1944 Willys MB Jeep

Description

OFFERED WITHOUT RESERVE

Out of a combination of a lifelong automotive passion and an unyielding desire to support the people of his Alabama community, the Generous Collection was born. Mr. Greg Rusk, a successful business leader in the cardboard industry, with a big heart for helping families and friends in times of need, would regularly pay overly generous fees to acquire an interesting vehicle. After decades of collecting and supporting local automotive enthusiasts, the Rusk family is ready for these vehicles, each with their own story, to write their next chapter back on the road, where they belong.

The Generous Collection debuts with Part 1 offering over 200 cars in October, all offered without reserve, emerging from years of long-term silent storage. Many additional lots will be offered in the coming months. From the quiet shadows of the Generous Collection to the sunshine of backroads and highways, enthusiasts now have the opportunity to own a piece of a generous car-collecting legacy.

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The 1944 Willys Jeep was a pivotal vehicle in World War II, embodying rugged utility and battlefield versatility. Originally developed in response to a U.S. Army call for a lightweight reconnaissance car, the design was refined by Willys-Overland based on earlier prototypes from Bantam and Ford. The Willys MB, as it was officially designated, featured a 60-horsepower “Go Devil” engine, four-wheel drive, and a simple, durable construction that made it ideal for combat conditions.

By 1944, the Jeep had become a symbol of American mobility and ingenuity. It was used for everything from troop transport and medical evacuation to communications and frontline reconnaissance. Its compact size allowed it to navigate rough terrain, and its adaptability led to numerous field modifications, including mounting machine guns or converting it into makeshift ambulances.

Over 360,000 Willys MBs were produced during the war, and their performance earned them legendary status among Allied forces. The Jeep’s success laid the foundation for postwar civilian models and influenced the development of modern SUVs. Today, the 1944 Willys Jeep is celebrated not only as a military workhorse but also as an icon of freedom and resilience.

Highlights

• Offered from The Generous Collection

• Finished in military olive drab over olive canvas upholstery

• Green canvas top

• Powered by a Willys F4-134 134.2 cu-in inline four-cylinder engine

• Three-speed manual transmission

• The chassis number (MB391985) decodes as:

  • MB – Willys Jeep

  • 391985 – Serial number falls within the November 1944 production range

Features

• Date of Delivery: 29 November 1944

• Dana 25 front and Dana 44 rear axles

• Two-speed transfer case

• Driver’s side windshield wiper

• Original 60-mph speedometer and gauges for fuel, amps, and oil

• Replacement water temperature gauge

• Steel wheels with Denman NDT 6.0-16LT “knobby” non-directional tires

• Tow hitch

Known Imperfections

• While reasonable efforts were made during preparation for the sale, due to the volume of cars in this collection it was not possible to diagnose or detect all imperfections present in the cars.

• Paint imperfections

• Canvas top is torn

Included

• Rear-mounted spare Goodyear tire

• Rear-mounted canteen

• Side-mounted shovel

Ownership History

This 1944 Willys-Overland MB Jeep is offered from The Generous Collection of no reserve automobiles.

Additional Notes

A Broad Arrow Auctions Specialist is working as an agent on behalf of the owner of this vehicle. Broad Arrow Auctions is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hagerty.

Contact: Frank Malefors   Phone: 602-488-7888   Email: fmalefors@hagerty.com   

Alabama Sales Tax Notice to Bidders: Because this car is located in Alabama, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama state sales taxes of up to 2% of the purchase amount, even if the buyer plans to register the car outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer is located in AZ, CA, FL, IN, MA, MI, or SC (capped at $500 in SC), and (b) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives the car or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer). Additionally, the selling dealer may be required to collect and remit Alabama county or city taxes from buyers located outside of Alabama, if (a) the buyer does not transport the car out of Alabama using a common carrier (e.g., if the buyer drives or transports the car out of Alabama on a personal trailer), and (b) the buyer fails to provide an executed Drive-Out Certificate for Nonresidents. For additional information, please consult this publication and your own tax advisor regarding sales taxes applicable to cars located in Alabama that are sold to residents of another state.  

Please note that all lots in The Generous Collection are offered after many years of storage, without operation or service, in warehouse facilities. The seller endeavored to provide limited mechanical servicing to bring some cars back to running potential, however, not all cars will be running at time of sale. Because of the extended static display, it must be assumed that all cars will require additional mechanical attention before being driven safely and, in most cases, cleaning to both the interiors and exteriors. All the cars will have imperfections associated with long-term static storage and require extensive sorting to perform best and safely. The burden of determining a car’s status, both mechanical and cosmetic, rests fully on the bidder, prior to bidding and the close of the auction. All lots are sold as is, where is.

Additionally, due to the location of the collection and limited access to the facility following the close of the auction, all lots must be retrieved while a Hagerty Marketplace representative is onsite beginning Monday, November 3 through Wednesday, November 19. No cars can be retrieved prior to November 3 and any lots remaining after November 19 will be re-located outside in the parking lot for retrieval by their buyers.