Return to the index of 1953 Jeeps.
Mike in Illinois wrote in late 2023, "I recently purchased a 1953 CJ-3B from Michigan. It is a civilian Willys that has been converted to a Navy shore patrol replica by a Navy vet who served in Cam Ranh, Vietnam as part of the CTG 115.7. Apparently he missed his Willys too much. My understanding is that the Navy used the CJ-3B for patrol because they spent so much time on civilian roads. Thanks for a great website."
Terry owns Prairie Rod & Custom, in Bismarck, North Dakota. He says, "Back in 1971, my dad bought a 1953 3B for a hunting vehicle. As I got closer to driving age, I took the Jeep over and worked with my dad to fix it. I always wanted to find another 1953 Jeep. I finally found another '53 3B and began to fix it up.
"The paint color is from a Subaru Outback. The interior (230K JPEG) is fully carpeted with side panels to finish off the tub. I built speakers into the upholstery above the wheel tubs. The radio and speakers are installed in the console between the two front seats."
"It has a 350 Chevy fuel injected engine, with the original transmission and transfer case. There's a DANA 30 front differential and disk brakes. I took a DANA 44 rear differential out of a Wagoneer and narrowed it to the track width of the front differential and also installed a posi unit. I had a winch laying around my shop for 20-plus years and installed it with a custom made bumper out of 1/4-inch plate."
"I built the full roll cage along with the tire and Jerry can carrier. I installed a stainless steel gas tank and moved it to under the tub in the rear and installed a flush mount filler neck to the left rear corner panel. I incorporated defroster ducts into the roll cage which blow directly onto the windshield and work great. I tried to not modify the dash (200K JPEG) too much. The aftermarket gauge set fits in the stock holes. I also installed a hanging clutch and brake pedal assembly out of a 1969 Jeepster, and power steering to improve driveability and comfort."
Fabrice is in France, and in 2023 he purchased this Jeep from Belgium. It had been shipped there from Nevada, where it had been titled using a new VIN number because the original serial number tag was missing, and serial numbers were not stamped on the frame in 1953.
The engine number is 4J20052 so the Survivors List shows that it would have had a serial number in the range of 453GB2 19xxx. However, without an exact serial number, Fabrice had to locate another '53 tag in order to register it in France.
The Jeep had arrived in a faded Olive Drab. The body was generally in good shape, but the side panels had been cut away for easier entry and exit.
After removing the tub (250K JEG) the underside (430K JPEG) revealed the original Woodstock Green and a rusted-out toolbox.
Here's the chassis ready for power washing. You can see where Fabrice used a wire brush to search unsuccessfully for a serial number on the right side of the frame, just behind the front wheel. See also the frame in primer (330K JPEG).
Stay tuned for the completed project.
Joe Acord in Ohio told me about his '53 in June 2023, and it's pretty interesting not only because of the beautiful job he's done on it, and the flashy orange paint, but because it is an original 1953 FJ, produced specifically for farmers with rear PTO and implement lift.
See CJ-3B Farm Jeeps for more background on this FJ, whose serial number (210K JPEG) indicates at least 78 FJs came down the assembly line in the 1953 model year, rather than the 65 reported in Willys-Overland Production Figures.
The Jeep no longer has the implement lift, but it does have the PTO. Joe has
done a lot of work including installing Mile Marker 481 Premium locking hubs, all-new brakes, exhaust, radiator, gas tank, side mirror and side steps.
New interior details include turn signals, electric wiper motor, fuel gauge, seat covers, windshield seal and ignition switch. See a closer view of the interior (400K JPEG).
The rebuilt engine now has less than 20 hours on it. Joe converted the Jeep to 12 volts, installed a new wiring harness, and gave the front end an near-mint look with new headlight buckets and chrome rings.
Fernando sent this photo of his colorful '53 from Bogotá in late 2022. Colombia is one of those mountainous countries, along with Norway and Switzerland, which had been eagerly awaiting the new CJ-3B with its larger engine, and began importing them as soon as Willys started building them in late 1952. The Hurricane in this one was eventually worn out, and the original motor was replaced more than twenty years ago by the previous owner.
Troy runs Covert Customs in Redmond, Oregon.
