Willys M 38 AI
Built: 1952-1952 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1952
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Willys – other models: the collective page of Jeep's forerunners outside the named ranges, from the military MB through the CJ-2A to the CJ-5, four- to eight-cylinders of 1.6 to 4.7 litres
This page gathers the Willys vehicles the register could not assign to a named range – the Toledo, Ohio maker that emerged in 1908 from the Overland Automobile Company and, from 1941, built the off-road military Jeep MB together with Ford, the vehicle that gave the later brand name Jeep its origin. After the war Willys-Overland brought out the civilian production version, the CJ-2A, in 1945, followed by the CJ-3A, CJ-3B and CJ-5; alongside them stood the two-wheel-drive DJ-3A Dispatcher, built for postal and official service. In 1953 Kaiser took over the company and ran it as Kaiser Jeep, before the Jeep brand passed to American Motors in 1970 and later to Chrysler. Some of the vehicles listed here come from Finnish registration data, in which Willys chassis are in part recorded under the Finnish vehicle class for open delivery vans (avopakettiauto).
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The register lists here 42 versions from four- to eight-cylinders of 1,585 to 4,650 cm³, unladen weights from 840 to 1,670 kg, gross weights from 1,180 to 2,820 kg and widths from 1,240 to 1,940 mm.
The Willys MB and its civilian successors are regarded as the origin of the modern off-roader; collectors prize above all the early wartime and immediate post-war models, which are still shown at classic and military-vehicle rallies today.
On used examples, rust on the frame, floor pan and wings, the condition of axles and transfer case, the originality of body and equipment and engine condition all count; parts run through specialist Jeep and military-vehicle dealers.
Sources: Kennwerte der Modelle Willys (weitere Modelle), Traficom (Finnland)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,640 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,060 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,140 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,701 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Willys M 38 AI weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,140 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Willys M 38 AI?
1,701 kg.
What engine does the Willys M 38 AI have?
4 cylinders.
When was the Willys M 38 AI built?
Production years: 1952.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 8 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
Sources: [1]
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.