| Hotchkiss
M201
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Willys
MB
|
Ford
GPW
|
Chassis
Number
| The Hotchkiss chassis number is stamped on the top of the left chassis rail, just
ahead of the brake pipe fitting. |
The Willys chassis number is a tag of the
left frame member.
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The
Ford chassis number is stamped on the top of the left chassis rail, just
ahead of the brake pipe fitting. |
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The French Army chassis number is the one
stamped on the top right chassis member. It places the vehicle exactly
in the manufacturing order.
|
No
equivalent Army number on the MB |
No
equivalent Army number on the GPW |
The
chassis and army numbers are different from the frame number which is
shown here, stamped on the side of the right frame. This number
is just a unique identity given to the frame when it was made. Frames
weren't used in order and so it cannot be used to identify age. M201
chassis were also made from a slightly thicker gauge steel than the
MB's.
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No
equivalent frame number on the MB |
No
equivalent frame number on the GPW |
Body
Number
| On the M201,
the body number was just above the fuel
filter.
|
On
the MB, it was stamped onto the front edge of the left toe
board gusset.
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On
the GPW, it is stamped onto the front edge of the left toe
board gusset.
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Chassis
Leg Reinforcing
| M201's had a
'U' channel welded into the front chassis leg as a reinforcing piece.
The radiator bracket was welded to the chassis. |
MB's and GPW's weren't built with the
reinforcing, but some had it added post war in French Army rebuilds of
Jeeps. The radiator bracket is just riveted.
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Data
Plates
| The French data
plate was one piece, and of course, written in French. The smaller red
plate was the ERGM rebuild plate fitted when the vehicle returned to the
factory for a major rework. |
The Willys and Ford data
plate set comprise of three pieces, with details of the transmission,
and transfer case positions, chassis number, date of delivery and speed
restrictions in each gear amongst other info. The material varied from
brass to steel and aluminium.
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Instruments
| Metric instruments
were also fitted to French jeeps. The kph Speedo also features a reset
button. |
Imperial instruments
were fitted to the Willys MB and Ford GPW with the temperature gauge
marked in Farenheit and the oil pressure in pounds per square
inch.
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| The
Radiator Grill
While initially looking the same, the Hotchkiss grill
is different to the MB and GPW.
| The Hotchkiss grill is has a shallower
depth of pressings, around 1/4 inch at the top and bottom curves. |
The Willys
grill is about 1/2
inch deep where the metal is folded into the curve of the vent. Early
Grills were welded steel flat bar, known as Slat Grills.
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The Ford
grill is the same as the Willys, but is stamped on top with the Ford script
'f'. Early Grills were welded steel flat bar, known as Slat Grills.
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The
Hood Hinge
The hinge on the
hood of the M201 is made from 13 segments.
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The Willys MB is 9
segments.
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On the Ford GPW, it is 11 segments, the hinge is stamped
with the script 'f' on the inside ( circled in the inset picture ). |
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Headlights
| The lights on the M201 look similar to the
wartime lamp, but were
designed with a one piece lens and reflector, with a separate yellow bulb which
clipped into the back.
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The MB lights were sealed beam units,
where the whole lens and reflector were the bulb, with the element
sealed inside.
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The GPW lights were also sealed beam,
and also have an 'f' stamp on the bottom of the light
bowl and an embossed 'f' on the end of the bowl mounting bolt (
see insets ). |
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Instrument
Panel Notch
| There is no notch on the M201
panel and the are more spot welds which are more pronounced. |
On the Willys MB and Ford GPW,
there is a small rectangle notch in the top of the instrument panel,
where the fairing folds over the panel.
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