UPDATE: **SOLD** Was on eBay
“Virtual frame up restoration of a 1954 Military M170 Frontline Ambulance to great running condition. I wished I had unbolted the body from the frame and replaced the little body pads because that is about the only thing not restored or replaced on this jeep. Engine rebuilt with less than 20 hours running time on it. Rebuilt radiator, NOS carburetor, NOS fuel pump, complete new Vintage wiring harness, NOS lights, power switch, steering linkage, new brake shoes, emergency break system, rebuilt transmission and transfer case, hubs repacked/rebuilt, New military tires, new exhaust, exhaust manifold, NOS cross over tube, water proof plug wires, accelerator peddle and linkages, cables, speedometer cable, NOS fuel tank, NOS passenger seat, etc., etc., etc. I have over $12,000 of parts and shop labor invested in this restoration!
24 Volt power system with 12-volt starter. This makes it crank fast and is therefore easy to start. Very little rust. Pictures show the major places on the body where there is any pitted rust other than the bed. Bed had some pitted rust. I scraped, primed and painted that area, covering it with plywood for protection when hauling rocks, etc., (it is a working jeep).
Note the importance of this rare jeep model. The M170 Frontline Ambulance with the twenty inch stretched body length is a very rare Willys model. Some reports show less than 2500 ever made, (and possibly only 300 running today), as compared to the much more common M38A1. It was the precursor to the Civilian CJ6 which Ronald Reagan drove on his ranch. While most parts are interchangeable with the M38A1, several are unique to the ambulance.
I restored this Jeep with the help of the local Lonestar Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA). Hopefully there is a chapter in your area. We used ours as a fun hobby and kid’s car at the ranch. For parade restoration, I would recommend configuring it into the 7 man troop carrier version (which was not an uncommon configuration while they were in service) rather than buy the required ambulance canvas top, stretchers and rails for it to be set up as an ambulance.”
