Mind puzzling early vin number on Ford frame

[PB40]

Dear boarders,

I'm in the proces of buying a Ford GPW with frame number *GPW5804*

The number is stamped at drivers side but bottom side frame see pic.
Also very strange is the fact that it's a Ford frame and not an early MB

all I know is that the jeep was extremely used as agricultural vehicle in Russia, location now is Prague.

Any thoughts please , I understand that there's someone on the forum who can tell if the stamping of the number is correct? (Tom?)

Many thanks

Pieter

[rjbeamer]

Very interesting. Is the engine and or data plate stamped with the same number. I doubt that it was stamped from ford that way ever, even though it does have a star at each end of the number. There was a video here on the "G" a while back of a rebuild depot for jeeps in post war Germany. In the video all of the jeeps were assembled upside down on an assembly line and then turned over at the end of the line. Could be that this jeep went through a similar rebuild line and they stamped the original number on the bottom of the frame for tracking purposes while rebuilding. Who knows!

Roger

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hello Pieter,

The 5804 stamping is unlike any Ford factory stamping that I have seen to date. In fact Australian records copied by Ian Fawbert looks to show that GPW 5804 was in Australia during at least part of WW2. The stars and GPW are may be factory but a better photo of the complete cleaned stamping would be a help.

[PB40]

Hello Pieter,

The 5804 stamping is unlike any Ford factory stamping that I have seen to date. In fact Australian records copied by Ian Fawbert looks to show that GPW 5804 was in Australia during at least part of WW2. The stars and GPW are may be factory but a better photo of the complete cleaned stamping would be a help.

Tom,
Thank you for your reply, I will post more when the frame is (and all other parts) are in my possesion

[Chuck Lutz]

If you look down and slightly to the left of the "G" I think you might make out the "W" in the style that Ford used for the GPW on the frame.

[wo2jeeper]

But rest of the numbers not, wouldn't burn myself on this one.

[lt.luke]

But rest of the numbers not, wouldn't burn myself on this one.

depends on what else is present to be bought and what his intentions are with the vehicle. Obviously, price too. That's one interesting stamping. If the rest is that interesting, it could be a lot of fun.

[wo2jeeper]

F marks on demand....

[lt.luke]

F marks on demand....

True. Have stamp will travel.

[Chuck Lutz]

Wrong font to begin with...jeep in Russia, now Prague and Australian War Records indicate the ORIGINAL jeep with this serial number was THERE in WWII?
Hmm...don't know WHY they chose that number to stamp there but if I stole your GPW, ground off the frame stamping, put "GPW<->5804" on it (or the numbers from some "pink slip" I bought on G503 or Ebay), got some repop data plates and applied for a new registration....I would OWN that jeep!

It is a crime in California:
http://www.classictiger.com/vinlaw.html

[PB40]

Wrong font to begin with...jeep in Russia, now Prague and Australian War Records indicate the ORIGINAL jeep with this serial number was THERE in WWII?
Hmm...don't know WHY they chose that number to stamp there but if I stole your GPW, ground off the frame stamping, put "GPW<->5804" on it (or the numbers from some "pink slip" I bought on G503 or Ebay), got some repop data plates and applied for a new registration....I would OWN that jeep!

It is a crime in California:
http://www.classictiger.com/vinlaw.html

But that would count for all vehicles that way

[PB40]

But rest of the numbers not, wouldn't burn myself on this one.

depends on what else is present to be bought and what his intentions are with the vehicle. Obviously, price too. That's one interesting stamping. If the rest is that interesting, it could be a lot of fun.

I don't have wide spread intentions of owning a early Jeep however I just find the stamping odd, my intentions are just to have a nice jeep and for 4000 Euro's with only missing the gearbox grill and radiator it seems a nice project.

the only thing I ask myself is who in Russia gets the idea of stamping an early number on to a Ford frame on the wrong spot, I find that interesting.....if I wanted to make sure to fake an early Ford I first would make sure to put the number on the right spot, secondly why number 5804? eanie minie mini mo?
So many questions ..but I just want to get my hands on it and restore it , to what historical exent depends on my budget and the problems I will face...

[PB40]

Here some pics of the project

[m3bobby]

The first photo shows the frame in a lot of pieces. What does the normal location show? It would be interesting to see if there is another number, grind marks or even weld. I just wonder if it could GPW15804 and it's had some serious amount of new plate welded into the rails and someone stamped the barely readable original number into the bottom by accident. Seams likely seeing it in so many pieces.

[m3bobby]

Just realised that the number is in the correct place. I take it you didn't mean the under side of the frame?