1951 Willys 4-73 4WD Pickup
Willys-Overland introduced the civilian Jeep truck in 1947, translating the utility of the wartime MB Jeep into a light commercial vehicle with an enclosed cab, a full-size pickup bed, and the same four-wheel drive capability that had made the military vehicle famous.
By 1951, four-wheel drive was standard on the 4-73, reflecting the model’s strong association with off-road and utility use.
Power comes from the 134 ci Hurricane F-head inline four (introduced for the 1950 model year), an evolution of the wartime Go-Devil flathead fitted with an inlet-over-exhaust cylinder head that raised compression and improved airflow, bringing output to 72 horsepower and approximately 114 lb-ft of torque.
Drive reaches all four wheels through a Borg-Warner T-90 three-speed manual, a Spicer transfer case (with high and low range), and Dana front and rear axles.
The cab is straightforward but reasonably appointed for a working truck of the period, with a bench seat, roll-down windows, and an optional heater available, a step up from the spartan CJ series the 4-73 shared much of its mechanical architecture with.
The 4-73 designation was replaced after 1951 as Willys adopted new model coding, with the basic pickup platform continuing in production, in evolved form, into the early 1960s.
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