The 1945 Willys MB Jeep of World War II was… sorry, still is, as rugged and tough as can be. The term “comfort” wasn’t even mentioned in the original plans. But a soft, cushy suspension system for the patriotic butt was not the goal. The U.S. Army built it to withstand virtually anything you could throw at it, from forests to beaches to deserts to mountain trails to ricocheting bullets. It was also great at plowing fields and hauling airplanes. The 1945 Willys MB has a great PR department, but how well does it really perform on a rocky off-road trail on a Colorado mountain 80 years later?
Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle, who worked for Scripps Howard newspaper, once aptly described the Willys MB Jeep with the words: “It did everything. It went everywhere. It was as loyal as a dog, as strong as a mule and as agile as a goat. It constantly carried twice the load it was designed for and still kept going. Once you get used to it, it’s not too bad to drive.“
According to the original spec sheet, the Jeep was designed to transport command and reconnaissance personnel and light cargo. However, the US Army also used it as an ambulance or even strapped .30 (7.62 mm) or .50 (12.7 mm) caliber guns to its back. Now the civilian guys from the YouTube channel “TFLclassics” wanted to find out if the world-famous Willys MB Jeep from WWII would survive a climb on the Switzerland Trail near Boulder, Colorado, 80 years later.
The 5-seat Army vehicle is equipped with a 134 cubic inch (2.2 liter) “Go Devil” inline 4-cylinder engine that, in its prime, produced 60 gross horsepower (54 net horsepower) at 4,000 rpm and 105 ft-lb (142 Nm) at 2,000 rpm. This soldier marches forward with its 3-speed transmission and four-wheel drive. It weighs about 2,450 pounds (1,111 kilograms), has 8 3/4 inches (22.2 cm) of ground clearance, and has a top speed of 65 mph (105 km/h) on asphalt in a straight line.
While it’s highly commendable for a WWII US Army vehicle, it’s not the most comfortable ride in today’s world. The lack of soft seats is one thing, but the large steering angle is also annoying, as you have to turn the steering wheel a long way before the wheels follow.
Photo: Michael Scoggins
The guys at TFL even said that the 1915 Model T they recently drag raced was better handling and more comfortable. Other downsides include manual windshield wipers, which isn’t ideal in an open-top vehicle in pouring rain. Thankfully, the rudimentary system was designed so that the passenger could take over wiping while the driver focused on the road. Now imagine trying to defrost the windshield. To keep you dry, you can also add a partial cover and canvas doors.
The Willys MB has three levers. The first on the driver’s side is the actual gear lever. The second, smaller lever changes the transmission system, while the third lever changes sequentially between low, neutral and high gear. There is even a metal plaque screwed into the dashboard that states that the driver “Disengage the front axle drive when driving on dry, paved roads.“
Making its way to the top of the Switzerland Trail, the restored Willys proved that the legend surrounding it was not just misplaced nostalgia. It roared up the mountain road like it was nothing. Granted, it wasn’t the most difficult 4×4 trail modern man has ever discovered, but newer models like the Jeep Wrangler struggled to achieve the same “gliding” performance.
It also drove through a large puddle of mud and water and didn’t mind. It wasn’t too deep and only covered a quarter of the wheels, but there aren’t many other 80-year-old cars that could easily repeat the same feat. In fact, the only problem they had (apart from comfort) was that the horn stuck and wouldn’t stop “screaming” once it went off.
Photo: uniquejeep.ca
As Private Willys MB proved his mettle by conquering the rocky mountain road inch by inch with ease, it became clear that he would not only survive the journey, but would pass with flying colors, which he did. So we proudly pay our respects to the WWII Jeep that could teach even modern SUVs that claim to be off-road vehicles a lesson in toughness and durability.
This unbeatable champion is one of the last mass-produced models of the 1941-1945 generation ever produced as a military jeep. Its heroic relative was sent into combat wherever it was needed around the world, including the infamous beaches of Normandy in France.
In 1942, a model called “Old Faithful” was reportedly used solely to transport high-ranking officers in the Battle of Guadalcanal. Legend has it that it was the very first American vehicle to set foot, sorry, wheel, on land. After surviving Japanese fire and suffering two holes in the windshield from shrapnel, it was awarded the Purple Heart for its service. After 18 months, Old Faithful was decommissioned.
As soon as World War II ended, the U.S. Army began producing civilian Jeep or CJ models, which flooded the market and enjoyed success and fame until 1986, when the Jeep Wrangler was released. It’s hard to achieve the status and performance and hit the social zeitgeist like the Willys MB did. Others have tried, like the giant, gas-guzzling Humvee, but it never reached the same heights.
