57 cj5 willys or kaiser ?

I just bought a 57 willys jeep according to the title its a willys other sites say its a kaiser also it could be military it has blackout taillights. it came with hardtop and plow. Windows roll up on hard doors. drove it home at top speed of 35 mph. would appreciate any thoughts or help thanks

 

hi glenn it has the removable panel with speedo and gauges and flat panel no tailgate i have pics in the photo albums part of the website but don't know how to get them here

 

Sounds like an M38A1. Does it have one of these dishes on the right side? Auxiliary power outlet, originally. Someone might have covered it up with sheet metal and bondo too. Also, does it have a hinged lid on the pass. side cowling? The M38A1 would have a hinged lid w/fasteners for the dual battery box, whereas a CJ5 just has a dummy lid welded in place to cover up the hole.

 

ron, patrick was able to move a pic over does that help

 

Kaiser bought Willys in about 1953 but kept the Willys name untill about 1964, so I've been told by several people. It all depends on how you want to look at it. It's a Willys made by Kaiser.

 

Thanks!

 

that looks like a kelly top. it should say on the door latches inside

 

thank you i'll check

 

C'mon guys, what all should his M38A1 have? I can think of.....

instrument panel
glove box on dr. side
data plates on dash(?)
recessed headlights
blackout rear lights
folding grill
machinegun support on frame
tiedown loops on frame
waterproof 24v electrics
aux. power outlet dish

Gotta be more.....

 

heavy 24 pack? leaf springs. also i think the gas tank may be different

 

Powr-locks - front and rear if's he's been a good boy.......................................

 

folding grill, only the early a1's had that, by 1955 that was gone or at least it was gone on mine.

 

1945 to 1953 CJ's were manufactured by Willys Overland.
1953 to 1964 CJ's were manufactured by Willys Motors Inc. (owned by Kaiser-Frazer Corp.)
1965 to 1970 CJ's were manufactured by Kaiser Jeep Corporation.
1970 to 1985 CJ's were manufactured by American Motors Jeep Corporation

Generally the "Willys" name was dropped by 1965.
At that time the serial number plate designation was changed to the 8xxx prefix series.

 

On my '65 firewall the I.D. plate says Kaiser Jeep Corporation with the 8xxx serial number. On the other side of the firewall there is a paint and trim code sticker that reads Willys produced by Kaiser Jeep Corporation.

 

You should have the reversed shackles on the front springs. Didn't all the M38A1's have those?wtlw

 

I believe exhaust will be different than the CJ5s, too.. if its anything close to original (looks a lot like my '53, so .. not really!) -- the downward pipe off the manifold should look like a big C, the spring packs should be 14 leaves, at least in the rear. Yes, the front should have reversed shackles.

Was there any tub other than the M38A1 that didn't offer a tailgate that opened?

Does it have a keyed ignition, or an on/off toggle switch?

Here's the removable instrument gauge panel from a '53 M38A1:


I don't believe I've ever heard of these frame-mounted tie-down hooks being on a CJ5, either:


Consensus on this end is that you have a lightly molested M38A1.. the above information may not be accurate
for '57, but from my understanding, only very minor things changed in those years on the same model vehicle.
Your mileage may vary (mine certainly does!).