Canadian contract jeeps (was: CDLV 505 Jeep Serial numbers...)

[david moore]

Jason

Me again! Your jeep almost certainly did not go overseas unless it was bought back recently from Norway, UK or similar. Those staying in Canada never had the Brit-style census numbers. Rather it would originally have had 42-xxx (or 42-1-xxx if RCASC) in small numerals probably on the body side not the hood and then in 1943 this would have been changed to xx-xxx in much larger numerals depending on where it was located, the first xx NOT being the year.
Hope this makes sense!

If it was RCN as mine was or RCAF then the numbers are a whole different story!

David

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

David Moore

Unfortunately you have the DND number information incorrect. I found actual wartime explanation in a manual. Summarized here:

42-1-1234 = 1942 vehicle accepted into Canadian Army, ; -1- = meant that it was NOT an R.C.A.S.C. vehicle ; 1,234th vehicle taken on strength that year, excluding motorcycles and excluding R.C.A.S.C. vehicles.

42-1352 would be the 1,532nd vehicle accepted into the R.C.A.S.C. that year.

About January 1943 the DND number system changed. Pre-existing vehicles were renumbered by units and were NOT sequential. R.C.A.S.C. were no longer separately numbered. Motorcycles started at 2,000 e.g. 2-123 and other army vehicles at 50,000 range e.g. 61-261. R.C.A.F. had 20,000 and 30,000 number ranges.



Colin

Originally Posted by david moore

Jason

Me again! Your jeep almost certainly did not go overseas unless it was bought back recently from Norway, UK or similar. Those staying in Canada never had the Brit-style census numbers. Rather it would originally have had 42-xxx (or 42-1-xxx if RCASC) in small numerals probably on the body side not the hood and then in 1943 this would have been changed to xx-xxx in much larger numerals depending on where it was located, the first xx NOT being the year.
Hope this makes sense!

If it was RCN as mine was or RCAF then the numbers are a whole different story!

David

[M38CDNBill]

Hi gang,

My friend started stripping the paint from his slat grill jeep. I asked him to go very slowly to discover the markings and the first observation is that maybe there is a coat of RCAF blue paint over the OD one. Here is a picture where we see a very partial marking on the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side.

[M38CDNBill]

Again me,

The marking appears to be the number 44 around which there appears to be an incomplete circle. What are your opinions on this?

[M38CDNBill]

Last question for tonight, I think it may be this marking. What unit is it associated with?

[Eric B]

When Canada bought used Willy's and GPW's , these vehicles would have had USA Hood numbers on them. These were generally painted over but there are some photos where they are still visible. Some of these were shipped overseas while some remained in Canada.

They were suppose to have been rebuilt. Some were done at private businesses, while others were done at US Army Depots. The private business were reported to have done a better job. In most cases these vehicles were missing canvas and other items. Therefore some items such as canvas tops were manufactured within Canada as they were unable to purchase replacements from the USA.

We also bought a number of used vehicles for Korea. The USA hood numbers were retained and CDN was painted over the USA. They were reassigned Canadian numbers but very few of these were ever repainted. None of these vehicles came back to Canada as they were replaced by the M38A1s bought directly from the US Army.

In would guess that a car 5cwt 4x4 found in the Yukon would most likely not have been a CDN vehicle. The US provided vehicles for the defence of Alaska and numerous vehicles were brought in for the building of the Alaskan Highway. Canada sent troops and provided aircraft. There are several good books on the topic.
Thanks
Eric

[M38CDNBill]

Thanks Eric...

[Lars R.]

On DND numbers...

Originally Posted by david moore

Rather it would originally have had 42-xxx (or 42-1-xxx if RCASC) in small numerals probably on the body side not the hood and then in 1943 this would have been changed to xx-xxx in much larger numerals depending on where it was located, the first xx NOT being the year.

I have a query here. David writes the -1- indicates R.C.A.S.C., however in the Chapter on CDLVs in the Lloyd White Volume 1 "The Evolution of the Willys-Overland MB Jeep" page 406, Eric writes that the -1- stood for "car 5cwt 4x4". Or, if not in contradiction, did the R.C.A.S.C. use the -1- indicating "car 5cwt 4x4" but otherwise it was not used? Then, how did Jeeps reach the forces through R.C.A.S.C. or, directly, bypassing them?

What is correct?

[Lars R.]

Vancouver Parade 1942
DND 42-1-5317

[Lars R.]

Same parade, 42-1-5321



Both fotos from City of Vancouver Archives

[Lars R.]

At the same time and place...Mayor Lloyd inspecting RCN Shore Patrol Jeeps. Note the two in OD (including a 241 Contract) with Army guys at the wheel, but Navy "on Board"!



Nova Scotia Archives

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lars R.

Halifax Mayor Lloyd at wheel of RCN Shore Patrol Jeep (GPW)...undated.

Nova Scotia Archives

RCN Jeep indeed, but not a CDLV one. Moved a couple of posts to a more relevant thread:

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...345#post281345

[wim sikkelbein]

The scale model company AK-interactive has a new book titled ”The Canadian wartime Willys-Overland”

Seems interesting.

https://ak-interactive.com/product/w...land-canadian/

[Lars R.]

Thanks for the heads up Wim.
140 pages...could be interesting, but probably not much new, allthough one picture in the preview was new for me. Some of the model reference guides are actually very informative. I have ordered a copy...will report!

Cheers,

[Eric B]

A friend is rebuilding Canadian Contract 505 SN 155972
Here is what i pulled up from Lloyds Whites book based on the Serial number.

• 2 piece skid plate
• CDN tie down rings x4
• CDN headlight guard x1
• Rubber seals, shifter boots etc,
• Rubber hood blocks, placed on hood for electric wiper
• Syracuse Dyneto Electric wiper and wiring. hole for wiring
• TM publishing data plate
• CDN Data plate
• Pull light switch
• Zippered front seat bottoms
• spare tire lock
• round Corcoran Brown reflectors
• Metal knobs
• oaks oil filter
• oval muffler
• combat wheels
• locking glove box and tool boxes
• keyed ignition
• torque reaction spring
• 3 bolt spare tire carrier
• Willys script rear panel
• Hood radiator deflector
• Early under dash noise filter
• Early wire harness
• CDN windshield cover for electric wiper.
• Side curtains x 2
• Door Safety straps x 2
• basic canvas top. no side curtains etc.
• Oil filler tube, twist style with no vent.
• no pvc vent out side of engine.
• no tow rings on pintle hook
• no trailer electric plug
• no rear re-enforcement for sides to rear
• no rear reinforcement
• round gas tank well
• small gas tank mouth
• no fender blackout light
• no fuel can carrier
• no radio terminal box
• no rifle bracket on windshield
• no tire pump brackets under rear seat.
• Rear tail lights both blackout stop style.
• Overseas has 2 toggle switches, plastic plate on dash with axle light.