He says, "My Grandpa Ed McDonald purchased this Jeep for my father Dan in 1964 after he had worked an entire summer for him in Prairie City OR. The story is that Dad didn't know about the Jeep that Grandpa bought him, was expecting to be paid for his labor and had plans to buy a Chevy truck. But Dad drove it for two years and then enlisted at 18. The Jeep got parked out back in the field behind Grandpa's house, and that is where it sat for the next 43 years until my uncle Pat took it to Philomath OR in 2009. It sat at Uncle Pat's until 2018 when my Dad took it back home after Uncle Pat passed away. And that's where it was until 2021."
"One of my earliest memories is pretending to drive it when I was a little boy. I had forgotten about it until I got a call from Dad in 2021 saying if I wanted the Jeep come get it or he's scrapping it. I was there the next day with a trailer. Dad had boxes and boxes of NOS parts for it, and the night I got it home I worked all night on it and by dawn I had it running and driving. By noon the next day it went for its first highway drive in at least 46 years and by early afternoon it was in 4WD at one of the local OHV parks. Ran like a champ. My wife and I are planning on keeping it and it's going to get a different drivetrain. I'm not going to touch the paint or body. Outside of the cage we're going to try to keep it looking the same, so I just wet sanded and polished it up. It's a great little rig."
Andrew in Tennessee said in late 2021, "I have owned many Jeeps and this 3B has grown to be one of my favorite ones, with great power and stunning looks. I bought this one from a friend who got tired of the repairs and I wanted to give it a home.
"I stripped it to the frame and rebuilt and replaced and repainted every bolt. It is stock except for Signal Stat turn signals, mag wheels and tires, and a roll bar."
"I have completely rebuilt both differentials, transmission and transfer case, well everything but the motor (180K JPEG) which is running well enough for now.
"I didn't want it so nice I wouldn't use it, but I wanted it to look well sorted."
Darren in Idaho wrote in 2020: "I bought it in 1980 from the original owner, Darrell Hurst. He owned a large apple orchard in Sebastopol, California. It still had the original engine, but early on I swapped engines and have no record of the engine number. VIN number on the firewall is 453GB2 12213. The list of changes: 225 Buick V6, GM power steering, T98 transmission, 2.5-inch Rancho springs, 11-inch brakes, Detroit locker and full float conversion rear axle, Warn overdrive, dual system brakes, turn signals, seat belts and a full cage. I think that's it!
"The JD green and black theory is it's close enough to a correct Jeep color, can blend in in the woods when needed, and have a bit more hot rod pizazz on cruise night than OD green."
"I got the trailer in 1986. An MVCC member had brought in a train load of these WWII trailers. Draw bar, springs, axles and fenders had all een removed, laying inside the tub, all the same parts from another trailer in there as well, with tub from the second trailer upside down on top, both tied together by the rope hooks with wire. As far as I could see were similar stacks. Other than repacking the bearings, I left the trailer as is until a month ago. Finally decided it was time to media blast off the rust and match it to the 3B that usually tows it."
Francesco in San Diego bought this '53 tub on a CJ-3A frame and a Toyota motor in 2019, and has been doing some upgrades including mounting an Arctic Top. He describes his project in California Jeep With an Arctic Top.
I heard from Matt in East Hampton CT in December 2019. He had recently acquired this early '53, serial number 15027. Matt says, "I purchased it from a gentleman who had just passed away after finishing it. It's a full body-off nut and bolt restore.
"It originally started life as one of the Raymond concrete piledriver Jeeps. I have the rear winch assembly for it as well.
I've always wanted a CJ-3B after driving a '44 Willys MB military jeep. Can't enjoy it yet here in the winter, but looking forward to spring."
Dave Streithorst in Kettering, Ohio has owned this Jeep for 35 years, and is the second owner. It's mostly unrestored, but was repainted in the late 70s. Accessories include a chaff screen and a well-preserved Kayline vinyl top (200K JPEG).
This photo was taken at the 2018 Spring Willys Reunion.
An interior photo reveals the original Harrison heater and the lever between the seats for the
rear PTO (320K JPEG), to which Dave has added a belt drive pulley.
Craig wrote from Colorado Springs in early 2019 to say, "I just had my Grandpa's 1953 CJ-3B restored.
My Grandpa (110K JPEG) turned 92 a couple weeks ago. He used the Jeep as a farm truck on his farm in Indiana. He bought it in the late 1970s from his neighbor who was the original owner."
