the 105th Cavalry of the United States Army National Guard in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, and also at the Camp Grayling facility of the Michigan National Guard and at the Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michigan.
Source: 1954 Willys M38A1
