Dirt Daily. A Flatfender Jeep history lesson and Identification guide.

Everyone loves the early Willys Flatfender Jeeps, but not everyone knows their history or the different models. I've been a Jeep fan for a long time so I thought I'd tell you everything I know about flatfenders, which isn't everything, but it is a lot. These are the early Jeeps that started during World War 2 and became a national treasure and the sparked the start of the off-roading past time. Plus they are pretty cool. Whats your favorite Flatfender model?

[@MyRandyw]

I always loved substitute teacher days! It doesn't get any better than a flat fender lesson, thanks?

[@larspederson1451]

This is so awesome! I have a 43 gpw. Ford f stamped everywhere. Of course it is a hodge podge jeep cause I wanted reliability rather than stock...the story is great too. My dad paid $75 for it in the mid 1960's to travel to a cabin we had. Kept it in the family by giving it to me at 14 years old in the 80's. Still running and in my garage today. Staying in the family 😊

[@LNWLF-cb3di]

It’s cool to see you guys here. Long time Petersen’s reader. It was the real off-roader’s mag cause of you and the crew👍👍

[@crwln93]

Fred, you have earned your new title: Professor Williams. Thanks for the interesting content!👍

[@1dave301]

In the 80's, I bought to flip, a 1972 DJ, it had a Chevy 4 cylinder, a powerglide, and a Dana 60 5.14 rear, top speed 45mph. It was painted metallic green w orange shag carpet and yellow curtains in the back of the hardtop. In the 90's, I bought a '63 jeep w a 225 V6. The moment I got it home, I had to get rid of the 1bbl carb, I carved an adapter and got a Pinto progressive 2bbl on there. It really scooted, my phone rang, I answered it and my "buddy" took off in the jeep. I got off the phone and I looked around, I heard revving behind the house. I ran back there, he had run straight into the swamp, got half way in and got stuck, it was really sloppy mud. he forward, reversed, forward, reversed, and ZING, no more rear tires spinning. A spider gear came out thru the center of the back cover. I never got to drive it. I towed it out w a tractor and I sold it.

[@xmo552]

How old were you?

[@1dave301]

@@xmo552 I was about 20 when I got the DJ.

[@ericandersen9512]

Aloha Fred, we see a few DJ's here in Hawai'i. Resorts on Kauai had a few "resort jeeps", made by Kaiser-Willys. Many were sold locally and converted to 4x4. One desirable feature of these DJ's is a rear fill gas tank. The 10 gl tank fits nicely under the bed between the frame rails. Cool!

[@LongBinh70]

Might be a Flatty person soon - I have a lead on a barn find so I wanted to know what it is when I finally see it. Thanks for the lesson! I started out driving a 1953 Willys Jeep station wagon in 1966. Ah, the memories! That was replaced with a 1950 Jeepster. Then I spent a year driving an M151 in Vietnam.

[@matthewdeal7791]

I was only watching this video to see if you'd mention a DJ-3A. Good work, sir.

[@williamkidd5710]

Love the history lesson! Please keep them coming.

[@dainwilson4523]

Nice history lesson. Have always been into the CJs and have a Scrambler. Got a hold of a ‘49 CJ3a 6 years ago and have been driving it a ton and learning as much as I can. Thanks for the video.

[@rogerf7265]

I had a 1947 CJ2A that had the rounded windshield. It was lifted 5 1/2", SBC powered with a Muncie M20 and Warn Overdrive. It's one of the few vehicles that I regret getting rid of. Maybe one day I'll get another one.

[@joshuaatkins5197]

Man I had one of those overdrives for the longest time just sitting for future use. It needed a rebuild but I got it for free out of a parts rig. After talking with Herm a few times I decided to give it to a friend with a early military jeep. I regret getting rid of it, as well as every vehicle I've ever sold. I've come to the conclusion 'never sell anything'.

[@itsBoyso]

Hi Fred, your green windshield is military, either MB or GPW. A CJ2A would be stamped with Willys. And a Slatgrill windshield would be shorter. Hope this helps !

[@SpatialDragon]

No ads? That was disappointing. I don't mind watching ads to support you guys. I have my ad blocker turned off on YT. I like ol' Blue.

[@weaselduke]

I got ads at the beginning and when I rewound.

[@4xFredWilliams]

I think the very first few viewers don't have ads maybe? or maybe it was still processing. but fee free to watch it 10k more times and tell all your friends and family to watch it. thanks for the support!

[@AnotherUnsociableOne]

I loved this history lesson. I had a family member who had an old military Jeep years ago with the sealed spark plugs and special breather. He said he had driven it through a river with water up in his lap.

[@davidruppel1216]

I love the flat fender Jeeps. I've had CJ5, CJ7, YJ, TJ, and now a JK. But no flat fenders yet. But one of these days.

[@jshulch]

My first Jeep was a '49 3a. Oh man how i wish i still had it! Loved driving that little tractor!

[@darlenegeorgeboyd8493]

Yes, more history lessons please Fred. Very interesting and fun for us 4X4 gals and guys. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@PaulKaiser42]

Thanks for the great info. Teacher Fred! I want an MB so bad but the east coast doesn’t have many left 😢

[@meat094]

I've heard that American Bantam were contracted to make the trailers for the Jeeps, but they also made torpedo motors as well.

[@-oiiio-3993]

American Bantam had been soliciting the U.S. Army for years regarding their need for a light recon vehicle. When the bid request was issued in June of 1940 by Ordnance, Bantam was first to respond, supplied the only prototype that was delivered on time, was closest to specifications. When the contract to produce 'Truck, 1/4 Ton, 4X4, G503' was awarded to Willys Overland with Ford as subcontractor, Bantam received contracts to build 1/4 ton trailers (their model T-3) alongside the Willys built MB-T.

[@rogernorris4909]

Ol’ Blue will always be my fav flatty. When I saw the episode with Fred, Pete, and Dave I was trying to weigh the amount of guff I would get from family if I got a jeep….. I went and bought one after watching the episode and my wife and kids now love off roading.

[@randybarnhill6848]

I had a 53 CJ3B that was all original and running when I was in high school 1993-94. But being a stupid teenager I sold it. Found it in an old farmer's barn. He used it to plow his field.

[@bruceklassen8261]

Amazing lesson

[@aubreylore7134]

This was great! I love the recent experimental videos

[@prepper-bc4zr]

My dad had a cj5 . He bought it from a guy that had rolled is into a river. We cleaned up the tub changed the oil and fluid in the trans and axles. He drove that jeep for years until he got a 51 Willy’s pickup. This was 1981 .he now is working on a 1953 Willy’s overland wagon .

[@markpospichal1309]

Toss up- my '42 GPW was kind of my favorite but when it came down to having to either sell it or my '46 CJ2A I've owned since 1974, I just couldn't let go of my first Jeep. If I had it to do over again, I'd swap the GPW grille and headlights, steering wheel, clutch and brake pedals and the brass windshield hold down latches onto the '2A before I let the GPW go...

[@JeffBraden]

I enjoyed the history lesson. I hope you can do more in the future. My favorite is the Red GPW.

[@tanco2158]

Nice history lesson Mr. Substitute...😅👍✨

[@JeremyMakesThings]

Sometimes the substitute knows more than the normal teacher.

[@randyjones7001]

Thanks for the great history lesson!

[@dennisoneil3325]

Awesome information. Can't wait to see more.

[@stevehaken]

Fun to hear the history, Fred. Tx

[@seans.youtube]

Willys (pronounced /ˈwɪlɪs/, "Willis") 😁 Thanks Fred, great video and very accurate. And "No Name" btw😎

[@jimdavison4077]

Freds always a good watch. Learned something to boot.

[@Rivetroad]

Love this content!

