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My jeep was an early build M201, and as a result of that and a 1966 rebuild, has a mix of both Willys and M201 parts. The rear body, grill, engine ( 'MB 465640', casting 8-18 638632 W5 NI-CR N1 ) and some of the drive train are Willys, while the chassis, screen, forward body and several other parts are M201. It carried the Army chassis number 5792, and left the factory in December 1958. When first issued to the Army, it bore the registration 031 026.
Eight years later, it went to be rebuilt by E.R.G.M.( Etablissement de Réserve Générale du Matériel Automobile) at La Maltournée near Paris. It was given the MALT job number 28196, and after rebuild, bore the registration 265-0439, and it is fitted with a rebuild plate dated 3rd June, 1966. Probably at this date, the jeep was upgraded from its original 6volt electrics to 24volt, and the floor starter was relocated to the dash. At some point, perhaps during the factory rebuild, the jeep received a 'Sahara Jeep' screen. This can be distinguished by the spotlight bracket on the left frame of the screen. A light sanding reveals sand coloured paint below the olive and primer. The Sahara Jeep was not an Army modification, but a production line variant. The jeep was also converted at some point to carry radios, and the mounting holes remain in the rear wheel arches showing where the radio trays were attached.
In the following few years, it received a replacement gearbox, possibly towards the end of 1969 or early 1970.The gearbox rebuild plate is dated 21/05/69, the work being completed by ERGM in Vannes, on the western coast of France. A recent new camera purchase has allowed me to get a clear photo of the engine data plate, shown left. The engine rebuild was undertaken by yet another branch of ERGM at Clermont Ferrand in central France. The picture revealed a rebuild date of what appears to be 6/7/87, suggesting the vehicle was still in army service at this date. This date seems to fit in with the markings on the jeep as it was found in February 2005. The grey/white circle, with the black broken 'O', on the side of the jeep was a recognition marking used in the 1980's. Only a few of the jeeps remaining in French Army service carried this marking.
In the late 1980's or early 90's, the jeep was selected for long term storage, and the engine bay components were sealed to keep moisture out. It was sold at auction from Toulouse in the year 2000, and was viewable at the Army Camp at Muret, prior to the sale. It may or may not have served with the Army at Muret, but is most likely to have served in that general area. It was lot number 79 at the sale on 27th of January, going to a dealer in Scotland.
I purchased the jeep from this dealer in February 2005, and after a little welding and a respray, it was registered, named ( Jessie the Jeep ), and on the road for NE MVT events by mid April '05. Being an early M201, it is being slowly converted back to resemble a Willys MB, as the bodywork would have appeared as it left the factory, so the plastic seats, electric wipers etc, have been replaced. Because of my interest in the US 8th Air Force, and my running of the National USAAF Model Display Team ( www.usaaf.org ), it appears in the markings of a US 100th Bomb Group Willys MB. It is often displayed along with my 17 feet span 100th BG B-17 Fortress ( Radio Controlled model ), and other Army Air Force clothing and artifacts. My wife and I go all over in the jeep and in July '05, towed it to Normandy, France where we clocked up 700 miles in the two weeks we were there. A little over a year after buying the jeep, we have clocked up over 3000 miles. The two pictures show me at Graye-Sur-Mer during our Normandy trip, and the Jeep with the B-17 at Tanfield Railway Wartime Weekend '05 |
