MRC-87 USMC Forward Air Control Jeep
The Marines configured this rare M170-based Willys Jeep ambulance as a radio vehicle
After locating the 1954 M170-chassis, it took Paul Vandervort nearly seven years to complete the restoration of what turned out to be a specialized forward air control Jeep. Though the rectifier and instruments were on the dash when he found the Jeep, the restoration required a lot of parts searching, not the least of which was the MRC 87 Central Set.
His work paid off, though. In 2014, his Jeep was judged, “Best of Class” at the International MVPA Convention.
A SPECIALIZED VEHICLE
When field deployed, this vehicle was used for shore-to-ship communications to direct fire from ship-board guns and ground-to-air direction for air strikes. In the 1960s, the Marines modified standard M170 ambulances for Forward Air Control (FAC) use.
Collins Radio manufactured the radio components and modification kit. When installed into the Jeep, the entire vehicle became, “Radio Set MRC-87.”
Other modifications involved removal of most of the ambulance-specific equipment, and the addition of heavy duty rears springs, a 100-amp generating system modified to provide 150-amp capacity, and a voltage monitor meter on the instrument panel. The engine was equipped with a newer style air filter and the intake manifold was fitted with a snorkel.
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John Adams-Graf ("JAG" to most) is the editor of Military Trader and Military Vehicles Magazine. He has been a military collector for his entire life. The son of a WWII veteran, his writings carry many lessons from the Greatest Generation. JAG has authored several books, including multiple editions of Warman's WWII Collectibles, Civil War Collectibles, and the Standard Catalog of Civil War Firearms. He is a passionate shooter, wood-splitter, kayaker, and WWI AEF Tank Corps collector.
