CHANGING GEAR
The Jeeps that America loves today started with the rugged vehicles made for the military.
Examples of the original model, which was used in World War II, to the model used during the Vietnam War, which was the basis for the modern Jeep, will be on display at the World War II Encampment at Cooper's Lake Campground in Slippery Rock.
Author and historical educator David Hustler of Pittsburgh holds programs every year at the encampment, and will be there again this year to tell Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival guests about the Jeep's formative years.
“I decided to change it up. We're going from World War II to Korea to Vietnam,” said Hustler, who wrote a book on World War II re-enacting.
A few changes were made to the Willys MB and the Ford GPW Jeep vehicles used in World War II when production of the Jeep resumed in 1950 as the M38 model, which saw military duty during the Korean War.
The models shared the same 60-horsepower L-head engine and flat-sided fenders, but the M38 featured a stronger 24-volt electrical system and inflatable tires.
The M38A1 came out a few years later with a more powerful four-cylinder engine and rounded fenders and a hood that went on to become features on the CJ-5, which enjoyed a long production run from 1955 to 1983. The M38 and the M38A1 were used early in Vietnam, but were replaced by the M151.
“The M38 replaced the World War II Jeep. It's almost the same size, but it changed from six to 24 volts, which carried over to the M38A1 that came out in 1952 with rounded fenders,” Hustler said.“It's a lot easier to get in and out of the M151 made by Ford. That was a little faster and had a better suspension.”He will talk about Jeep vehicles and other military equipment that will be on display at the encampment.“He is a military re-enactor. He dresses in a period uniform,” said Patty Jo Lambert, who heads the festival committee. “He's very educated and very passionate about it.”Hustler is part of the First Frontier Mechanized Calvary, which is running the encampment, and the Seventh Calvary, a Vietnam re-enactment group he founded.Hustler's M38A1 will be part of the encampment display of more than 20 military vehicles along with an M38 owned by Vietnam veteran Richard Harkins of Slippery Rock.“It's the first Jeep they began making after World War II when they shut down Jeep production. It has the same engine as a World War II Jeep. Not many were made,” Harkins said.“It was several hundred pounds heavier, but had the same engine with the same horsepower.”Harkins said he has owned the M38 for eight years and it is among his collection of 14 military vehicles, including one on display in the Heinz History center in Pittsburgh.
