1967 Ford Jeep M151A2 4x4 Utility

Description

Successor to the Korean War era M38, the M151 Military Utility Tactical Truck (otherwise known as the MUTT) continued the traditional role of the original WWII Jeep within the American military.  Developed by the Ford Motor Company in the 1950s, the MUTT was produced from 1959 until 1982 and served in the Vietnam War plus numerous more recent conflicts, eventually being replaced by the much larger AM General ‘Humvee’ in frontline service, although examples were still in use as recently as 1999.  The M151 may have looked very similar to its predecessors but was an entirely new design, incorporating monocoque construction for the first time, along with fully independent coil sprung suspension front and rear.  As a result the MUTT was a far more comfortable vehicle at speed whilst retaining the original’s off-road capabilities.  The engine was a robust four-cylinder unit displacing 2320cc and producing 71 horsepower at 4000rpm, driving through a four-speed gearbox with a transfer case to engage the front wheels.  Produced by Ford, AM General Corp. and Kaiser, the original M151 was upgraded to become the M151A1 in 1964 with revised rear suspension followed by the updated A2 model with semi-trailing arm rear suspension to correct handling deficiencies caused by the original swing-arm set-up of the original.  Both A1 and A2 models were built in various guises including ambulance, firefighting, anti-tank missile and fast assault versions.  Over 100,000 M151s were built all told but never used in Australia and remain a relatively rare sight here.