Hello Chuck,Chuck Lutz wrote: ↑Thu Nov 23, 2017 12:24 pmYour engine is a post war based on the block casting as you suspected...It has a rebuild tag from Red River Arsenal in Texarkana, Texas.
So...at least the engine was in the USA on Dec. 12, 1952.
My guess is the jeep was i the USA in service at that time and received that engine and the assorted parts at the same time....or...
It was sold to a civilian after the war who purchased the engine separately at some point in time and installed it. Maybe at the same time that owner installed the other parts.
Bottom line is...it's not a Maltournee jeep at all, it was shipped to Europe by a previous civilian owner. If the French owner can tell you the history of his ownership you will learn more about this jeep than we can tell you outside of it NOT being a Maltournee (French Army) rebuild and that it was probably re-engine by a civilian in the USA...or maybe a military base shop.
I agree with you. First of all isn't Maltournée jeep. I already had a M201 jeep in the past.
I agree too with your guess. I didn't think it was shipped to Europe by a previous owner. It's possible way but I'm septical. It's not rare to see Willys jeep with CJ engine in France. FYI in June 1952 SOFIA (la Société Financière Industrie et Automobile - a Hotchkiss subsidiary) gained a licence from Willys in the U.S.A. to manufacture both spares and jeeps as Willys Overland France (WOF). Sofia also sold CJ2A jeep. It's possible way 2 but I'm not sure.
I've already contacted 2 older owners in France but I'm not finished.For this moment I couldn't have a good explanation.
I'm going to contact French administrative services to know the different license plate were existed. I hope to find the real history...Thanks