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This Jeep was given to the French after the war probably under the lend lease agreement, and was subsiquently rebuilt at the La Maltournee factory in 1956 and again in 1968. It was reissued an ITM chassis # so the DOB and the chassis number are just a guestamate based soley on some of the original items on it. It was issued to the Gerdarmerie with the reg# 285 0385 and served at a place called "Noyon" about 60 km East of Paris.
The chassis, axles, transfer box, regulators, grill, bonnet, and numerous other parts are oringinal Willys, but the tub, inner and outer screen are French as are the electric wipers.Also the transfer box and engine are Hotchkiss. At some point their was an engine in her #MB585045, I can tell this from the documents I have with it.
It was rewired to 12 volt for the Gendarmerie and not the 24 volt that NATO required, so it still runs the original 6 volt charging system and ignition and not the heavy duty waterproofed Hotchkiss stuff.
The engine was replaced at the E.G.R.M factory at Clermont Ferrand on 18th Dec 1990 with a Hotchkiss motor and seems to of done only 475 km and then stored as surplus stock. I'm the first civilian owner this Jeep since it was built some time in the war. At the moment I'm showing it as a combat ready Jeep, but hope to take it down to the frame and rebuild it.
The unit markings are of the 3rd Inf.Div.3rd Rec.Group (3-I-3R B8) and the last 5 digits of the hood number are the last 5 digits of the new chassis number. I'm not going to replace the body or the screen as this jeep has it's own unique history. Check out my other jeep http://www.g503.com/serial-numbers/jeep-detail.php?recordid=1502
This jeep is currently under going a full rebuild. So far the roling chassis is complete.I'm currently and replacing 50% of the front floor and fuel tank sump.
Since I've stripped the jeep I've discovered the chassis is a Type1 suppression style with the long re enforcing strap, so I would date this as a very late 42 to the end of 43 chassis.
