4x4s have proven themselves capable in countless environments. The Wrangler also once held the Guinness World Record for the highest altitude reached by a vehicle that isn’t, you know, an aircraft. And while you can order a Wrangler with a , it’s not designed to run underwater indefinitely. But one historic Jeep actually came from the factory, completely modified to drive underwater indefinitely: the 1950 Jeep CJ35/U purpose-built for the United States Marine Corps. But with the direction this brand is taking, it probably won’t be the last Jeep with this capability.
The 1950 Jeep CJV35/U may be the rarest military Jeep ever
Mike Wixom is an off-road enthusiast. In 2008, he bought a 1950 to modify as a rock crawler. But when he started rummaging around in his old Jeep, he discovered that he was no ordinary CJ. Someone had not only fitted the 4×4 with an air intake snorkel, but its exhaust pipe had a second snorkel. Instead of a back seat, it had strange brackets. And finally someone had painted that thing military green, right down to the frame.
in 1950. The Jeep company began with a third-generation civilian Jeep (the CJ-3A), painted a unique shade of army green. Then at the Toledo, Ohio plant, they heavily modified each vehicle. But not all CJ35/U were created equal.
The CJV35/U was often fitted with a radio instead of a rear seat. This radio was powered by a generator connected to the PTO and both units were fully waterproofed. Over the course of the model, the Navy appears to have requested radio located in multiple locations and even requested some units without radios.
One of the most intriguing aspects of the CJ35/U is its ability to drive underwater. Many vehicles can ford a river if they keep moving forward. But the Navy required a vehicle that could sit still and operate underwater indefinitely. To that end, Jeep installed the transmission vents, transfer case vents, master cylinder, fuel tank vents, and even the vacuum wiper system to the snorkels in the side. front and rear of the vehicle. The CJ also has a fully waterproof distributor built for aircraft by Bendix-Spark.
So what did the Navy want with these unique Jeeps? The original plan was to use them for USMC reconnaissance/observation teams. The radio system was a must because the Navy needed its USMC teams to direct aircraft and artillery fire. But few of these vehicles have ever been put into service, and the Navy has actually turned many of them over to other government agencies. Wixom even found an amphibious Jeep still in use as a snow blower.
The return of the submarine Jeep
The CJ35/U is a fun blast from the past. But what happens comes back and this military CJ3-A won’t be the last submersible Jeep.
My colleague Allison Barfield has you covered on the new trim boasting 33.6 inches of water fording capability. But soon, even that could be a no-brainer. Jeep has already recognized that its upcoming EVs don’t need an air intake or exhaust, and if properly prepared, could travel completely underwater. Perhaps the Navy will order some submersible Jeep Recon electric vehicles.
Next, learn how or see one of Mike Wixom’s Jeep CJ35/Us for yourself in the video below:
