identifying vehicle history
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- G-Private
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identifying vehicle history
hello, im currently starting to restore my ww2 wilys jeep.
when starting to remove old paint some hood numbers and some front bumpermarkings appeared on the oldest Original olive drab paint (right on top of the red primer).
the front bumper reads 82AB ..
however i have two problems:
1: the 2 number is applied on the right side instead of the left (where it should be according to the official manual)
2: however the size and style of the numbers are not consistent with all the modern stencils, they look stenciled but irregular, the size looks "older"
so my question is the million dollar question: is there a way to find out (through serial no etc) of finding out what jeeps were approximately assigned to which units or when the came ashore in europe if ever?
i would like to know if i theres a chance of it being an Original 82nd jeep, because i actually intend to paint it raf blue
thanks
ps i cant upload photos, dont know how html works, nor have i a pic site for links
when starting to remove old paint some hood numbers and some front bumpermarkings appeared on the oldest Original olive drab paint (right on top of the red primer).
the front bumper reads 82AB ..
however i have two problems:
1: the 2 number is applied on the right side instead of the left (where it should be according to the official manual)
2: however the size and style of the numbers are not consistent with all the modern stencils, they look stenciled but irregular, the size looks "older"
so my question is the million dollar question: is there a way to find out (through serial no etc) of finding out what jeeps were approximately assigned to which units or when the came ashore in europe if ever?
i would like to know if i theres a chance of it being an Original 82nd jeep, because i actually intend to paint it raf blue
thanks
ps i cant upload photos, dont know how html works, nor have i a pic site for links
- 1943Willysgpw
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Can you post some pictures?
"None of us are as smart as all of us"
1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100
1942 GPW 1871 DoD 2-27-42 Dallas Plant
1945 GPW 247890 DoD 1-26-45 Louisville Plant
1942 GTB 136166 DoD 9-18-42
1942 GTB 135938 DoD
1952 M100
- dpcd67
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Your question has been asked a thousand times; the answer is still no. There is no way of connecting any WW2 vehicle to any particular unit, or theater of operations, short of having a period picture of it with the unit markings on it. No such data still exists and most of it never existed anyway on a national basis. I know of no property books that are left from that era. Not something worth keeping. Or uncovering original markings under old paint.
Also, remember that when the order came out to paint all the markings white, that was done at company or battalion level with amateur painters and hand methods. So you found your sign painter in civilian life and got him to do it; hence the wide variation in font sizes and styles and the free form hand painted ones too.
Also, remember that when the order came out to paint all the markings white, that was done at company or battalion level with amateur painters and hand methods. So you found your sign painter in civilian life and got him to do it; hence the wide variation in font sizes and styles and the free form hand painted ones too.
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- David
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Here you go, taken from your post on the HMVF forum.phendriks82 wrote: ↑Sun Sep 17, 2017 8:40 amps i cant upload photos, dont know how html works, nor have i a pic site for links
edit: pics uploaded on forum
Last edited by David on Mon Sep 18, 2017 9:34 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: identifying vehicle history
ok then, it was just a friendly question...
do the markings seem Original?
do the markings seem Original?
- Farrell Fox
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Re: identifying vehicle history
[Post Deleted By Author]
Last edited by Farrell Fox on Sat Oct 26, 2019 10:28 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- Chuck Lutz
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Can't open them here either.....I don't knw why guys don't just up load pics to the gee where they will be next week, month, year. Using photobucket-type hosting sites that crumble and fall take your pics with them sucks. Guys here lost pics they had on restoration threads forever or have to pay something to get them back because the never copied them to their hard drive.
This post might get some good feedback but if guys can't see the pics it kinda keeps that from happening.
This post might get some good feedback but if guys can't see the pics it kinda keeps that from happening.
Chuck Lutz
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
- David
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Pics uploaded to forum above.
- Chuck Lutz
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Re: identifying vehicle history
Now you can see them!
First off, as you noted, the markings are reversed....the "82 A/B" on the driver's side and "HQ 20" on the pass side. That would not be a point in favor as to originality for me.
Secondly, the "HQ 20" indicates this is the 20th vehicle in the HQ of the 82 A/B...but it looks to be in a different font from each other, one being fatter than the other.
Next, you will need to wet-sand the bumperettes to see what, if anything they have painted on them for unit markings and if the color and font match those on the front bumper.
Finally, if there is one or two groups we have seen way over represented in their restorations it would be the 101st A/B closely followed by the 82 A/B.
I would strongly suggest that you continue to gently wet-sand the area to the left of the "HQ 20" as I think there is more to that marking. In addition, if you wet-sanded the hood and the rear quarter panels to look for STARS, you may find that the markings mimic the layers of paint and where they are found and what color of OD is under them as well. Of course if they are missing then one might suspicious the jeep was not completely "original" and the same for the bumper markings.
Hard to tell the provenance of this jeep since it was built and when you bought it but the more of the story the previous owner(s) can provide, the better. By the way, have you inspected the engine/trans/transfer case for any rebuild tags indicating it was ever in the French Army?
First off, as you noted, the markings are reversed....the "82 A/B" on the driver's side and "HQ 20" on the pass side. That would not be a point in favor as to originality for me.
Secondly, the "HQ 20" indicates this is the 20th vehicle in the HQ of the 82 A/B...but it looks to be in a different font from each other, one being fatter than the other.
Next, you will need to wet-sand the bumperettes to see what, if anything they have painted on them for unit markings and if the color and font match those on the front bumper.
Finally, if there is one or two groups we have seen way over represented in their restorations it would be the 101st A/B closely followed by the 82 A/B.
I would strongly suggest that you continue to gently wet-sand the area to the left of the "HQ 20" as I think there is more to that marking. In addition, if you wet-sanded the hood and the rear quarter panels to look for STARS, you may find that the markings mimic the layers of paint and where they are found and what color of OD is under them as well. Of course if they are missing then one might suspicious the jeep was not completely "original" and the same for the bumper markings.
Hard to tell the provenance of this jeep since it was built and when you bought it but the more of the story the previous owner(s) can provide, the better. By the way, have you inspected the engine/trans/transfer case for any rebuild tags indicating it was ever in the French Army?
Chuck Lutz
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
GPW 17963 4/24/42 Chester, PA. USA 20113473 (USA est./Tom W.)
Bantam T3-C 1947
- dpcd67
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Re: identifying vehicle history
I have learned two things from all the jeeps in parades here; 1; All WW2 jeeps were assigned to the 82nd ID; and 2; Every private in the division had a jeep and carried untold amounts of crap on it, to include 50 cal and 30 cal machine guns.
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