The Original Willys Jeep | 1941 Slat Grille (PHOTOS, VIDEO)

     On Christmas Eve, 1941, not long after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, this slat grille Jeep was delivered from the factory. It was painstakingly restored by a customer of George Baxter, owner of Army Jeep Parts, Inc. Now for sale, this Jeep features details unlike many restorations and is a prime example of the over 100 aspects unique to slat grille army Jeeps.

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It was Henry Ford who decided to design the iconic Jeep grille known today after seeing the time and effort put into producing each 'slat' grille. Produced only from November, 1941 to March, 1942, these Jeeps have come to symbolize the beginning of the vehicle's now long history.

This slat sports olive-blue drab registration numbers, also known as "non-photographing" blue. These numbers were never specific to a certain vehicle or linked to serial numbers.

Until roughly June of 1942 'Willys' could still be found stamped into the rear panel.

There was no glove box on early-produced Willys Jeeps

Another feature specific to slat grilles was the split-back seat frame.

This Jeep has zinc zippers on the seat cushions, now a rare restoration detail.

These tool box hinges are another unique slat grille feature.

Each bolt on this hub is marked with an 'AH' designation, showcasing the effort of the restorer.

These bolts each read 'TR 20'.

The electrical system of this slat grille is also very thoroughly assembled.

A 'pancake' air filter and Purolator oil filter were used on slat grille models.