These photos were taken at a military show by Joe. He notes, “I photographed this TUG at the Gilbert, PA military vehicle rally some years ago. This model is especially significant to me since I first experienced a TUG first-hand at a Boy Scout Camp in the 1950’s when tasked with a work detail to ‘Spring Clean’ the area around and under the camp Mess Hall. Unbeknownst to us, the oversized crawl space under the building also happened to be the designated storage area for the camp jeep….. you guessed it, a Willys 6×6 known as an MT-TUG. It was complete with serial numbers, stars, data plates and other markings. As mere kids, we were fascinated with the 6-wheel jeep and spent the time pretending to drive the beast instead of actually cleaning the space as assigned. Lucky for us the 6 volt battery was dead. And, so began, at an early age, a life-long interest in jeeps, especially the olive-drab kind. It was also common knowledge within the camp that this jeep was experimental and one of only 15 built. (This fact was verified in books and articles on the MT-TUG published some 50 years later.) Anyway, the camp leaders also knew they had a rare vehicle on their hands and the scuttlebutt was that the jeep was going back to the manufacturer in even trade for a NEW Willys CJ5. I moved on from scouting after that and still don’t know if that deal ever came to fruition.”
6×6 Research Archives
1962 Economite 6×6 Amphibious Prototype Atlanta, GA, eBay
I’ve never heard of this M-274 replacement. Looks like an interesting project.
“6×6 Economite Amphibious Prototype
US-ARMY
Built 1962
Serial #1
All Aluminum hull, amphibious all terrain vehicle.
Tested by
U. S. Army Transportation Board
&
U. S. Army Tank-Automotive Command
during 1962-63
as mentioned several times in report
Designed to replace the M274 Mule
Will carry 800 lbs at 25mph over land and 4 mph in the water.
Don’t have time due to new business venture”
March 1944 Popular Science on eBay
The March 1944 issue of Popular Science has an article about the “Seagoing Jeep” and an article about the Tugg.
View all the information on eBay
You can also view this issue at Google books. This is the link to the Sea Going article:
This is the link to the Tugg article:
Year? M-151A2 6 Wheel Turbo Diesel
The seller claims this is stock, but in my searches I couldn’t find any example of this. It looks kind of cool though.
“VERY RARE 6 WHEEL DRIVE DERIVATIVE M151A2 KUBOTA TURBO DIESEL. I UNDERSTAND THEY ONLY MADE A HAND FULL OF THESE FOR THE MILITARY BEFORE SOME CONTROVERSY AROSE. THIS IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE SEEN IN THE FLESH. 357 ORIG. MILES FROM NEW. IT HAD 187 MILES WHEN I BOUGHT IT ABOUT 5 MONTHS AGO, AT THAT TIME I DID A COMPLETE SERVICE , OIL,OIL FILTER , FUEL FILTER, SERVICED ALL THREE DIFFS, TRANSFER CASE, AND GEAR BOX, 2 NEW BATTERIES ,AND RADIATOR, AND COMPLETE LUBE.I HAVE ALL OF THE RECEIPTS. STILL HAS 24 VOLT SYSTEM AND EVERYTHING WORKS ( ALL GAUGES AND ALL LIGHTS AND SWITCHES ) I AM SELLING THIS ON A BILL OF SALE BUT I DONT THINK THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH OBTAINING A TITLE IN MOST STATES , IT PASSED STATE INSPECTION HERE EASILY , HAS EVERYTHING AS IN TURN SIGNALS, HORN , SEAT BELTS , MIRRORS , LIGHTS (HIGH AND LOW ) .
THE ONLY THING THAT I CAN TELL NOT STOCK IS THE AIR INTAKE SNORKEL WAS REMOVED ( FOR HIGH WATER CROSSING ) DUE TO IT WAS AN OIL BATH TYPE AND WAS HURTING THE PERFORMANCE. THE ORIG. HIGH WATER EXHAUST PIPE IS STILL INTACT.
