My M38A1 CDN3 Jeep 71-09062

71-09062 view from rear, in the field, probably at CFB Wainwright, Alberta. - LCol Gord Chisholm photo
My Jeep, 71-09062 view from rear, in the field with the Canadian Army, probably at CFB Wainwright, Alberta. – LCol Gord Chisholm photo. 

This 1971 M38A1 CDN3 was built by Jeep Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, and is among the very last military M38A1 family of Jeeps built in North America. This M38A1 CDN3 was delivered in June 1971 and was assigned Canadian Forces Registration number 71-09062. The last five digits appeared on the CANADA licence plate as seen in the historic in-service photo above.

Soldiers rarely used the correct nomenclature as shown on the data plates. Thus these M38A1 jeeps were often referred to, incorrectly, as “67 Pattern Jeeps”. The 1974 M151A2 1/4 Ton MUTT were usually referred to, again erronealy as “74 Pattern Jeeps” (they were not Jeeps). 

A brief explanation of “M38A1” models. There are subtle differences between the models. In service many were adapted for different roles such as ambulance, line laying, radio, helicopter starting, anti-tank, reconnaissance, VIP transport etc. 

  • The M38A1 (also known as the “MD“, and unofficiallky as “67 Pattern Jeep”) was first made by Willys Overland, Toledgo, Ohio in the USA in 1952. Canada acquired a few of those and used some on United Nations peacekeeping duties in Sinai-Gaza. 
  • The M38A1 CDN Ford Motor Company, Canada, was licenced to assemble some in Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1952-1953.
  • The M38A1 CDN2 were assembled by Kaiser Jeep in Windsor, Ontario, Canada for the Canadian military in 1967-1968. One common unofficial soldiers’ nickkname for them came from this i.e. “’67 Pattern Jeep”. 
  • The M38A1 CDN3 Jeeps were built in 1970-1971 by Jeep Corporation in Toledo, Ohio for the Canadian military. 

My Jeep 71-09062 was sold suplus about 1986 – 1987. An early owner was Dan Jahn who later sold it to Scott Lorette about early 1998. Scott then had it painted white to represent a United Nations peacekeeping Jeep as Scott had served with the Canadian Armed Forces’ UN detachment on the Golan Heights. He placed in in storage from 2012 to 2025. In late 2025 it was sold to me, Colin Stevens, and it will be repainted in its original camouflage paint pattern as a reconnaissance jeep  in the last half of the 1970s.

My research with old documents I had collected over the years shows that 71-09062 served with:

  • The Royal Canadian Engineers at Canadian Forces Base Chilliwack:
    • 3rd Field Squadron, RCE (Existed from 1958-04-30 to 1975-05-21)
    • 3rd Field Engineer Squadron (Existed 1975-05-21 to 1977-06017)  71-09062 appears on a list of the Squadron’s vehicles that were scheduled for repainting in the camouflage pattern in 1974-1975.
    • 1 Combat Engineer Regiment (1CER) (Unit renamed 1977-06-17 to present)
  • The British Columbia Regiment (Duke of Connaught’s Own) in Vancouver, B.C. as a reconnaissance Jeep, fitted with a C5A1 General Purpose Machine Gun. They lent it to 15th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery for an exercise in Fort Lewis, Washington, U.S.A.
  • The 6th Field Engineer Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers in North  Vancouver.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/6_Engineer_Squadron

PARTS & ACCESSORIES WANTED

  1. Manuals for M38A1 CDN2 & CDN3. Originals preferred, but copies great as an interim measure. 
    • PARTS LIST                           7610-21-843-6996
    • OPERATOR’S MANUAL       7610-21-848-1569
    • MAINTENANCE MANUAL  7610-21-848-1570
  2. “Z-Arm” pintle to hold GPMG on Z-Arm. I will consider buying a complete Z-Arm assembly. 
  3. Quick release pins (old style as used on Z arm (Quantity wanted – 3 or more)
  4. C42 (Larkspur) Complete radiio station for M38A1 including ATU and Antennae and antennae tube storage case. 
  5. Cocking handle – bar with large pull ring: for C5A1 GPMG. 
    • No NSN Bar, Retracting, Breech Bolt 
    • NATO NSN 1005-21-844-3356 Guide, Retracting Bar (2)  i.e. Two brackets to hold cocking bar to right side of GPMG.
    • 1005-32-845-8383 Firing Attachment, Blank Ammunition (Blank Firing Attachment, “BFA”)
  6. Two hooks for retaining rear seat against rear wall of Jeep. 
  7. ANSUL blue (5 Lb) Fire Extinguisher, blue, ideally with mounting bracket. 
  8. Vehicle Tool bag, green canvas.
  9. Relevant tools. 
  10. Photos of my jeep 71-09062 while it was in DND service.
  11. Any documents from military service lisiting 71-09062 e.g. Unit plans listing internal allocation of vehicles by CFR; Weekly Transport reports, accident reports, surplus sale listing,  etc.
  12. Two original DND / CANADA licence plates. The numbers do not matter as they were stick on, and I can replace those with 09062.
M38A1 CDN3 71-09062 when it was owned by Scott Lorette
Previous owner of M38A1 CDN3 71-09062, Scott Lorette. He had served with the United Nations on the Golkan Heights, so he had it painted white.