metamet Research Archives

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1943 Metamet-Modified Flattie UK £10,995

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPW (Ford MB), MB • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Blaine spotted this Metamet-modified jeep that was owned by the Metamet family. This doesn’t seem to match any of the models on the list of models from the Metamet brochures. The split window windshield doesn’t not appear to fold down, the doors look to be of a suicide style, and the top appears to be a soft top. It’s kind of Jeepsterish.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1468062

Metamet-jeep-uk

“This is actually a 1943 ww2 jeep that has been converted into a 4wd roadster , lots of the original inner bodytub remain, Its running and driving but will need renovating , chassis is superb condition , there are lots of options with this jeep, leave as is, change it a bit or revert it back to a ww2 jeep again, Its the only one made by the Metamet company back in the late 1950s, TAX and MOT exempt, UK registered, this unique ww2 jeep conversion, been stored unused for 40 years, this conversion done by the well known metamet jeep conversion company in the 1950s/ 60s, this model never ended up going into production and this is the only one made despite it being shown in the sales brochure, I have fitted original jeep wheels and personally think it looks better and gives it back a bit of its former DNA but the original wider road wheels and tyres go with it

It was kept by a member of the Metamet family as his private vehicle until he recently passed away , this willys mb jeep was built in 1943 and served in the war , the dvla mot history records show that it left the military service and was registered for road use in 1958, sometime after this date the conversion was done , Its been stored unused for the last 40 years , engine is now running , I have a whatsap of the jeep driving, it will need recommissioning brakes refurbishing, fuel line checking through but the chassis is excellent , exhaust all good, radiator holds water and it starts and drives , the engine is smooth, includes extra fitments like free wheeling hubs, radio, clock, folding front bench seat , sports car type fold down hood, hinged doors, drop down boot, this is the only one of its kind in the world and should really be in a collection or museum , most of the original bodytub remains , It could easily be re bodied back to its former ww2 jeep bodywork with a new reproduction body tub , large leather bound file containing many photos and drawings of the build has since been found and I’m hoping to collect that soon”

 
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The Errislannan’s Metamet Jeep

• CATEGORIES: Features • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

The Errislannan family of Western Ireland purchased a jeep from Metamet in September of 1959. You can read the story and see all the pics here (thanks to Barry Thomas from Farm Jeep).

https://www.farmjeep.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/THE_ERRISLANNAN_JEEP_ver_2007_a.pdf

metamet-jeep

 
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Filip Rosz and Metamet

• CATEGORIES: Features, Old Images • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

UPDATE: Barry Thomas from Farm Jeep shared this story of a family who purchased a Metamet Jeep.

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Filip is seated in the passenger seat.

Anita Long was kind of enough to share some photos and stories about her father, Filip Rosz. He worked for years at the British firm of Metamet, which in the late 1940s and 1950s specialized in refurbishing jeeps into a wide range of specialty models.

Filip came to the UK the hard way. According to Anita, he was originally from Lwow and in the Polish Home Army at the outbreak of World War II. During the autumn campaign of 1939, he was taken prisoner by the Soviets. Deported to a POW camp in Siberia, after two years he was released as a result of the negotiations of the Polish Government in London with the authorities in Moscow.

He travelled a long way to enlist in the 2 Polish Corps that was forming in the west, the 8th British Army. He went through a combat route to Iran and Egypt to Monte Cassino in Italy. He served in 3PU in the West as a mechanic and driver in the 2nd Warsaw Panzer Division.

After the war he was a displaced person, since his home town was now in Russia. He ended up in London and started working at Metamet, as it was owned and run by Poles in similar circumstances.  Though listed as a Panel Beater, Anita says her father was the best welder at Metamet.

One Metamet employee Anita wanted to also mention was General Julian Zdzislaw Starosteck who, for a brief time, was the production engineer at Metamet before going to America and working on the Patriot Missile.

Anita tells me that Metamet was well known to a lot of Poles who came to settle in London. In fact, her Polish Step-father worked there briefly before he joined the Merchant Navy. He was too young for the war but did join the Polish Navy as a Submariner with the express purpose to ‘jump ship’, which did happen when his first pert of call outside of Poland was Edinburgh. He made his way down to London and hooked up with the Metamet guys.

Metamet not only rebuilt and sold jeeps, but also provided transportation for Film Garden Parties,  events where British and American film and stage actors mingled with everyday folks. Filip was one of the employees that would chauffeur the stars in Metamet jeeps. At some point, he met his future wife Joan at one of the events.

Joan loved the Garden Parties and was an avid collector of autographs. She also would bring along her box Brownie camera to snap photos. For Joan, it was love at first site when she met Filip. They married in 1952. Only eight years later, in 1960, Anita’s father Filip passed away.

Anita labeled her father in each of these rarely-seen photos. A big thanks to Anita for sharing them.
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1943 GPW Metamet Saloon Body £14,995

• CATEGORIES: Features, GPW (Ford MB) • TAGS: This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated.

Here’s a rare Metamet Saloon body jeep for sale in the UK.

http://www.milweb.net/webvert/78018

“Just one owner since military release, genuine 28,400 miles.
Metamet Saloon body fitted early 1950`s.
A very unique vehicle, chassis no gpp82293, supplied to a Mr HJ Odell the on 30/04/1952 and the only owner since.
Trade advert.”

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