[@lilorbielilorbie2496]

In 1971 my Late Dad bought a 1943 Willys from J.M. Wildman Buick which if I remember right was just down the road from where you live. My Great Uncle and Aunt lived in Paso Robles, CA. And my Great Uncle told Dad about it and he bought it and dragged it down to San Pedro ,CA. to where he worked and we spent many a weekend working on it. Sadly now all of them are gone and the Jeep left before I got my driver's lic. which might have been a good thing.

[@dogpotter]

Thanks for the history lesson I found it very informative. I enjoy your videos

[@oklahomawheeling4x4]

That was awesome! Especially the end.

[@kenfrazier616]

glad to discover your channel, watched dirt everyday for ever. Sure hope you do a series on the one today.

[@greasefizzle]

This is great

[@rodhester2166]

I have always wanted a ford jeep. Maybe some day. Funny story, my dad was in the army and just before the Korean war and was assigned to be a driver on post, He agreed and asked if he could pick out his own jeep. They said okay. He got the only one that had a heater in it. One day he had to give a Major a ride, The Major notice the heater and the next day that jeep was gone. lol..

[@amx19733]

Great content!!!!

[@terrencebourisaw4073]

That was fun, thanks Fred

[@ton12loc]

Awesome video and history lesson! I went to the Bantem Jeep heritage festival in Butler, Pa. There was a guy there giving a lesson about the early Jeeps named Paul Bruno. He said the reason the military ended up going with Willy’s rather than Ford was because one of the politicians back then didn’t like Henry Ford. I thought that was funny, things could be different if they went with Ford. Paul Bruno also wrote “ the original jeeps” book. It’s very interesting, if you are into books.

[@user-tv5dt3nm9y]

Learned to drive in my dad’s CJ5 at 11 years old.

[@lfliger]

Love this Fred

[@joshuaatkins5197]

I would rather watch videos like these over 90% of the garbage thats out there. Good info! Thanks Fred, been following since your magazine days. Not as old as these but I have a 69 Jeepster Commando project I haven't started yet. I have a YJ with a lot of mods done to it already and have considered putting the Commando body on the YJ. Yes it'll have to be stretched a hair but the YJ already has 6 inches of stretch built in so I'm hoping it wont be too bad.

[@conniemcgehee2851]

my husband has a jeep we loved this video! do more please

[@p-nut4209]

Awesome love the info. I grew up in a 77 Levi’s cj-5 304 with a 4sp T-18

[@TheJonwilder]

Thanks Fred!!

[@Just-inDoingStuff]

Well now you have me wanting to find a CJ3B I think they look rad. I had never seen one before this video. I always like the weird different stuff.

[@jasonscharf97tj]

Nice info fred good job 👍

[@4xhoser]

Loved it Fred and love those old jeeps! I learned lots do more! Landcruiser maybe 🤘👌🇨🇦

[@toddsmith4015]

Enjoyed the history lesson

[@TheWright1]

The CJ3B is on my list to own one day. I really like the look

[@mountainjeepmike]

Just finally digging into a flatfender, and I’m stoked about it! Great little video. Enjoyed it. Now, bring that sticker up to the great white north, and we will show you some sights!!

[@abefroman606]

Great video Fred! Gotta go ol blue. You got me hooked with that episode with Pewe and Freiburger years ago. But also love the garden and the no name.

[@710JL]

This has to be a movie

[@ericandersen9512]

Ford vs. Willy's 😂

[@lindamoser2532]

Good lessons

[@scottbouc2888]

Interesting I knew some stuff about jeeps but this was insightful I definitely think you should do more history on old 4x4 stuff.

[@driftercj2a]

There's a third possibility for the name Jeep. Around that time, "jeep" was slang approximately equivalent to the more modern "cool." I think it's a combination of all 3. As for post WWII production, the reason Willys went to a 7 slot grill, was because the 9 slot stamped grill was a Ford design. Willys had the fabled "slat" grill. Once the war was over and copyright laws were reinstated, all the manufacturers started grabbing back anything useful, and Ford was no exception. Since willys made an estimated 2/3 to 3/4 of the jeeps in the war effort, they had more claim to the bulk of the Jeep with a few exceptions here and there.

