M201 database

[Ben Dover]

I would not mind owning your M-201 Jeep.

[andym201]

Thanks for posting the photos - one last question where were the numbers '8139' and '8342' located?

On the subject of butterflies - you can't make a good one out of several wrecked ones!

[Havran]

Hello Andy,

8342 is a body no. which is on normal place, above fuel filter. Number 8139 is located on front right side of frame as on attached picture from your website.

best regards Jan

[lucakiki]

Havran, it is so relieving to see someone proudly displaying a nice M201 with all of its original features, rather than tarting it up as a Willys MB look alike.

[Roberto Flores]

Amén, Luca!!! I agree with you! And with the owner of this Frenh beauty!

[Havran]

Thank you Luca and Roberto. I do not like modifying of anything, if it is M201, keep it original, because if you will modify it to MB, then it is not M201, neither MB - it is salad.

[Havran]

Another one, year 1957. Incorrect canvas seats, top and tail lights ( tail lights were made probably by french army during Maltournee rebuilding? Andy will tell us;)

[andym201]

Another nice M201 - keep buying them and I will keep adding them to the database.

The indicator lights on the front are typical French army but the light units on the back are not.
Apart from the standard type jeep light units the only other two types officially used were.....
Hi visibility type fitted to some jeeps from 1985 onwards http://www.m201.com/access/hivis.htm
and a unit fitted to jeeps serving in Germany during the 60s and 70s http://www.m201.com/access/indic.htm

From their newish and clean appearance I would say these have been fitted since the jeep left the army as has the roll cage and the carbine holder - the French army didn't use carbine holders on the M201.

Could you give me the Hotchkiss chassis number of the jeep? It's the one on top of the chassis rail under the air filter close to the engine mount.

It would also be useful to have the MALT number but that means getting under the jeep.

For anyone reading this post and wondering where all the numbers are on an M201 the answer can be found by downloading a guide from this link http://www.m201.com/IdentificationV06b-schemas.pdf

If you own an M201 - I'd love to have the numbers to add to the M201 database a form to send the numbers to me can be downloaded from this link http://www.m201.com/Identificationv06b-formulaire.rtf

Andy

[Havran]

Hello Andy,

great info, thanks! I suspected French army, because especially these tail lights were on 80% of M201´s, MB´s and GPW´s what I bought in france..so it is just favourite civilian upgrade. I would like to keep buying nice M201´s, but It looks that I have to start produce repro money... I will check numbers on Monday.

regs
Jan

[Ben Dover]

I would love to have a clean M-201 to restore.

[Havran]

Hello Andy,

I´ve tried to discover numbers, MALT plate is here with readable number 41021. Number, close to right bumper gusset is damaged by bubba lookalike welding of a gusset to frame, it looks a like 03702 or 07702? Body number is H13888 or H13898. Frame number under aircleaner looks on 4793? Isnt it too short? See pics below..

[Havran]

Ben,

When I find someone in good original condition, I will let you know.

regards Jan

[Havran]

Hello,

My father sold that one 3yrs ago, what a shame, today I would love to have some in good original condition camouflaged M201.
Unfortunately he has no numbers from it.

[andym201]

Another fine example, and I also wish that I had a 'trois tons' central european camo M201 in my collection.
So, what can I tell you about this one?
It is a 1962 jeep with the army serial number 18227 (from the database) - you can just about make out the number on the glovebox plate but not on the frame. It was never rebuilt - hence the original registration 221-2668. It was first issued in June 1962 (from the database) and had the Hotchkiss serial number 20013.

The NATO tactical markings on the front bumper can just about be made out - it served I think with either 27e RCS or 27e BCA as part of the 27th Alpine Division (Grenoble) It was sold by auction from Saint Egreve which certainly confirms the 27th Alpine Division markings.

You can find more about NATO tactical markings here: http://www.m201.com/marking/mark2.htm

Andy

[andym201]

Back to the previous M201 in this thread (army number 03792)

Thanks for the additional numbers and photos.
Look carefully at the number stamped on the front chasssis rail - it is actually 03792 which matches the plate on the glovebox door. (The numbers are all the same height so that is the top of a '9' not a zero.)

Glovebox doors can get swapped over so it is not a good idea to rely on these without looking for other numbers on the jeep.

The database confirms that the MALT number 41021 also matches the date given on the glovebox plate i.e. rebuilt 29/06/1976 so the jeep numbers are all totally genuine.

A final comment about the Hotchkiss serial number 4793 i.e the 4,793rd Hotchkiss M201 to be made.
It is normal for these to be different to the army serial number and the Hotchkiss number is usually higher.
The reason for this is that the army serial numbers were given to army jeeps but not air force jeeps so at the time (1958) about a thousand jeeps had been issued to the air force.

I hope that others will be inspired now to actually find all of the numbers on their M201 and get them added to the database.

Andy