G503 desert find

1941 - 1945, MB, GPW Technical questions and discussions, regarding anything related to the WWII jeep.
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railroadgoatoat
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G503 desert find

Post by railroadgoatoat » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:01 am

Went desert pickin' in Arizona just yesterday and found an early script WILLYS. Tub was crunched somewhat and the cowl portion was separated from the tub. Of course all 3 data plates were missing. My question, dash did not have glove box door and the 3 data plates were removed from where glove box normally is. Was this a Slat Grill tub and cowl ?? Definite WILLYS script on driver rear panel. Another interesting find, it had the oil can bracket still on firewall, but crunched up. NO, I didn't take any of it home, just left it partially buried in the sand near an old gold mine. Thanks
Should have taken pictures tho, but didn't.
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Farrell Fox
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Farrell Fox » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:43 am

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Re: G503 desert find

Post by rjbeamer » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:52 am

Sam,if it had WILLYS script on the back and no glove box it definitely Is/was a Slatgrill.

Roger

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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Mark Jesic » Sat Dec 16, 2017 11:30 am

Definetley a slat grill, yes go back and get it, take a metal detector with you, you just never know.....

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Michael O.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Michael O. » Sat Dec 16, 2017 12:40 pm

Send a me a grid and I’ll go back there...lol. You never know...might be able to salvage some parts.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by dinof » Sat Dec 16, 2017 7:00 pm

Leave it there, not all jeeps can be saved. Find a nice one if you want a WWII jeep.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Wolfman » Sun Dec 17, 2017 7:11 am

There be GOLD in them hills.
While digging the jeep out, you might find some.
Then you would have a rare jeep and the money to restore it !!
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Chuck Lutz
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Chuck Lutz » Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:33 am

Hmm...who owns the gold claim? Who owns the property? Who owns what is on it?

That might be important to know before stripping it or trying to remove it. Ask first, shotguns are known to sting/leave a bad medical problem when one is on the receiving end.

Check with BLM first but you will need a GPS location or some means of confirming where you found it. Some people seem to think the old saying, "It is better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission"....but that's just a saying until you get caught red-handed by the owner/sheriff.

You know what they ALSO say..."Trespassers will be shot......looters will be shot twice"
Maybe just take pictures and don't identify the location as it will disappear otherwise. Scuba divers are reminder to take only pictures and leave only bubbles....meaning the only stuff you can pick up is the trash spoiling the reef like beer cans and bottles and plastic bags recently dumped overboard.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Mark Jesic » Sun Dec 17, 2017 11:16 am

Spot on Chuck, especially with the scuba diving. Now about that jeep........ :D

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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Destructo6 » Mon Dec 18, 2017 4:47 am

What's the name of the gold mine?

Lots of defunct mines in the Sonoran desert. Glove, White Oak, Big Lead, ... Only a few of the small ones are still being worked.

If it's near Tucson, it would be fun to get a look at it.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by railroadgoatoat » Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:23 am

I know who the owner is and am in process of trying to talk them out of it. Would love to hang it from the rafters in my shop just as it is. I was stunned when I found it. My Father got killed in a WW2 Jeep when I was 15 days old, so I can relate to this survivor. Wish I would have had my camera with me. Thanks for all replies.
If you love your freedom, thank a Vet !!!
1945 Willys MB "Ruby Foo" (SOLD)
1943 Ford GPW "Bertha Mae" (Up for sale)
!943 Ford GPW "Filipino Jeepney" (SOLD)
1943 SAS Jeep 205051
1943 MBT (SOLD)
1952 M100

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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Thunderbird712 » Mon Dec 18, 2017 10:39 am

Reminds me of when I worked at NAWS China Lake in California. I would be out on range looking for areas to operate our UAVs and would come across all sorts of stuff. F6F Hellcats and F-86's shot down as drones, B-29s, M38A1s, M35s, CCKWs, uncut M151s (some still being used), G503s and all sorts of other MVs all used as targets. I even came across a very nice DUKW in excellent shape minus the gapping hole in the engine compartment where and inert bomb went through once side and out the other. Motor was still there except being knocked out the one side. I would have loved to take stuff out of there. The now flying B-29 "DOC" came out of China Lake.
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by dinof » Mon Dec 18, 2017 12:05 pm

My Father bought some jeeps in 1951 at China Lake. Ridgecrest is the city that sits right next door. Cool place indeed!
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Re: G503 desert find

Post by Runnin4's » Mon Dec 18, 2017 2:59 pm

Let me know if you need some extra muscle to get it out. I can lend a hand.


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