See a photo from the passenger side (70K JPEG).
Craig also sent this picture of his parents in the Jeep before it was restored.
The work was done by Specialty Jeeps in Coshocton, Ohio, who have documented the process thoroughly with photos on their website.
Anders in Denmark wrote in 2018, "My '53 CJ-3B was used in the Danish military until 1969 and after that has had at least 3 different owners before me. The car is mostly original (170K JPEG) with some additions like electronic fuel pump and ignition, and a few other things.
"It has the 2.2 L Hurricane engine. I have not been able to see the engine number yet, but I assume it is the original engine and gearboxes. The car's serial number (100K JPEG) is 453GB2 20280. I plan to keep it as original as possible."
The Jeep came with military options from Willys such as the pintle hook and bumperettes, and the Danish Army equipped the rear end with antenna, jerry can and spare tire mount, as well as blackout taillights made by Ermax. Other standard additions included electric wiper motors and side marker lamps.
See also another Danish Army Jeep, a 1956 CJ-3B, on CJ3B.info.
Jon wrote in late 2018: "My name is Jon Knight from Smithfield, Rhode Island. I just bought this time capsule from Dartmouth, Massachusetts. It has zero rot and zero rust (shipped east from California six months ago.) VIN 30774, engine number 4J35218."
Jerry wrote from Seattle in early 2018, "I bought my 1953 CJ-3B recently from an owner who had owned it since the early 80s, sitting in a field up in the hills. It was complete, minus the seats, and is going through a restoration now. I have to replace the tub with another one I already had and have been saving for just this situation. The front end and frame are all in great shape, but the tub (400K JPEG) is completely rusted out, everywhere."
"It came with the original running gear, but I believe I am going to update it slightly instead of rebuilding the original. I have a couple other Jeeps that are truly all original, so this one I wanted to be a very mild resto-mod. I have an Iron Duke 4 cyl, 4 speed and Dana 300 transfer case, along with matching diffs that all came out of a 1981 CJ-5 that will go into this one. Something updated, reliable and not something that everyone else is doing. I figure it will still be good for the trails and will run down the highway OK."
"The blue hood is one of the new hoods that I manufacture for the old flat fender Jeeps, low and high hoods. This particular one will go on the CJ-3B in the end."
Jerry also mentions a problem he had with registering the title: "My biggest challenge so far came when I went to transfer the title and the DMV valued it at $14,600! $1400 in taxes? I only paid a couple hundred dollars for it. I have had many, many Jeeps and never ran into this problem before. The trick was that this model was in their system and all of the others were not. When it isn't in their system, they just look at the antique car guide and then rate the condition off a 6 tier model and then you pay tax on the corresponding value. I had to pay a few hundred dollars to have it appraised (more than I paid for the Jeep.) Now I've got the licensing taken care of and we're off and running on the resto."
"I purchased a 1953 CJ-3B in the spring of 2017, serial 453GB212730. It is a total restore, including a new body. Previous owner got another project. I plan to finish it into a rock crawler when I move to Colorado.
The new parts list is extensive, with major work already done -- brakes, wiring harness, body mounted to frame. Engine work is iffy and it still needs overhaul of steering and drivetrain. I am taking it to Trinidad CO so it might need a power upgrade from the F-head."
Hector in Puerto Rico says, "My first antique car was this Willys CJ-3B 1953 -- it was purchased in excellent condition in the year 2000. Its restoration was performed by Nelson Burgos from Orocovis P.R. in 1997, and we have maintained it like that. I got it because it brought back memories of my father's Jeep, where I learned to drive." (See Restoring My Father's Jeep on CJ3B.info.)
See also the engine (210K JPEG). Note there are some details not original to a 1953 model, including the covered fresh air vent hole on the right side cowl, and the Sparton horn.
"I live in a log cabin on a homestead in Washington State. I restored my 1953 CJ-3B to the most original form I could. I even painted it the original color. My wife's great grandfather bought the Willys brand new in 1953, and she and her brothers rode in it when they were small children."
"The old barn it was stored in was just about to fall over so 2 years ago the brothers basically said that we could have it if we wanted it."
See more details and photos of Michael's Cadet Gray CJ-3B.
Return to the index of 1953 Jeeps.
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