GRILL SLATT EARLY WILLYS

Grille Slat Early Willys MB (Slat Grille)

Individual vertical slat for slat grille radiator guard

★ This vertical grille slat is essential for the restoration of the rare early Willys MB slat grille jeeps. The slat grille was heavier and more expensive to produce than the later stamped version, but is highly sought after by collectors today.

Application

Exclusively for the first 25,808 Willys MB jeeps, produced between 18 November 1941 (serial number MB100001) and 6 March 1942 (serial number MB125809). These vehicles had a radiator guard constructed from welded flat steel slats. Ford GPW never used the slat grille — Ford introduced immediately the stamped 9-slot grille which Willys adopted from March 1942.

Installation notes

The vertical slats were originally welded to the horizontal frame elements of the grille. For correct fitting, welding work is required. Pay attention to correct spacing between the slats — consult original drawings or a reference grille. The complete slat grille is officially designated in military documentation as 'guard' (WO-A3615), not as 'grille'.

Compatibility

ONLY for early Willys MB with slat grille (Nov 1941 - Mar 1942). NOT compatible with the later stamped 9-slot grille which became standard on Willys MB from March 1942 and on all Ford GPW models. The slat grille has 13 vertical slats of welded flat steel, as opposed to the 9 stamped slots of the later model.

Historical context

The slat grille was a heavy welded design of flat steel slats, based on the Ford GP prototype design. Due to high production costs and weight, Ford introduced in March 1942 the lighter stamped grille, which cost only one-third of the fabricated slat model. Willys adopted this design, limiting the slat grille production to just four months. Today, these early 'slat grille' jeeps are considered the most desirable WWII jeeps among collectors.

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