Jeep, the pioneer of IFS 4wd. 1962!!!

[Tacoma]

For years I championed the Jeep Wagoneer as an early pioneer in many important 4wd features, maybe not the very first in anything, but the first to actually make it common and sort of set a standard: clean underbellies (only driveshafts stick out! sweet), first luxury SUV ( the Super Wagoneer), popularizing a rugged sort of "do-anything" vehicle that wasn't a burly truck. That they used basically the same body style for nearly 30 years without it looking THAT dated is impressive. The 1991 Grand Wagoneer was also the last US production vehicle with a carb.

But one thing has eluded me in all those years of praise: proof of Jeeps 1962-issue (1963 model year, go Wagoneer!) IFS 4wd option. No one believes me. I saw ONE in a junkyard somewhere in the middle of nowhere but didnt' get pics. It is with great glee and delight in odd engineering that I present you this link to my friend and longtime FSJ historian/fan John Meister's site, where you will see a beautiful set of pics of a very, very strange Dana setup.

It's linked, with an interesting setup. The axle is sort of a split-housing Dana 27 maybe? with boots on the end of the axle tubes, and some kind of A-arms on top. Anyway check it out here http://wagoneers.com/FSJ/rigs/63_ifs_rice/ALL.html and marvel at the oddity of it all. SCROLL DOWN TO SKIP FSJ INTERIOR AND ENGINE SHOTS

 

[redXJ]

wow thats cool. I had a mechanic tell me he seen one but i thought he was full of s$!#.

 

[phatfoto]

I remember hearing about this but never saw one. Cool beans...

 

[Magerdgr]

It was also the first with a Hemi, and the first 4WD with an auto, and the first with a DOHC engine (which btw was designed by a famous Italian sports car designer, who also designed the IFS system in it).

 

[Tacoma]

That's right, I neglected to mention the Tornado engine! Felled by poor oiling and the 6' timing chain stretching, but a good idea, ahead of its time.

 

[BCGPER]

I hate to burst you bubble Tacoma but Jeep didn't start it. Wait, maybe they can take credit since it was Daimler??.........


Daimler Scout and Armoured Cars:


The Daimler Scout car was developed as the result of a need for a small partially armoured vehicle, that could be used for scouting and liaison roles. In 1938 the Mechanisation Board had Alvis Limited, BSA Cycles Limited, and Morris Commercial Cars Limited to submit prototypes for a turretless scouting vehicle. From these the Daimler was designed as a fast reconnaissance and liaison vehicle as out of three designs submitted the one from BSA's (Daimler's owner) was selected and BSA passed the production onto Daimler.


The first models had front wheel drive, sliding roof over the crew, and a potbelly cab. The engine was placed in the rear and the driver was positioned at an angle to help him drive in both directions. Later a 5-speed pre-selector gearbox which provided drive to all wheels. The MK I (picture left) had sliding roof, while the MK Ia had a folding roof instead, improved suspension, more powerful engine, a radio installed and more stowage. On the MK Ib, the cooling fan and the radiator grille were reversed. Some had radios or Vickers K-gun machine gun and only few of this model had front wheel steering. The next model the MK II only had front wheel steering and a few had radios and mine rollers, fitted. The final model the MK III was provided with a waterproofed engine and the roof removed.

More commonly known as the "Dingo", it incorporated some of the most advanced design concepts of the time. The design was so successful 6,626 vehicles were built and five Marks were produced. The "Dingo" also served with the infantry and artillery in a number of rolls.

The Daimler Armoured Car was basically a larger version of the Scout Car and the first prototypes appeared in late 1939. These had problems as the weight of the vehicle overloaded the transmission. These were fixed, but it was not until April 1941 that the first production vehicles appeared. They were first used in North Africa during 1941 and 1942, replacing the Marmon-Herrington vehicles. The MK I used the turret that was used on Tetrarch tank and some of them had smoke dischargers on turret sides. It also used Girling hydraulic disc brakes and another steering wheel and controls were available to the commander to drive to the rear. Some guns were fitted with Littlejohn Adapter that would squeeze projectile and allow for greater armour penetration. MK I CS (Close Support) version with a 3 inch (76.2 mm) Howitzer that could fire both HE and smoke was also few produced, but not in great numbers. The MK II had an improved turret and drivers escape hatch.

This provided more fire power than the previous armoured cars and the Daimler proved itself rugged and reliable, being used for reconnaissance and escort work. It saw action in North Africa and the European Theatre of Operations, with 2,964 being built.

Look here. There's not a good photo of the front suspension, but they're all 4X4 IFS.

http://www.btinternet.com/~ian.a.paterson/equiparmourarmouredcars.htm