Click on any image for a larger version.
This vehicle is a Willys-built WWII jeep built on/about April 25, 1944, in Toledo, OH. Having served the war somewhere on an Army base or camp in the U.S, it was sold off as surplus after the war. It was found somewhere in West Virginia in the late 2000’s and stored in New York until it was restored by Thomas Zackman of Vero Beach, FL in 2018.
The jeep’s markings portray the jeep as it would be serving in the 758th Tank Battalion in Italy in 1944. The 758th was one of three African-American Tank Battalions that successfully fought in the European Theater (Italy) during WWII winning many awards for valor in combat. The unit crest depicting a black elephant on a white shield symbolizes the heavy assault of a tank battalion as war elephants were used in ancient times to lead the attack in a manner comparable to the present day armored organizations. The 758th lives on today as the U.S. Army’s 64th Armor Regiment of which the owner of this jeep served with during his Army career on the M-1 Abrams tank.
The Jeep Restoration:
This jeep restoration took over a year to complete lasting from March 2018 to July 2019. It is a complete “frame off” restoration utilizing as many original parts & hardware available. The powertrain, (engine, transmission, drive shafts, differential, springs, etc.), frame/chassis and other hardware/fixtures are original and completely stripped and rebuilt. The tub is a reproduction, with the exception of the Windshield frame and tub hardware which are mostly original. The engine is a British built block built under license from Willys with an original wartime cylinder head.
