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

[wim sikkelbein]

from:

the standerdised wartime jeep 1941-45
by john farley

Canadian contract CDLV 505
chassis numbers:165243 to 170812
registration numbers:20220905 to 20226474
W.D. numbers:20220917 to 20237883

Wim

[Colin Macgregor Stevens]

These figures from the Standardized Wartime Jeep are very incorrect.

The Canadian Contract CDLV-241, 242 and 505 jeeps never had USA Registration Numbers.

CDLV-505 W-LU 440-M-PERS-1 Car 5-Cwt. (note that they are NOT Willys MB) serial numbers range from MB155xxx at the beginning of July 1942
Earliest CDLV-505 that I have in my database is MB155636, original engine 160741 Delivered 7-2-42. I used to own MB155796 among others. These earlier examples had the raised WILLYS name on the rear, no Jerrican carrier and no Black Out Drive Light on the fender.

The latest CDLV-505 number I have in the database is MB171286, original engine was 174711 Delivered 9-2-42. The late-August-early September production did not have the WILLYS name on the rear, but had the Jerrican carrier and BODL on the fender.

Here is a sample CDLV-505 one delivered August 31, 1942.
MB170840 Original engine SN 177655
MB170842 had body tub SN 73036. A simple way in 1942 to see it the body tub is likely correct, is to add 100,000 to the tub number. They did not use the body tubs in sequence, e.g. MB170662 had tub 72725. but it gives you a rough idea.

Note that delivery dates were not always synchronized with the vehicle serial number (VIN). Some vehicles appear to have been sent backs down the line at the factory for remedial work, and then accepted a few days later.

The vehicles that remained in Canada were assigned Department of National Defence Numbers. The early pattern DND number was like 42-1-1234. Beginning about January 1943 they were all changed and became like MB155796's number, which was 61.261. She served with Divisional Signals of 7th Canadian Division, most likely at Debert, N.S., in 1943. Sadly this jeep is likely in the Los Angeles area and almost certainly has replica U.S. pattern data plates now.

For the vehicles that were sent overseas with the Canadian Army, they were assigned numbers from the batches assigned to the Canadian Army from the British War Department Census List. RCAF vehiles were assigned numbers from the RAF list.

Suggestion - rather than using an actually assigned WD number, seen in a photo for example, I suggest using a real, but unassigned WD number from the largest Canadian batch. This largest batch assigned to Canada was 2,000,000 to 2,999.999. It covered ALL types of soft-skin vehicles. If you create a number CM429xxxx to CM428xxxx (each x is a number) then it looks right, but should not be confused with an actual number used. This is already happening as collectors and museums have been restoring jeeps since at least the 1970s and 50 year old markings put on by them are sometimes mistaken for 75 year old wartime markings.



Colin

Originally Posted by wim sikkelbein

from:

the standerdised wartime jeep 1941-45
by john farley

Canadian contract CDLV 505
chassis numbers:165243 to 170812
registration numbers:20220905 to 20226474
W.D. numbers:20220917 to 20237883

Wim