New Universal Jeep Designs, 1949-53 on CJ3B.info attempts to reconstruct the stories of the series of civilian and military Jeep prototypes leading from the CJ-3A to the CJ-3B and CJ-5. But because those various prototypes were being developed simultaneously, I thought it would be useful to also have a chronological list of significant dates. Information on other documented dates that should be included is welcome.
December -- first CJ-3As built
29 June -- Engineering Release 5607, "CJ-3A front end redesign"
14 December -- Detroit Arsenal tests pilot M38
21 March -- Engineering Release 5707, "473 CJ" later "474 CJ" then "CJ-4"
3 August -- Engineering Release 5607 (CJ-3A front end) closed temporarily
24 August -- "X98" photographed at Detroit Arsenal
5 October -- Engineering Release 6396, Ambulance "MC-A"
6 October -- Engineering Release 6400, "AJ"
unknown date -- "X151" photographed with 1950 Ohio plates
28 December -- Engineering Release 6555, CJ-4M
22 January -- Engineering Release 6600, MD
5 March -- Factory photos of CJ-4M
15 March -- Engineering Release 6400 (AJ) closed
23 March -- Factory photos of CJ-4MA-01
April -- Engineering Release 6825, CJ-4MP
5 April -- Ft. Knox test included F-head truck "205"
7 May -- Spring design calculations completed for CJ-4MP
8 May -- "205" photographed by "A.F.F. Board No.2" at Ft. Knox
15 May -- CJ-4MA-01 photographed at Aberdeen PG
6 June -- Engineering Release 5707 (now CJ-4) closed
21 June -- Engineering Releases 6555 (CJ-4M) and 6825 (CJ-4MP) closed
1 August -- "205" photographed as "Project 5707, Model CJ-4M" at Ft. Knox
23 August -- XM38E1 photographed at Aberdeen PG
13 September -- Engineering Release 6825 (CJ-4MP) reopened
30 November -- Engineering Release 7474, "CJ-4A"
12 December -- M38E2 photographed at Aberdeen PG
3 January -- Engineering Release 7474 (CJ-4A) closed
12 January -- Engineering Release 5607 (CJ-3A front end) reopened
28 March -- Engineering Release 6600 (MD) closed
June -- first production M38A1 built
6 June -- modified CJ-3B hood mockups photographed
1 August -- CJ-3B 1953 model year begins
3 November -- Project 5607 CJ-3B photographed
30 January -- Engineering Release 9327, "CJ-3B 12 Volt Experimental Pilot Model (Japanese Police Reserve)"
6 April -- Engineering Release 5607 (CJ-3A front end) finally closed again
10 September -- Engineering Release 9811 "CJ-3B With Deutz Air Cooled Diesel Engine"
5 December -- sloped-hood CJ-3B photographed
Thanks to Todd Paisley, Bill Norris, Jim Allen, Bob Westerman, and the Willys-Overland-Knight Registry Inc., guardians of the Willys-Overland Engineering Releases. -- Derek Redmond
See also the more detailed history of New Universal Jeep Designs, 1949-53.
Also on CJ3B.info, see some original Willys Engineering Dept. Calculations: CJ-3B and CJ-4
Return to Universal Jeep History.
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