Just How Capable Is an Original Willys Jeep Off-Road?
The original Willys Jeep is a war machine. It’s tough and simple, but it’s also very old. So, how good is it off-road?
The Willys MB is an icon. Without it, the Wrangler – or for that matter the Jeep brand – would not exist today. The original machine was built during World War II to carry our troops quickly over various terrain. It’s also dead simple in its design and construction.
This also means it’s reliable when you need to move away from enemy gunfire. The Willys Jeep had extremely precise design specs. It was to be four-wheel drive, carry a load of three passengers, have 85 ft-lbs of torque, and weigh only 2,160 lbs. Over 600,000 Willys MBs came out of the factory during the war.
Obviously, the bomb-cratered roads of most European countries were unusable. So, the MB was driven everywhere off-road. And these little Jeeps were one of the best things to come out of the war. They were beloved by soldiers and proved to be beyond capable in wartime conditions. But 4×4 technology has come a long way since then, and off-roading is easier than ever. Does this mean that the little army Jeep has lost its abilities compared to modern rigs?
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In this video, YouTube channel MuddOxRacing takes us Jeeping with a few original Willys Jeeps. The type of obstacles the Jeep is able to crawl over is amazing. It crosses muddy trails, goes over steep rock formations and even climbs into a slippery water pipe out of a small pond. It may not be as safe or comfortable as a modern Jeep, but it still has the off-road mojo to take you anywhere. We love seeing these old Willys Jeeps being taken out and driven on the trails. Do you have any experiences in a Willys Jeep? Let us know in the comments.
