Jump to content

Minty42

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    9

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Minty42

    Introduction. 1944 Willys Jeep in restoration.

    in Introductions & Welcomes

    Posted

    Welcome to the fascinating world of Jeeps,

    If the Jeep is ex French Army it was very likely to have been rebuilt, sometimes more than once, the French military operated a large rebuild facility, look inside the channel section of the chassis passenger side above the rear axle see if a small plate the "Malt plate" is welded in at an angle, this is the French rebuild plate that will have its rebuild number and date code stamped on it this will confirm if it went through the French rebuild programme at the Moultournee' works. bodies and bonnets wings got reconditioned swapped around and replaced, so even if you were lucky to find an original number the bonnet may have previously come from another Jeep, has it been fitted with a post war Hotchkiss body and bonnet?

    There was no real correlation from when Jeeps came off the Willys & Ford assembly lines to when they were passed by Military inspectors as fit for service and thats when its bonnet serial numbers and date of delivery were applied, they were not done in sequence, you can really only guess the number from similar chassis number Jeeps that have a known original number. Do you have the original chassis number? ..spend hours trawling through G503.com Serial numbers section looking for other 1944 Willys close to your chassis number

    More info on French Jeeps and the rebuild programme..

    http://www.m201.com/ITM/ITM.htm

     

     

     

    Hello Nick,

     

    Thank you for your detailed reply. We are removing the tub tomorrow so will look out for the French rebuild plate on the chassis. We do have a couple of overhaul plates which were pop riveted on the bonnet from E. Romane, 1967 I think. I dont have a picture to hand I am afraid, but will get one. I assume it is a Hotchkiss body as the rear lights are not Willys and the rear panel does not have the cutouts to contain the originals. Bodywise it is a bit of a mongrel but the number is 164489. But it does have the small bulkhead cut out that I thought marked it as a Willys.The chassis number is 400463 and the engine number is GP242721, presumably a Ford lump. We also have a plate on the Gearbox reading: E.R.G.M. de Clermont-Ferrand No de Revision 7059 Date de Reception 26/10/81. So hopefully that will be ok!

     

    I have previously done the G503 website searching and reckon it was built 28th December 1944 and will take your advice about finding a serial number that fits the date approximately.

     

    What I would like is some way of finding out where and with who it served in the ETO. Ideas from anybody please.

     

    Thanks

     

    Graham

    Introduction. 1944 Willys Jeep in restoration.

    in Introductions & Welcomes

    Posted

    Hi Rick,

     

    This week we are mostly looking for.....lots of bits. Just removing the tub but the French Army have had the beast so lots of external bits to put it back to standard Willys. Lamps, tyres, chassis bolts, handbrake assy etc. What do you have? Do you have a list?

     

    Thanks

     

    Graham

     

     

     

     

     

    I don't think you will have any luck with finding the bonnet number if its not there. Even the G503 forum can't help with that! I have some oddments, what are you looking for?

    Austin Champ RRF 887G

    in British Vehicles

    Posted

    Hi David,

     

    I have found your Champ yesterday. Its in a field looking pretty sorry for itself and covered in brambles. Usable for spares with engine etc. There is another one there in a worse condition. I took a couple of pictures if you are still interested. Only found you and HMVF by putting reg number in Google...amazing! Give me a shout if you are still interested in it.

    Cheers

    Graham

×
×
  • Create New...