A web page summarizing the history of the Automotive Sector in Turkey states that "the first vehicle assembly company was established in 1954 (Türk Willys Overland Ltd.) for jeep manufacturing." The company's assembly plant was located on a 33 hectare (80 acre) site in Tuzla, just south of Istanbul.
According to research by Tony Phillipson, General Manager of the Rahmi M Koç Museum in Istanbul, "By 1961 the plant had four assembly lines and 782 employees, and was producing some 5,000 trucks and 7,200 light vehicles (especially 1/4 ton Jeeps) annually. In 1972, following a military coup, the factory came under the control of the Turkish Armed Forces and was renamed '1013 Ordu Donatim Ana Tamir Fabrikasi' (1013 Military Equipment Main Repair Factory). The plant still exists and is presently under the aegis of the 'Ordu Donatim Malzeme Lojistik Müdürlügü' (Military Equipment Supply Logistics Directorate)."
The only photos we have from Tuzla show military-style CJ-3B's, but it is likely that other models were also built there. Seen in the background of this undated photograph of 3B's lined up at the plant, is what appears to be an earlier flatfender model -- a CJ-3A or M38.
In 2004 the Museum in Istanbul acquired what is probably the first truly Turkish-manufactured vehicle: the first CJ-3B off the line made with entirely Turkish components, with the possible exception of the engine. Donated by the widow of Ferruh Verdi, the owner of Türk Willys Overland from 1953 - 1972, the Jeep was retained by Mr. Verdi for his personal use and given the name "Ayse" (a popular girl's name in Turkey).
Tony Phillipson comments, "It is in running condition, although the general workmanship is rudimentary compared to the later car in our collection. The chassis plate is sadly illegible but the build date is thought to be 1961. The wheels were apparently changed from 15" to 14" a few years ago by Mr Verdi 'in an attempt to lower the centre of gravity.'"
See also the Hurricane engine (90K JPEG).
We have detailed photos of a Restored Tuzla CJ-3B in the museum. The factory photos below confirm that the wiper motor on the museum Jeep is original. This externally-mounted motor never appeared on CJ-3B's built in the U.S., but it did appear on Kaiser Jeep CJ-5's starting around 1969. This and other details seen in the photos of the museum example suggest a date of the mid-1960's or even into the 1970's. The Hurricane engine found in that Jeep can be dated by its engine number to 1953, so CJ-3B's were perhaps built at Tuzla for two decades.
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The factory photos above suggest the CJ-3B was built with either side-mounted or rear-mounted spare tire. It also appears that it may have been finished with various slightly different military paints, although it is difficult to tell because of the varying lighting conditions for the photos. They all have full canvas tops, rather than the simple military-style canvas tilt installed on the restored example in the museum.
John Carroll of 4x4 magazine photographed this long-wheelbase CJ-3B in Turkey. It has similarities to LWB models built in Spain, India, and Japan, but isn't clearly identifiable as any of those, and may well be a Turkish-built version.
Zeki Tolu sent photos of his Jeep in Turkey which has the VIN tag (70K JPEG) of a 1960 Willys CJ-5, but appears to be a CJ-6 (90K JPEG). Is it possible that Jeeps imported for assembly in Turkey were sometimes lengthened as was done in Australia and Sweden? See also the right side (100K JPEG) and the Hurricane engine (90K JPEG).
Hubert Cossard comments that several French books on Jeep history have made mention of a variety of models having been built in Turkey, including the Gladiator starting in 1982. Further details are currently untraceable.
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From photocopies of another edition of the CJ-3B manual, see a page identifying the parts of the interior (140K JPEG), and a page listing the basic CJ-3B specs in Turkish (60K GIF).
Parts source: Ulus Automotive in Istanbul (ulusautomotive@superonline.com) has been a supplier of Jeep and Willys parts since 1978.
Thanks to Tony Phillipson and his staff at the Rahmi M Koç Museum for locating these photos. More information, particularly photos of other models built in Turkey, would be welcome. -- Derek Redmond
See more Jeeps Around the World on The CJ3B Page.
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