[@Bighorn_built]

Great history lesson. In the next episode, you can pick up where you left off. You almost got to the most important change in Willys/Jeep evolution. M38A1/CJ5. Great job it was informative and not boring.

[@xmo552]

Yeah I'd be interested in the cj5 stuff.

[@kenhill1885]

Great history lesson on the flat fenders! I love all of them! Make another video going over the history of the CJ5/6/7/8!

[@brandonbaldwin6845]

Would love to see you build upon this with a CJ episode, a FSJ/Cherokee/Wagoneer, episode, and a Wrangler episode

[@dustingibson2407]

Great video! It would be great to have you go through the differences between the GPW and the MB. Gotta love that tubular cross member

[@richarddannibale7131]

Early serial number cj2a's used surplus MB chassis with the 50 cal mounting plate on the frame plus they also came with a 3 on the tree.

[@blackmanta8999]

Could we get a good break down of the Red Gpw in the back especially on the front frame stretch portion and yes I watched the dirt everyday extra and rk extras as well You do an awesome job!

[@brianward3944]

Cool info, my favorite jeep is the CJ8 scrambler.

[@michaeljames9671]

Lol Fred, I think the 3B 'issue' is mostly in your head (I've heard you slander them before). More room for engine (etc), better ergonomics, beaffier frame etc. Proportioned right, they look BETTER than the others. High hood= High class. I agree with your take on Willys pronunciation. Great vids.

[@stretch44875]

45 willys mb, and 46 CJ2a, I've had jeeps for 30 years

[@jimanderson4495]

Thanks Professor Williams. What’s on tap for second semester? My national guard unit back in the early 60’s had M38’s and M38A1’s. They were cool.

[@joeyleclaire]

Great video Fred! Very informative to a non jeep guy like me

[@spencertsmith6872]

9 slots my favorite look

[@joshuaatkins5197]

Nice

[@azlandpilotcar4450]

You told the Willys version of the story. Off road combat cars started in 1916 during Pershing's Mexican expedition against Poncho Villa. The army used Dodge touring cars, and Patton used them as scout vehicles and in fast attack. The U.S. army was near the first, and most allied powers that could produce them used vehicles in WW 1 in Europe. The cars had their limitations, but would haul more stuff more quickly than horses and mules. When he got to Europe in WW 1, Patton (still under Pershing) and his driver were seriously wounded while scouting the military frontier in an automobile. A lot of the war department engineering requirements for the WW 2 jeep were based on specs of those early 1910-1920s Dodge, Ford, and REO cars.

[@xmo552]

Pancho 👍😉

[@number1yota]

Alan Jackson (The Country Singer) had one of those Resort DJs in pink. Sold it at a charity auction a few years back, but he used it in the music video for his song Drive. I am glad you included the info about Bantam getting the shaft in the "Jeep" race. That is often over looked in the history of Jeeps. The Garden Jeep is my favorite. Many for its DED Rubicon trip.

[@bluejeeper1]

He may have owned a Surry but the vehicle in his Drive video was a Bronco. I remember when the video came out wondering why he didn’t use a Jeep when thats what he was singing about

[@johnaube5611]

The red GPW is my favorite.

[@jasonm0284]

Love it, New series! Go through all the Jeep linage. Then maybe VW bugs or something.

[@thelategreatnocoastsaint]

I like the 3B. It is the third best looking one.

[@matthewschneider2089]

Dude!!! Great video!!! My first jeep was a cj5 hard top Buick v-6!! I couldn't fit in a flat fender!!! Curse my long legs!!!✌️

[@brandonbaldwin6845]

Awesome video! But dang, now you've got me on marketplace looking at things I don't need!

