Looks like a French license built Hotchkis with a cosmetic makeover as a 43 MB. The French were licensed by Willys after WWII to refurbish original MB's as M201 hotchkis jeeps with 24 volt electrics and eventually the French companies built brand new 201's. The 7" headlamp bulbs and the relocated air filter to make room for the second battery make it obvious. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Well sort of....
The French Miliary rebuilt WWII jeeps as rebuilt jeeps nothing more or less.
SOFIA had a licence to produce pattern MB parts and may-be whole jeeps.
After 1946 SOFIA had a francise to sell Willys in France.
Hotchkiss were granted a licence to produce a Universal jeep around 1952.
Around 1955 The French Army asked Hotchkiss to produce a licence built MB with updates, initially 6V, then 12V then 24 Volt witha very very similar system to the M38 (looks identicle but darn threads are different!)
Now this is were the confusion comes in.
A Hotchkiss M201 is just that, an M201.
A rebuilt WWII jeep is just that.
But later on some WWII parts found there way into the rebuild production line
A REBUILT M201 may contain some WWII parts and a rebuilt WWII jeep may contain some M201 parts.
A MALT jeep is a rebuilt (hybrid) or bitsa.
DATA plates were stamped according to chassis type.
A genuine unrebuilt M201 will not contain any WWII parts (in theory)
Lots of people call ALL French jeeps Hotchkiss, this is wrong.
Lots of people THINK Hotchkiss rebuilt MBs this is wrong.
Lots of people (including many guys across the pond own what they think is an amazing condition MB but it's actually a 1960s or 1970s M201.
Lots of people pretend their M201 is a 40s jeep.
Lots of people convert an M201 to a MB spec and put a big star on the bonnet.
Try Pat Ware's book; ISBN 1-903062-01-2
That probably doesn't help does it?
The thing with this sale is that a 1943 Willys MB would probaly command 70% ish higher value which is why this vendor is trying to push the 1943 bit.
I agree the evolution of MB rebuilding and licensing manufacturing of Universal jeeps in Europe is complex and you are very well informed. My comments were kept simple because the intricate jeep rebuilding and licensed manufacturing history is not a great issue here in the US and I simply agreed there was an attempt by the buyer to market his unit as something it wasn't. This issue has existed in Europe for many years and only popped up once here in the US when a MV vendor brought several dozen into the US. about 10 or 15 years ago. I would hope a buyer in Europe for a 43 MB would easily see the differences which are so obvious in the photos provided. I did say only the French rebuilt MB's but I may have allowed someone to supposition that Hotchkiss was the rebuilder when I made reference to the likeness. I did state that Hotchkiss built the M201.
The caveat, "Buyer Beware" is very true and a Buyer that buys without first researching his target is not going to receive a lot of pity from me. _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Joined: Feb 21, 2007 Posts: 133 Location: Trois-Rivieres, Canada
Posted: Sun Dec 16, 2012 10:12 pm Post subject:
Hello Dave & Wes,
I went often in Normandy and Belgium and rarely I saw real Willys MB or Ford GPW. The majority are "americanized" M201s but that being said, I don't condemn those who do retrofits on their jeeps.
I drove several M201 and I've found that's a great, strong and reliable jeep and maybe I'll buy one someday. But, I'll keep it in its original specs with all typical accessories and French markings. It's an almost unknown jeep here in North-America and deserves that we knew better.
Great photos of the scrap vehicles. I don't feel too bad. At least they aren't melting them down yet! _________________ Wes K
45 MB, 51 M38, 54 M37, 66 M101A1, 60 CJ5, 76 DJ5D, 47Bantam T3-C & 5? M100
Joined: Feb 21, 2007 Posts: 133 Location: Trois-Rivieres, Canada
Posted: Mon Dec 17, 2012 6:23 pm Post subject:
"Dear Santa Claus,
I was a very, very, very good boy this year. Please, beam me down inside this scrap yard and allows me to bring home few tons of these old abandoned military vehicles"
Cheers from Canada _________________ Guy aka M38CDNBill
1945 Willys MB
1945 Chevrolet G7107 (in progress)
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