1954 M38A1 Jeep - 21,753 Original Miles - Earliest CJ5 - No Reserve!

1954 Jeep M38A1 Military/Municipal Description

This 1954 Jeep M38A1 is an absolute time capsule. We purchased the vehicle at auction in 2010 from the Berlin, Wisconsin Fire Department where it was used as a brush fire truck. This early Jeep, which closely resembles the CJ5 and CJ7 series, is immaculate with only 21,752 (believed to be) original miles showing on the odometer.
There is zero rust anywhere on this vehicle, either body or underneath. The frame and undercarriage are spotless and have never been stored outdoors. Maintenance was performed regularly on this Jeep for the past 60+ years. The underside shows newer shocks and a new exhaust, otherwise no modifications.
The original 4 cylinder engine runs perfectly (engine running: https://youtu.be/ctXCkRX77W8). Oil has been changed, new spark plugs, otherwise all original motor which runs like a Swiss watch.
The body has two or three very minor dings, no major dents and no repaired damage that we have ever found. The diamond plate is NOT covering any rust or damage and was added by the fire department for protection. The fire numbers and pinstripes are hand-painted and add to the vintage charm of this old 4x4 rig. The inner rear fenders are rust free as are the rockers underneath the diamond plate.
The full roll cage, front to rear, attaches to the frame and make it an absolute blast to drive in the woods. The rescue lights and horns DO NOT WORK but could be re-connected. As part of the sale they were disconnected. The fire radios and such were also removed. This Jeep has a 24 volt system with two batteries in good working condition.
The vintage 30x9.5x15 Mud King XT tires on white spoke wheels are in very good condition for the age and hold air with no leaks.
The rear of the Jeep holds a water tank, two hose reels and a Honda pump, all which are still functional. The Honda engine has old gas and would need to be flushed and possibly the carburetor cleaned prior to running. This would make a great deer food plot maintenance rig.
The three speed manual transmission shifts as it should as does the transfer case. They are old, and shift hard, but that's how they were. This is not a 2018 Wrangler. This Jeep does have very minor leaks from several areas, but nothing major. After a winter of sitting you can expect half dollar-sized amount of fluids in 3-4 spots on the ground.
Floors are all solid, with absolutely no rust. Seats appear to have been reupholstered at some point and have no rips or holes. Has lap belts. All gauges work as they should with the exception of the fuel gauge. The turn signals do not work. There is NO TOP for this Jeep. The roll cage is your top.
Finding a Jeep like this, in this condition, is almost impossible. Military and fire collectors, you will never find another like this. This Jeep is also for sale locally and may be pulled from auction without notice. No reserve, bid to win or contact me if you'd like to purchase it now.

On Jun-15-17 at 07:13:58 PDT, seller added the following information:

Jeep may actually be a 1953 model built in February of 1954.
The original "Berlin" fire department name was painted on the side of the hood and was covered over when sold. Hard to see in pictures but it possibly could be uncovered if you could remove the top layer of paint without harming the hand-lettering underneath.