Best Repro CDLV-242 Data Plates?

[Leigh_J]

Sorry if this topic has been covered before, I did use the search first

I see a few different folks offering reproduction Canadian contract data plates, the question is which ones are the best to get?
Some are all brass, while others have the black etch - which one was original?

Unfortunately my Jeep didn't have the original data plates when I got it, nor the original engine.
Its frame No 118729, would anyone like to hazard a guess of what the engine serial and DoD should be?

Thanks,
Leigh.

[marc belanger]

Leigh
I have the 242 and 505 full set data plate
Send me an e-mail to: marc_belanger42@hotmail.com
I' ll send you a picture when I arrive home later on today
They are ...to my point of you, exact to the details of original
Artwork has beed based on 119949 CDLV data plate
Brass made...
Regards
Marc B

[jeepmb]

Dear Marc,

for me the best are here:
http://www.dataplates4u.com
Hoping this may help you.

Best Regards,

Luigi

[robert de ruyter]

Hello Leigh,

I would be happy to make the plates for your 242 Canadian Contract jeep. I will see in my files what a close Data of Delivery would be for your serial number.
The enigine number which also is stamped on the Canadian Contact jeep data plates would be an estimate.
I can stamp your plate with a 100% correct stamp font. For more info you can contact me.

Robert
DATAPLATES4U
The Netherlands

[ken clay]

...Oh er ...Have seen Roberts work and its "spot on"... No Disrespect to Mark B..

[Leigh_J]

Thanks for the replies.
Robert, that would be great to have them stamped correctly - if you could estimate an engine serial and DoD that would be great too.
I just realised I contacted you late last year to enquire about prices and postage to New Zealand.

[marc belanger]

Here is a picture of my repro set of Contract CDLV-242 data plates.They are an exact replica of my SN 119949 plates. They are highly accurate and made of brass, with raised letters etc.

[Colin Stevens MVPA 954]

Re: Willys MB SN 119729 in New Zealand

Be careful as it may or may not be a Canadian Contract. Note reported USMC jeep 118690. That would make more sense turning up in New Zealand but Canadian contract jeeps are turning up in many odd places. Both types had lifting rings and electric wiper for the driver. Only USMC had the front tow hooks. Only the Canadian had the retrofiftted convoy light shining on rear differential and its switch.

Date of Acceptance estimate - 2-11-42 (Feb 11-1942) NOTE: The date on Canadian contract jeeps if the date they were accepted by the Canadian inspector(s) NOT the date of production, though most are presumed to be the date of production. We know this because jeeps in serial number sequence are sometimes out by days indicating that they were sent back for fixes before being accepted. See 118794 below.

Original engine would be about SN MB120XXX or MB121XXX

Body Tub Number should be about 221XX

118690 ex-USMC jeep, DOD 2-11-42 Ref. Army Motors # 50 MVPA p. 38 by Lloyd White. Owner not stated
118729 YOUR JEEP
118754 Tub 22178 Present engine MB121884 Date 2-12-42 Owner Ron McMullen, Ontario, Canada. No data plates, no DND number.
118768 Tub 22168 Original engine 120111 CM4231089 Owner Marc Belanger, Quebec, Canada
118769 CM4219190? Carl Borgh, Sweden
118794 Tub 22160 Original engine 120138 (still in it) Date 2-20-42 Original WD # CM1165779 George Dey, Scotland (beautifully restored)
...
119021 Tub 21296 Original engine was 120296 (now has a GPW engine) Date 2-11-42 Previously owned by Colin Stevens. I sold it back to the Canadian Government.

Note the early date on this last jeep. I believe 2-11-42 (Feb 11 1942) was the first date of production of Canadian contract Willys jeeps.

I would like to know your body tub number to add to my database of over 1,500 jeeps. Located on side of gusset under driver's floorboard, visible by looking up into engine compartment from under the step on driver's side (left side mate! Numbers are about 1/2" tall and lined vertically near front edge of gusset.

[Leigh_J]

Hi Colin,

Thanks for the reply. I am 99% sure that mine is a Canadian contract MB.

What led me to believe its a genuine CDLV...
* For a start it belonged to my Dad, who had owned it since 1970 in the UK - he was pretty sure it was Canadian.
* No original front bumper, but the rear cross-member is missing the middle two rivets each side, indicating to me that it had lifting rings behind the bumperettes.
* The original body tub is reasonably intact, and the two holes on the left side of the dash panels are there for the stoplight/axle light switches
* I cant see any evidence of it having USMC tow hooks fitted, the original rivets behind the bumper gussets are still in place.
* I believe I've found the hole in the rear of the chassis that was for the axle convoy lamp bracket.

No other evidence is present - not original hood so no hood number, rear panel on tub has been cut out so no number there either, no windscreen so no Canadian markings to be found, Ford rear axle so no white paint on diff cover plate.

Its journey to NZ is only in recent times (2007), Dad bought it from a farmer in the UK in 1970 and I have ownership papers dating back to 1960 where the first entry states the release from government service.
Interestingly it came with the full winter canvas top with doors as used by the British, holes for the extra fastenings still present in original tub.

I've estimated the date of manufacture to be 2-12-42 and engine to be 120127 (just a guess really!) and I've had my plates stamped now so I hope that was right!

Original body tub number on gusset is 20703.

What I would really like to work out is a Canadian hood number plus what division markings should be on the windscreen lower panel, and also what type of star if used at all.

Thanks for your useful info.

[Eric B]

Hello Leigh

I have also been collecting data on the CDN WW2 Jeep.

There are no central records of where the CDN jeeps were used or what hood numbers were on them.

There is also the possibility that after assembly in the UK, the jeep was traded to the British.

Therefore you can decide on what unit you wish to portray and what era. Pre or post D-Day or Italy.

Once you have that decided then you should contact the Regimental Museum of the unit to see if they have any records of WD numbers.

I can help you with the CDN Div and Unit markings once you have narrowed it down.

The star was the same as the US, 6 inch on the side and 12 inch on the hood.

You can reach me at cmpmagazine@hotmail.com

Thanks
Eric

[Mark Tombleson]

Leigh, you are within the first Contract USMC MB-NOM range, but it is possible they made these different contracts on a day to day basis.

The first MB-NOM contract was NOm 32915 for $584,000 on 1 – 1942. That works out to about 631 or so jeeps. That is little over two day’s production if I remember correctly.

The first known jeep of that contract is MB-118650 with body number 22621 and a DOD of 2-16-42. It is USMC 37430. It had hooks, rings and the electric wiper.

The only item I can add to Colin's remarks is the fact that all Navy MB-NOM contract jeeps were painted forest green with yellow marking on each side above and below the grab handles. This includes the engine and drive train as well as the frame and body. If you have pulled your body off the frame the underside of the body should still be forest green… same for the frame and almost everything else.

Now, if all that is OD... well you have your answer.