I AM INCLUDING A COUPLE OF PHOTOS OF SOME PAINT CHIPPING IN MINOR PLACES THAT SHOW WHAT APPEARS TO BE RUST, IT IS ONLY COSMETIC. THERE WAS AN AREA AROUND THE WINDSHIELD THAT APPEARED BAD SO I PULLED THE GLASS ( AND CRACKED IT ) ONLY TO FIND IT WAS VERY MINOR , LOOKED LIKE IT WASNT PREPPED PROPERLY PRIOR TO ORIG. PAINT BUT NEVER THE LESS IT HAS BEEN RE FINISHED AND A NEW PIECE OF GLASS WAS CUT AND INSTALLED. THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AS WELL AS ALL FLOOR PANS , NEVER ANY RUST WHATSOEVER . THIS JEEP HAS BEEN IN WEST TEXAS ITS WHOLE LIFE.
IT HAS A TOP ( NO BOWS ) WITH DOORS AND QUARTER COVERS THAT SNAP DOWN THE SIDES.
THE KUBOTA IS A 2.O LITRE V2003 TE , TONS OF TORQUE AND WILL LAST FOREVER
THIS HAS A 4 SPD. GEAR BOX , INCLUDING GRANNY GEAR WITH A SHIFT ON THE FLY SYSTEM THAT IS INCREDIBLE
WE WENT TO FAR WEST TEXAS LAST WEEK , PULLED OUT THE BACK SEAT ,( 2 COTTER PINS AND ITS OUT IN ABOUT A MINUTE ) YOU HAVE BASICALLY A TRUCK BED , 20 BAGS OF CORN AND FEED AND YOU COULD NOT EVEN TELL IT WAS THERE. WILL PULL AND HAUL MOST ANYTHING. 2 RECEIVER HITCHES , ONE IN THE FRONT AND ONE IN THE REAR. WE HAVE 5 M1A1 AND A2S AND CJ2S AND MY PLANS HAVE CHANGED . THESE WERE VERY EXPENSIVE AND I DONT HAVE AN EXACT PRICE IN MIND SO BID WITH CONFIDENCE YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED
ANY QUESTIONS CALL 214-675-1665 GARY”
6×6 m151? Indian River, AK **SOLD**
6×6 Jeeps in the Jolly Jeepers Jeep Club
I was looking up some PTO parts when I landed on the Jolly Jeepers website. According to their website, the Jolly Jeepers is Oregon State’s oldest jeep club, having been founded in 1962. Two of the jeeps owned by members are custom 6x6s. You can see more 6x6s here.
Coincidently, just before publishing this post, Blaine happened to send me pictures he took of one of these 6x6s at the Orphan Car Show hosted by the Studebaker Drivers Club in Oregon City, Oregon, this past Sunday. I’ve seen “Gator” listed both as a DJ-6 and a CJ-6, so I’m not entirely sure what the base platform was.
Here’s an early shot of the Gator:
And here are Blaine’s photos
This one is built from a CJ-8 or Scrambler:
Custom 6-wheeled Jeep in India
This looks like a well done rig. The Mahindra MM540 was phased out in 2000. You can read about Julian and his jeep in the Hindu Times.
Rare Six by Six Frame in Bali?
Rudolf forwarded a rare six by six setup which looks pretty willys-ish to me. This is the second one he has discovered in Bali.
Anyone Recognize this 1962 6×6?
Rudolf emailed me from Bali yesterday. He’d spotted this Jeep advertised for sale as a 1962 6×6 Willys Jeep. He wondered if this was a custom project or the real deal. My guess was that this is a one-off custom project, especially since it has a number of civilian elements. Apparently, the seller swears this was in the war (which war?). Unfortunately, the seller has yet to respond to additional questions. Also, below is the only pic provided.
Note the unusual front hubs. I’ve never seen a 6×6 quite like this. Is this possibly some oddball created by a Willys licensed manufacturer?
1943 MT Tug Rear Terrebonne, Or **SOLD**
UPDATE: Sold very quickly …. Listed at $2800
Rare doesn’t adequately describe this unusual find. This sure looks like a MT Tug rear based on what I can see in Mark Askew’s Rare WW2 Jeep Book. I’m not sure what category to put this in, other than unusual!
“For sale 1943 Willys Truck 3/4 Ton 6×6 chassis Model MT-TUG. Only 15 of these vehicles were built for the US Army in 1943. I have the rear half of one of these vehicles which has the tandem rear drive axles, frame, suspension, front axles and a modified transfer case.”

























