US Army Jeep found in California container unrestored with no dust and a radio that still works

Originally owned by this man’s grandfather, a US Army Jeep M151A2 was found in a container, untouched and unrestored, but boasting working parts and driving like it was made yesterday.

Usually, barn finds uncover some of the worst-looking cars we have ever laid eyes on.

Often discovered underneath decades of rubble and dust, seldom do we get one that appears as good as new.

But this US Army Jeep M151A2 discovered in a container is a true Cold War time capsule, looking for all the world as if it rolled off the production line.

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US Army Jeep M151A2 found in timeless condition

It’s quite rare to find old military vehicles in the US, as it took Arnold Schwarzenegger in the ’90s to make army cars like the Humvee available to the public after their retirement from the force.

So finding road-legal time capsules from before then makes these cars extra fascinating.

But in this cool barn find, one man revealed his grandfather’s US Army Jeep M151A2 had been hiding in a container for decades.

“This was my grandpa’s,” the man explained.

“Somebody owed him some money, and so he got this in exchange, and when he passed away, it sat on Maui for a bunch of years until I got hold of it.

“It was in Hawaii, at the base, and they acquired it there, brought it to California, and it’s been here since 2001.”

The Jeep in question here was in impeccable condition, though, despite being unused for generations.

Highlighted on YouTube, courtesy of DODI AUTO SALES, the car had all the nuts and bolts required, and the tires were even in good condition.

The 24-volt electrical system fired up with ease, and there was hardly a spec of dust on the bodywork.

“It does run,” he continued.

“It’s been sitting since my wife got sick and passed away. It needs carburetor work – I have carburetors and the tools, I have a ton of parts.”

So, after rolling it out and firing the Jeep up, it was time for a test drive.

The old-school US Army Jeep ran beautifully. Raw, but amazing.

“It does run very well, shifts good through the gears, and mechanically, I would say it’s sound,” said the second man.

“While it did sit for some time, everything works.”

Particularly great was the handling, which was one of the biggest selling points for this car, having undergone a lot of work with the suspension before being commissioned by the military.

Appreciating this iconic time capsule

This particular time capsule was originally built in Maui, Hawaii, and was a popular vehicle in the army during the ’70s and ’80s.

Made by AM General, although previously Ford built them, the M151A2 ‘Mutt’ was actually a longer-serving vehicle than the likes of the Willys MB and the M38A1 series combined.

It wasn’t until 1999 that the last few units of this iconic model were given their pension, as the Humvee took over.

Considering how some military vehicles have turned out its a breath of fresh air seeing one that survived the hard times to be a viable off-roader in 2026.

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