Need help identifying your Jeep model?

I am often asked to identify a newly discovered jeep for someone. Sometimes the jeep in question was inherited, other times it was found behind a barn, and othertimes it was purchased from the classified ads. More often than not the jeep is mis-identified by the DMV, the previous owner, and/or other 4-wheelers. It gets tricky because so many jeep parts are interchangeable. Wheel Rims, Axles, Hoods, Grills, Windshield Frames, Engines, and other parts were very often swapped out. Also, civilian jeeps often look very similar to military versions produced at the same time.

The Willys factory advertising slogan "The Sun never sets on the mighty Willys Jeep" was a true enough because no matter where in the world you were, the chances are very good that someone in a jeep has been there before you. Rugged, dependable, simple, and with no need for roads the jeep was more that just a daily driver, it was used though out the world in combat and for recreation such as desert racing, hill climbing, rock crawling, ice racing, farming, and exploration.  It was as handy on the farm plowing fields as it was on the beaches... whether storming the beaches in wartime, or relaxing on the beach in the summer. But with each of these activities the jeeps were subject to harsh environments and extreme conditions, so swapping parts from other models to keep 'em rolling was very common.

Several decades ago someone produced a large Model Identification poster showing the Jeep lineage, with specs and photos of each model type of jeep produced starting with the WWII Army Jeeps and concluding with the Willys Overland "Universal Jeep" civilian models. Included were the Willys MB, MC / M38, MD / M38A1 Military Jeeps, as well as the CJ2A, CJ3A, CJ3B, CJ-5, CJ-6, CJ-7 civilian jeeps. Also included were the FC Forward control cab over jeep vehicles as well as Willys Wagons, Willys Trucks up to the Honcho. Also the Cherokee and Wagoneer, and even the Jeepster and Jeepster Commando.  I saw this poster for the first time at the old Surplus City Jeeps parts location in LA. I saw another one at the old Brian Chuchua's Jeep dealership in Fullerton, CA.  I always wanted a copy of that poster, but neither poster was for sale.

Although it might have shown the Willys MA, I think the drawback in the original Willys (?)/ Kaiser (?)/ AMC (?) produced poster was that it didn't differentiate between the WW2 Willys MB and the Ford GPW. Nor the Willys Slatgrill model from a standard World War Two jeep. I don't recall them listing the prototypes built by the three different manufacturers; The Bantam BRC-40, the Ford GP, or the Quad, Pygmy, Agri-jeep, CJ-2, CJ-4 or other rare prototypes as the Jeep 1/4-ton utility vehicle evolved from it's humble beginnings in the early years into one of the most recognizable, versatile, and popular vehicles ever made.

In any event I had planned on recreating online the original Jeep ID poster I had seen years ago at Surplus City Jeep parts. It was one of those projects I left on the "To do" list and never seemed to be able to get to it. Then I discovered that our friends at the CJ-3B page had done something similar. They have done a terrific job creating & presenting the Jeep Identification Chart shown here for just about every jeep model every made. Great Job guys! As such there is no reason for me to duplicate their fine work. Since you are viewing their website, any questions you have should be directed to them at their Bulletin Board.  The photos on this Pictoral History / Jeep spotters guide chart and the details and specs listed for each Jeep model type should help every new jeep owner to determine, or at least narrow down the specific model jeep he has.

For information on Jeep serial numbers go to: Jeep Serial Number page.
Also of interest are:

• WWII Jeep Hood Registration Number Estimator Tool
• WWII MB/GPW Date of Delivery day calculator

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