Ian Watson says his 85‑year‑old Jeep gets the first parking spot at Asda, thanks to its distinctive machine‑gun mounts and a few other quirks that set it apart from ordinary vehicles. The 1941 “Slat Grille” Willys Jeep, which he bought a decade ago, still carries a fake hand grenade on the dashboard, a reminder of its wartime heritage.
From the South Pacific to a British garage
The Jeep was originally shipped to the South Pacific two days after Pearl Harbor. After World II, American forces left much of their equipment behind, and the vehicle stayed in the Philippines. A Manila museum later rescued the battered chassis, restored it, and when the museum closed, the pieces were sold on eBay. Watson bought the Jeep for about £17,000, a price well below the current market value of roughly £34,000 for a comparable early model.
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Mechanical quirks of a vintage engine
Powered by the Willys “Go Devil” 2.2‑litre inline‑four side‑valve engine, the Jeep produces roughly 60 hp and just over 100 lb‑ft of torque at 2,000 rpm. The engine’s oil leak is described as “like a sieve,” and a second radiator was added to cope with the heat of its original tropical deployment. “It feels a bit like a tractor,” Watson says.
It still turns heads.
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Maintenance and parts availability
Watson claims that “a Jeep is a reasonably simple thing,” and most maintenance he can perform himself.
Public reaction and personal collection
Drivers behind the slow‑moving Jeep often grow impatient, but many enjoy the sight of the historic machine. When he first acquired the vehicle, veterans would stop to reminisce; most have since passed away. The Jeep now shares a garage with a 1968 Mini Moke and a collection of 1960s memorabilia, while the opposite side displays military artifacts, including the faux grenade.
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Expert view on historic vehicle restoration
John Miller, a veteran automotive historian, notes that “restoring a vehicle of this age is always a balance between preserving original components and integrating modern replacements for safety.” He adds that the market for authentic World War II Jeeps has grown, driving prices up and encouraging enthusiasts to seek out rare examples like Watson’s.
While he enjoys the novelty of his Jeep’s machine‑gun mounts, the vehicle’s practical value lies in its durability and the sense of history it carries. For a car that once served in the Pacific theater, a trip to the supermarket now feels like a small parade.