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

JRRDixon · #1 19-12-15, 14:55

I know this discussion thread has been quiet for a while but I am curious if anybody has a CDLV 505 Contract Willys near Serial no 155562.

Engine Serial # 160432
Body Serial # 59401
DOD 7/7/42
Brass Data Plates

I have no hood number.
Does anybody know if the hood numbers were prefixed with CM?

Also These Willys supposedly had a tool box mounted on the front and lifting rings.

Jason

david moore · #2 19-12-15, 22:03

Jason
My 505 is #170425 so not especially close! Date would have been, we estimate, 28 Aug 42 but that dataplate missing. Body serial is 71862. Mine has holes in rear frame for tie down rings (not intended for lifting or towing I believe). Mine also has remains of the clips on the windshield frame for the original wiring for the electric wiper - also a hole in the driver side cowl for same..

Several years ago I corresponded with Colin McGregor Stevens in BC - he had 155796.

Kingston

david moore · #3 19-12-15, 22:10

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 · #4 26-08-20, 05:51

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

Quote:

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 · #5 29-08-20, 23:04

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 · #6 30-08-20, 01:06

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 · #7 30-08-20, 01:38

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

Lars R. · #8 17-08-21, 16:27

On DND numbers...

Quote:

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. · #9 19-08-21, 12:58

Vancouver Parade 1942
DND 42-1-5317

Lars R. · #10 19-08-21, 13:13

Same parade, 42-1-5321

Both fotos from City of Vancouver Archives

Lars R. · #11 19-08-21, 22:06

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 · #12 20-08-21, 12:10

Quote:

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 · #13 20-08-21, 19:34

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/