1952 Willys M38A1 & Dunbar Kapple Trailer

This modified 1952 Willys M38A1 MD is a custom-built all-terrain vehicle offered with an accompanying color-matched Dunbar Kapple M-100 trailer topped by a Smittybilt pop-up tent. Power for the tow vehicle is provided by a Ford-sourced 302ci Windsor V8 paired with a T18 4-speed manual transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a Warn overdrive unit. Both the Willys and its trailer were refurbished in 2019.  Equipment on the Willys includes a winch, Dana front and rear axles, and a full roll cage. Finished in blue bed liner material over a black vinyl interior, this M38A1 and its accompanying trailer are offered as a package by the selling dealer. The Willys comes with a clear duplicate California title and the Dunbar trailer comes with a clear California title.

As part of its 2019 refurbishment, this 1952 M38A1 was coated in blue bed liner material and topped by a black roof covering. The exterior features a front-mounted tow bar, a winch, soft doors, a rear-mounted full-size spare, a jerry can, a receiver hitch, and a second spare tire housed in the cargo area. The included cargo trailer is a Dunbar Kapple M-100 that has been modified with a tailgate and coated in the same blue finish as its tow vehicle. The top of the trailer lifts to reveal two storage areas and has a built-in 4' X 8' Smittybilt pop-up tent.

The Willys' black steel 15-inch wheels with polished trim rings are wrapped in 30-inch RoadOne Aethon M/T tires that were replaced in 2021. The trailer is shod with 30-inch Crosswind M/T tires on 15-inch wheels.

The two-seat interior is fitted with black vinyl low-back bucket seats split by a padded center console that was fabricated from an ammunition box. The door panels are upholstered in gray with black piping. Equipment includes a full roll cage, a fire extinguisher, and a tilt-adjustable steering column.

The Stewart-Warner instrumentation includes an 80-mph speedometer and accompanying gauges, while an auxiliary dash-mounted Autogage 6K-rpm tachometer provides additional vehicle information. The five-digit odometer reads 5K miles, which the selling dealer believes reflects the accrued mileage since the refurbishment was completed. The true mileage on the chassis is unknown.

The 302ci Windsor V8 was reportedly sourced from an early 1970s-era Ford and features a two-barrel carburetor and two electric fans. It is fueled by dual 15-gallon tanks and feeds power to the rear or to all four wheels via a floor-shifted T18 4-speed manual transmission, a dual-range transfer case, and a Warn 27-percent overdrive unit. Traction is maintained through a Dana 27 front axle, a Dana 44 rear axle, a crawler first gear, and limited-slip differentials with 5.38 gearing.

The Willys rides on a boxed frame and the steering system uses a Saginaw steering box. Additional photos showing the underside are available in the carousel.

Both the Willys and the Dunbar trailer have their own respective California titles. The truck is titled as a 1952 Willys with the VIN listed as MD56352, which matches the manufacturer serial number shown in the photo carousel. The plate affixed to the Willys also indicates that it was delivered in December 1955, although the chassis number is consistent with a 1953 build. The trailer carries its own California title that describes it as a 1964 Dunbar utility trailer with VIN 19152.