Ford GPW Script jeep timeframe

[Chuck Lutz]

Mike....

I will go out on a limb here and say you have a Script tub for 43473. While the trailer plug didn't come online until around Sept 42, they were retro fitted so compare the location of BOTH plug holes and look to see if the reflector mounting holes are in the exact same place....if they are NOT, then I'd guess that 75640 had it's put in at the factory and 43473 had it's installed in the field.

The rear tool box strengthening ridge came out in around May 42 so both should have that feature and they do.

The flat glovebox floor in 43473 is what I'm most interested in; that feature was changed to the ribbed floor in Aug 42 or so which is almost the exact time that the script was dropped so I'm thinking they did BOTH changes at the same time. The ribbed floor in 75640 would be correct for an Oct 42 jeep.

I'd love to hear from guys who have a Ribbed Glovebox Floor AND an original Script Rear panel to test this theory. Tom....do you have any thoughts on this theory?
As Tom mentioned, they used up the Script tubs in each factory at different times, as the likelihood of even TWO factories running out and going to the non-script tubs on the same day is astronomical. Of course there is always the possibility that they ran out of script tubs in one place and due to FILO/LIFO then got more of them on the line sometime later. This always messes with EXACT dating of anything on the lines and with FIVE plants, it is even more elusive for GPWs.

[John 63]

Chuck,

I have a flat glove box floor and no script rear panel on GPW53025. There is also no jerry can reinforcement plate. I do have the ridge between the rear of the tool box and the rear panel.

No trailer socket and no BO drive light switch holes were present when my dad got the GPW in 2000. He added them later though.

53025 is a Louisville built GPW.

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Chuck,

You wrote

I'd love to hear from guys who have a Ribbed Glovebox Floor AND an original Script Rear panel to test this theory. Tom....do you have any thoughts on this theory?

I do not believe there was ever a GPW Ford made script body with a ribbed glove box floor. I believe the nonscript bodies were stated to be built in the first week of July 42 and the ribbed glove box floor was started in mid August 42 so there is at least 4 weeks and 5000+ bodies between these two events.

[Viking27]

Chuck,

Both of my script tub GPW´s, 50897 and 51368 have flat glove box floor.
GPW 63129 that I scrapped for parts had the ribbed floor.

Reg

Hinrik

[Stir-Stick]

Chuck,
My GPW 50292 does not have Script FORD on rear panel . It has reinforcement panel for Jerry can holder. It has the rib behind the tool box doors . It has the ribbed bottom in the glove box with GPW "F" on the firewall inside glove box. It has hole with flat place for B/O switch.The serial # 50292 is stamped on the frame in front of shock tower with a star on both ends of # . What do I have ??? Hope this helps. Thanks, Stick

[Schelvis]

Sorry to hi-jack this thread but it seemed more interesting to add my question to this conversation then to start another one.

I have a GPW, serial 59042 with a DOD of 27 August 1942. (smells like non-Script)

The Ford logo is not present on the data plate and the glove box floor is flat. (looks like Script)

As the rear panel has been cut out I am wondering if it was a Script body or not?

Are there other indicators to know if this GPW had a Script back panel?

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Schelvis,

Are you Andy from N.Y. or did you get this GPW from someone named Andy ?

Can you post a photo of the data plate ?

There were Ford made GPW bodies with no rear script and flat glove box floors.

[Schelvis]

Nope, I live in Belgium and got the jeep via the UK. This jeep had indeed a NY title (Petersburg, previous owner was a guy named Colin)

The data plate:

[GpwFord]

If you are trying to narrow this down still you will find this as incredible as I do!!
Six months ago I purchased a 1942 GPW #50795 dod 7-21-42, ALL numbers matching, it is non script, no trailer plug, flat floor in glove box and no Ford on brass data tags (they look just like the ones in last post).

Here is the incredible part, it greatly helps your timeline!

When I entered my gpw into the G503 database, to my amazement, there was GPW #50794 dod 7-15-42, One digit in front of mine, and it is a SCRIPT tub!!

After looking into who owns it I found it was sold in 2015 to a guy named Jack in Sheridan Wyoming.(don’t think Jack is on G503)
If anyone knows who has this Jeep please let me know, I would like to put them together again some day, at least for a drive and a photo.

[JAB]

If you are trying to narrow this down still you will find this as incredible as I do!!
Six months ago I purchased a 1942 GPW #50795 dod 7-21-42, ALL numbers matching, it is non script, no trailer plug, flat floor in glove box and no Ford on brass data tags (they look just like the ones in last post).

Here is the incredible part, it greatly helps your timeline!

When I entered my gpw into the G503 database, to my amazement, there was GPW #50794 dod 7-15-42, One digit in front of mine, and it is a SCRIPT tub!!

After looking into who owns it I found it was sold in 2015 to a guy named Jack in Sheridan Wyoming.(don’t think Jack is on G503)
If anyone knows who has this Jeep please let me know, I would like to put them together again some day, at least for a drive and a photo.

At first thought, I was thinking "consecutive numbers six days apart?" But then the methodology started to add up. FILO/FIFO as related to engines, testing and acceptance, parked while waiting for testing, acceptance, registration number application, etc. We tend to just assume that sequential numbers would roll off the assembly line, well.... sequentially, when in fact, it's only the engines at Ford that do. This pretty much sums up the challenges GPW owners face when determining what correct features are "correct".

[GpwFord]

All three numbers on my gpw are the same, ID tag, engine and frame.

[IgorGPW]

Hi I will join the question.My serial number on frame is GPW45118*. My question for you. From when to when was the Ford GPW Script produced. Second question as my body has been covered with a second sheet of metal and underneath is the original body, there is no sign of the lettering on the back, and no reinforcement for the canister when unveiled from behind. was there a possibility that there was a moment when they finished producing the script, but there was no reinforcement for the canister yet?
Photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/ ... sp=sharing

[DWesol]

I, too, will join this old thread.

IGORgpw,
I regards to your question.
My 42 GPW, 55791 was built at Dallas on 8/12/42. The frame and Data Plates match.
It is NOT a script. It DID NOT have a jerry can reinforcement plate, or a trailer plug socket, or a fender mounted black out light. The jerry can holder, and the trailer plug socket were fitted after it left the factory. It also has a small mouth fuel tank. Flat glove box floor. Green Sheller steering wheel.
Hope this helps.
Dan

[Michael O.]

I believe the script “Ford” on the GPW rear panel was dropped around mid-June 1942. GPWs would still be produced with script tubs as existing stocks at the various assembly plants were exhausted. There are a few GPWs with Aug 1942 delivery dates with script tubs, but most by then were not. I know of a local GPW in the low 48,XXX range with its original tub and it’s not script. Hope this helps.