BAJA KAISER

An Ex-Military Truck Turned Bitchin' Desert Bomber

- DEVAN ENCE

Retired military-based vehicles have long been popular among off-road enthusiasts when it comes to building a rugged, dirt-worthy machine. From Humvees to 6x6s, go to any major off-road area on a busy weekend, and you're apt to see at least one or two that's been converted for civilian adventure use.

But just like with any subcategory of the automotive world, there are a handful of ex-military vehicles you hardly ever see "in the wild," or at least not built out like a pre-runner ready to take on the Mexican desert.

One such vehicle is the classic 1967 Kaiser Jeep M715 tactical military truck. When one is built in such fashion, man, it makes for one heck of a ride! This gorgeous M715 is owned by Wade Geisler, owner of Straightedge Automotive Restoration in St. Anthony, Idaho. Now, if you know anything about St. Anthony, you probably know that it's home to some of the most visited sand dunes in the country for off-roaders and adventure campers, outside of Glamis, California.

As such, this M715 fits in well, having been built to bomb through the sand and silt of Baja California. Also fitting? Its name Baja Kaiser.

Military Beginnings

Based on the civilian Jeep Gladiator, the Kaiser Jeep M715 was originally produced starting in 1967 as a light, 1 1/4-ton military truck. It was designed as a tactical troop and cargo carrier, but built with the use of mostly commercially available components as opposed to components made specifically for the production of military vehicles (like many of its predecessors and successors). Other variants of the model included the M725 and M726, which were built for ambulatory and maintenance/utility work, respectively.