[@user-gk8op3wv6m]

Thanks Fred......... 🙂

[@jonaathansimons7938]

Own a '48 2A, stock powertrain + PTO driven winch. Very fun, very slow, and brakes are only a suggestion. My '49 3A has an oddfire 225 V6 and upgraded 9" drum brakes from a Dana 27 on the front, a 1" block lift welded between the frame and spring perches, 31" tires on 15"x5" Samauri 'wagon wheels'. It'll do 60 mph @ 3600 RPM with the stock T90 3spd and 5.38s spinning in the Dana 25 front and Dana 41 rear axles, but you'd better hold onto it! It'll be one of the last things I'd sell. Truely gets only Smiles Per Gallon.

[@timryan8174]

You’re really making me want to get on my 3A project!

[@Bighorn_built]

No better time than tomorrow.

[@timryan8174]

@@Bighorn_built Except, customer’s projects come first. They pay. 😂

[@davidcurry9292]

Great video, I learned some stuff. Looking forward to your CJ-5 video. I have a 61 project. It says jeep , but has Kaiser & willys I believe on the vin tag drivers side. Has also the snorkel slot on hood and I’m guessing the battery box in front of windshield and hood passenger side. Another cool feature is the passenger manual windshield wiper lol. I’ve done nothing to jeep other than drag into yard with my other yard ornaments,like my international travelall ,flat fender civilian 52 dodge power wagon ,1983 jeep wagoner,Suzuki samari ,69 Chevy truck , Nissan xterra,1977 jeep truck rolling chassis. 1/2 dozen moto four Yamahas and big bears. Which one should I start on is my next life decision lol

[@jasonnoteboom4489]

The CJ3B is like the FJ55 in that it’s ugly enough that it’s cool. I like both. Great video Fred. Thanks!

[@ArcticBlues1]

Im about 95% sure you are correct :) The 5% I am in doubt about is my own lack of knowledge, not yours :) Thank you :)

[@brentmcmillan646]

Thank you very much Fred! I learned a lot from your wealth of knowledge. Did they use some of those CJ3A’s on‘Fantasy Island’?

[@Outlaw_OffroadFab]

I love the original flats but you left out a Willys model that i would choose over the small flat fenders, the Willys wagon with the flathead Super Hurricane 6. My dad had a '64 and we spent many weekends exploring Utahs west desert in that rig.

[@toddmathews5261]

Great video Fred! Flat fender>>>any other vehicle ever made ever 🤙🤙

[@xmo552]

Dude, you're goijng to make Bam Bam world famous.

[@jmac3394]

Hey Fred. Love the willys content. Buddy of mine says there's an aviation spark plug you can still get with the threads on it... spendy though.

[@57WillysCJ]

The easiest way to know how Willys is pronounced is to watch old commercials from the 1940s on here. That and it was originally a French name. Like Scandinavian names that end in sen or son in the US and sound the same. One thing about the early M38s is the grill is hinged to fold out. It didn't last long.

[@rashidsiddiqui9984]

❤very nice

[@dmcwrench]

The red gpw is my favorite.

[@ShaneEstabrooks]

Fred.. my 51 Dodge M37 is so much like a M38 but on steroids.. there must be shared ideas after WWII between companies.. also the first Toyota 4x4 is or must be an inspiration of the jeep too.

[@saturnfivehynrgrc581]

Good stuff man. CJ5 class would be cool.

[@79chevy350]

You should do another one of these but on the ford highboy/early 4x4s

[@hyattbusbey3563]

The next car I buy will hopefully be a Flatty. I think a CJ3B with a Kubota V2203 would be perfect. If the cost wasn't so high a Mitsubishi built 3B would be primo

[@ryanmurphy7313]

@4xFredWilliams can we get a tour of your Jeep collection? I'd love to see that

[@Kevin90909]

Thank you substitute teacher Mr. Williams

[@stepchildpolaris]

Fred build a conundrum M38,Mb,Gpw,Cj2a. Shovel hatchet slots both sides, removable gage plate, glove box, and tailgate. Excellent information but what about the cj6?

[@davidsandberg7631]

i also had cj5 many years ago...