Painting A Diamond
Q: I just made a good deal on a WWII Willys Jeep. It is very original. The guy I bought it from said it is an early model because it has “WILLYS” stamped on the rear of the body and it is very rare because it also has Willys stamped on the front of the windshield under the glass. Does this make my Jeep more valuable?
—Dustin Richardson
: Seems like you have what is often called a script jeep. These were indeed early production models of both the Willys MB and the Ford GPW, and had Willys or Ford embossed on the left rear end of the body. Like the early Chevrolet G-506 trucks, which had Chevrolet embossed on their side hood panels, this free advertising was discontinued by government order. In regard to your jeep, there’s an old saying: Don’t try to paint a diamond. In legal terms this often translates as: Don’t try to make good case better than it already is. I can’t say whether your jeep’s former owner was deliberately misleading you
