Willy's MB/Ford GPW
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Willys MB and its version of Ford called GPW, are for many, important part in the development of World War II (WWII)for two crucial reasons. First, because it was transformed into the "work horse" of the soldiers of the modern war. And on the other hand, because they were a great development and it contributes in engineering and the automobile market. Nobody ever suspected that a light multipurpose vehicle would become, over time, one of the most popular and diverse pieces of military history. Willys MB, 1/4 ton truck, in its military nomenclature, is a compact model able to transport 4 passengers, military armament and accessories. It was developed looking for a low profile for his of fuergo in line enemy use. As much so with his windshield lowered on the cowling, at a stature man median it arrives to him more or less around the stomach. " owns a Willys motor model; Go Devil" of 60 HP, with four cylinders in line and flat butt. Box of speeds reverse T84 model of only 3 changes and, with first without synchronizing, besides a transfer with dual. Another remarkable characteristic of this Jeep, is its back axis of floating mass. What it gives a surprising robustness him for the load. It owns a folding windshield in 90 degrees forwards and in addition an elevation system of the frame with the glass forwards and above to ventilate the interior when it is overturned. It owns 4 handles by outside the body arranged in reduces of the doors and in the back, very comfortable corners to lower or to throw of jeep when this it is extremely flooded. The MB nor the GPW never brought winches of factory, were only provided of a few meters of heavy rope that was moored to the front bumper. In addition in its original equipment, they brought in the flank of the driver a shovel and an axe, to cabar trenches or to lay way in a very leafy forest. , As all military vehicle owns an antiaircraft system of lights of optional activation from the commando of lights of the board, for conduction in convoy or caravan, also denominated " Blackout". As much its front parking lightses, as the lights back brought a thin white silhouette that is only perceivable short-distance and it does not project light beam from an aerial view. Also it brings a characteristic light with arc and biwax in the tapabarros front left with system blackout, that many fans of the Willys obtain it and install to any civil model. Another ingenious system that brought the MB, was an arc of straight águlos inverted of 2 articulated tubes that pivoteaban on the body they cross and it around the endorsement of the seats. This served to sustain an austere one overturns of impermeable canvas of green color olive, that only has a mini squared plastic window for the back view and with lateral ones which they cover to the companions around the back wheels. An inconvenient one was that they did not bring doors, reason why in the zones battle with cold climate, Willys MB and Ford GPW, they did not shelter very well against the inclemency of the time. In the back part they are closed, that is to say, they do not bring the classic folding door of its civil successors. And to the left, it brings a portable benzine pool (gasoline) extra in its own portaestanque that goes fixed in the body. And next to a spare wheel. With respect to the wheels, they brought a tire of pantanero simple drawing, today called call ND Military Type, and great thanks of their rims are that in the model from the 42 to the 45, they bring a apernadura that allows " separar" the rim in two parts, as a Oreo cake separates, to be able to make a change of air chamber, in the pinchazos that happened far from the service of factory. The applied military engineering in MB and GPW does not stop to desorprender! For example another detail. The front lights, that are the unique ones of all the Willys which they go " escondidos" in the mask or grill, they owned a butterfly closing that if it were freed could rise and upwards and ahead be used like " it looks for caminos" , obvious that with the raised cowling. In addition they brought porthole antenna, that could be arranged in two positions and a rifleholder one that settled in the internal sector of the windshield. if they see the film on the called WWII " The bridge too much lejos" , they will see in first plane how rudio that causes the bolt of this rifleholder one almost exposes the American soldier who is encondiendo itself in a forest of the German forces. Also they owned one " muela" or it the other way around hooks very robust military man and two top of following bumpers had all the Willys. That is to say, watching upwards. These Jeep was of 12 volts, reason why they were not armored for the water, although even so they badeaban rivers or they were used in disembarkations with modifications in situ. Another curiosity is that they did not own ignition key.
