Here is a "non-Jeep" item... my Bantam T3C project.

The pic below shows the last of the rust removal and spot prep, before priming tonight. The frame will be black and the tub will be (drum roll please...) Yellow!   The wheels will also be yellow to match the CJ3A. I will have the inside of the trailer bed / tub sprayed with LineX. That stuff is amazing and will preserve this vintage trailer for a long, long time!

The Bantam T3-C is close to being restored. I was unable to find any serial numbers stamped on the frame, gussets, or tub... even after media blasting. The bottom layer of paint looked like a dark green, which was under layers of other old paint, including OD / Camo. Below is a Maryland VIN Tag that was screwed to the frame. I believe this was a replacement tag. Sorry for the poor photo, but it reads: 144502 and the title says it is a 1947.


Here are some more photos taken last evening. Everything was media blasted and is being primed. The frame will be painted black and the tub & wheels will be painted yellow to match my CJ3A.







I plan to get a repro bantam ID Tag made with the same number as the MD MVA replacement tag.

Here ya go Calvin! You'll be licking your chops when it all comes together.  

This is how far we got this afternoon. One of the fellows over on the CJ2A Page in the Bantam section confirmed that this is a late 1947 model.





So, how does she look so far?

The '47 came out of the garage with her new paint job today. Still need to do a few more things to finish up. I plan to have the inside of the bed and tailgate sprayed with LineX, so nobody will ever have to restore it again! I will need to get a pair of reflectors as well. The current wiring harness has been repaired, but I want to re-do it and get some vintage style loom to cover it.



I used a pair of NACO repro tail lights that I got from Walck's so they match the ones on the Willys. There were holes from the previous tail light on the right rear support, so I just used them for the NACO. The original license plate bracket was salvageable too.

Towed her home with the F-150. Bounced around a bit, but made it home in one piece. Had to use longer safety chains to reach the pick-up...



I am happy with the end results! I drove around for about 1/2 hour and it pulled like it was meant to be there!

Chasm,

  That last photo is the one I've been waiting for.  Really looks great! 

  Does your Jeep have a pintle hook on the back or have you changed the eye on the tongue of the trailer to a ball hitch?

Looks fantastic, and the shop that it was in too!!! Sure is easier when you have the right tools available to do such fine work,

calvinhunt wrote on 07/15/11 at 03:37:54:


Calvin: My CJ3A has the original draw bar set up. My research on the Bantam T3-C (C = Civilian) indicates that after WW2, the trailers were converted from an amphibious style to one with a tail gate. Other changes for the civilian market included removal of the lunette for the pintle hitch and the addition of a Fulton Hitch which was designed to fit on a 1 7/8" ball. The military lights and brakes were removed from civilian production, as were the shock absorbers. Basically, they made it cheaper to produce, lighter in weight, and easy for civilians to use.

Just got my reproduction zinc (like the originals) data plate for the Bantam Trailer from the fellow in the Netherlands and riveted it on last evening. He has a website dataplates4u where he sells exact reproductions of all military and civilian Jeep data plates.


LineX spray in bedliner is next!