Aero Jeep Prototype

Here's a new one I just learned about.
http://www.ewillys.com/2019/05/02/1954-photo-of-aero-jeep-airborne-prototype-on-ebay/

 

Interesting, you can sure see the M38A1 roots.
Mighty short wheelbase.
Looks like the M38A1 was left in the dryer too long.
No telling all the prototypes that never made the cut.
Had a friend who took the Mighty Mite and put in a diesel engine from a diesel Chevette.
Made a cool ride.
The M422 Mite had an aluminum air cooled aluminum V4. Very expensive to rebuild with chromed cylinder walls.

Dave

 

Was a competitor to the M422, Bantam engineers versus Willys engineers.

More powerful helicopters coming into service made them unnecessary.

 

Development and test data on the Bobcat is at both the National Archive in College Park, and the American Heritage Collection at the University of Wyoming

 

Looks like a side by side. 24 volt electrical and auto inflaters. $10,000 will put one in your garage.

 

I always thought it would be cool to make a replica. Or one of these

 

I want to go big instead of small and make a replica of the MLW-2 Monster Jeep: https://www.motortrend.com/features/1407-willys-overland-mlw-2-jeep-encyclopedia/

 

Interesting!

Ahead of its time.

 

I'd take this piece of history over a side by side any day.
It would be way more interesting and go up in value.

Dave

 

Not only that but it is unique and has a cool factor that is not there with cookie cutter side by sides. Their
introduction brought a world to the masses that we had been doing for years.

 

Interesting indeed. That appears to have about 22" clearance at the tub sills. That said, the D23 wasn't really adequate for the 1/4 T and the T84 wasn't much behind it. 2.25" OD extended axle tubes bend? Couldn't have guessed that-- The hood trim job is nearly identical to what Brennan Metcalf did on his MB.