M151
| M151 Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4×4 | |
|---|---|
_GB_(owner_Gavin_Broad).JPG) |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Ford, Kaiser, AM General |
| Production | > 100,000 (1959–1982) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | 1/4 ton truck/personnel transport, four wheel drive |
| Layout | Front engine, 4WD |
| Related | M422 "Mighty Mite" contemporary |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine |
inline 4-cyl., 141.5 cu in (2.319 L) 71 hp (53 kW) at 4,000 rpm / 128 ft·lbf (174 N·m) at 1,800 rpm |
| Transmission | 4-speed + reverse manual transmission single-speed, part-time transfer case |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 85 in (2,160 mm) |
| Length | 133 in (3,380 mm) |
| Width | 64 in (1,630 mm) |
| Height | 71 in (1,800 mm) with top up reducible to 53 in (1,350 mm) |
| Curb weight | 2,400 lb (1,100 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Willys M38A1 |
| Successor | AM General HMMWV |
The Truck, Utility, 1/4-Ton, 4×4, M151 (M151) was the successor to the Korean War M38 and M38A1 jeep Light Utility Vehicles. Commonly referred to as a "jeep" or "quarter-ton", it was produced from 1959 through 1982 and served in the Vietnam War. The M151 had a monocoque design making it roomier than previous jeep designs, and incorporated an independent suspension with coil springs. It has since been replaced by the larger AM General HMMWV in most utility roles in frontline use. With some M151A2 units still in U.S. military service in 1999, the M151 series achieved a longer run of service than that of the WW2 MB/GPW, M38, and M38A1 series combined.
In 1951 Ford Motor Company was awarded the contract to design a 1/4 ton 4×4 truck to replace the M38 and M38A1 model jeeps. The M151 was developed to specifications and guidance of the U.S. Army's Ordnance Tank Automotive Command. Design started in 1951 and testing and prototyping lasted through most of the fifties. Although the M151 was developed and initially produced by Ford, production contracts for the M151A2 were later also awarded to Kaiser and AM General Corp, a subsidiary of AMC.
Although the M151 mostly retained the same basic layout and dimensions of its predecessors, it was for all intents and purposes a completely new design. Unlike previous jeep designs, whose structure consisted of a steel tub bolted onto a separate steel frame, the M151 utilized a integrated frame design, which integrated the box frame rails into the sheet-steel body-structure. Eliminating the separate frame gave the M151 slightly more ground clearance, while at the same time lowering the center of gravity. This process slightly enlarged the vehicle, making it roomier than previous jeep designs, while retaining the same light weight.
Another area improved upon in the M151 was the suspension. Dispensing with the rigid live axles in the front and rear that all previous military jeeps used (a layout still used on modern day Jeeps, such as the Jeep CJ and Wrangler), the M151 was instead equipped with independent suspension and coil springs. This made it capable of high-speed, cross-country travel, while boasting high maneuverability and agility. The new suspension also had the added benefit of providing a more comfortable ride.
...
Wikipedia