Early 1942 GPW - Rego Number Advice

[jag]

Folks, could you advise if this estimate for a rego number sounds right - 2069387. This is for a GPW built at Dearborn, Dod of 4-8-42, engine/chassis no. 14077. thanks, John

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi John,

With new data that has just been found a best guess at this time would put your original hood number in the 2061644 through 2061743 range. As far as I know no documents have been found with the actual hood number to serial number reference for GPW 14077.

[jag]

Tom,
thanks for your note. This Rego number range appears low? I was working on the previously published lists for April 1942 showing Ford Chassis Range 11116 - 15000 and Rego Numbers 2065893 - 20697777. I am aware these are estimates though I thought given my engine/chassis no. the Rego no. (other things being equal ) would be towards the top end of this range. Can you advise what the new data is and/or suggest how I might get closer to the number? I guess it would be nice to know someone with a similar Engine no. Dof D, from the same plant who also knows the actual Rego No. thanks, John

ps In "the Standard Wartime Jeep" Vol 2, there is a pic of original Jeeps in the California Training area in October 1942. The GPW in the foreground is Rego No. 2065819. I guess it may have been a later build or different batch of Regos from a different Ford plant.

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi John,

Estimating GPW hood numbers when the actual data is unknown has to take several things into account. The bad thing is that most of the data that owners have means nearly nothing. As an example here is a list of items that you looked to compare:

Engine nos/chassis nos. - Means nothing unless you know which plant used the motor and even than the number means very little.
Rego no. - Used to be of some help if you knew how many GPWs were accepted on a given day but this is no longer of any use.
DoD - No longer has any meaning in regard to Rego nos.

The assembly plant has great bearing on the hood number batch lot being used at the time the GPW is assembled. I am waiting to post what the new hood number varible is until I process the data I have coming in a week or two.

The range of 100 numbers that I posted above is as close as you are going to get outside of a Ford or Government document saying GPW 14077 DoD April 8, 42 had U. S. A Registration number 20xxxxx.

Dearborn first contract hood numbers were in order of use :

2054778 through 2058777
2060903 through 2062277

Nos. 2058777 and 2060903 should have been used on the same day.

As a side note GPW 2065819 should have been a Dallas GPW on about March 20, 42.

[jag]

Tom, thank you for this explanation and please excuse my limited knowledge in this area. Your understanding on this subject is certainly impressive and I asssume reflects many years of detailed research and observation. I look forward to hearing of your findings when you have processed the additional data. I will be visiting my vehicles restorer later this week and will take detailed pics of the serial numbers on the chassis and engine block. Is there anything else I should note that might in some way aid in identification? thanks, John

[Ronnie Guin]

Tom, I was looking at the collection of hood serial numbers on this forum and was wondering about Mike Wright's and my GPW that are very close in number. His hood number is an estimate, but mine is the one I recovered three times on the diffrent repaints of 2956 so I am confident it is correct. If Mike's GPW was built at Louisville plant as mine was, would his hood number not be 320 apart from mine as his frame serial number is? Or is this a wrong asumption? I am assuming Mike's was built at Louisville, but not sure?

GPW 2636 DoD 2-28-42 # 2055856 (est.) Mike Wright
GPW 2956 Dod 3-10-42 # 2058657 Ronnie Guin

Thanks for all you are doing on the GPW studies.

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Ronnie,

If Mike's GPW was built at Louisville plant as mine was, would his hood number not be 320 apart from mine as his frame serial number is? Or is this a wrong asumption?

Yes, As of last week the above looks to be a wrong assumption.

I am assuming Mike's was built at Louisville, but not sure?

Mike's GPW does not have Louisville characteristics. It has Dearborn ones.

I believe your GPW 2956 should have been assembled on March 9, 42 at the Louisville plant.

A more current refined hood number estimate for Mike's GPW 2636 would be somewhere in the 2055805 through 2055817 number range.

[Mike Wright]

Hi Ronnie,

If Mike's GPW was built at Louisville plant as mine was, would his hood number not be 320 apart from mine as his frame serial number is? Or is this a wrong asumption?

Yes, As of last week the above looks to be a wrong assumption.

I am assuming Mike's was built at Louisville, but not sure?

Mike's GPW does not have Louisville characteristics. It has Dearborn ones.

I believe your GPW 2956 should have been assembled on March 9, 42 at the Louisville plant.

A more current refined hood number estimate for Mike's GPW 2636 would be somewhere in the 2055805 through 2055817 number range.

Dang Tom,
I guess that in a couple more years I wont have to guesstimate my hood number as you'll have it for me
Really, Thanks for all the research you do. I guess for now i'll go with 2055811

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Mike,

I guess that in a couple more years I wont have to guesstimate my hood number as you'll have it for me

That is a goal that I have but at the current rate of funding from GPW owners whom have given zero I am not sure it will ever be a goal that can be attained. By the middle of next week I should have about 9000 new numbers ( serial/hood ) ( at $1.50 per page ) to add to the mix. I will be checking on War Asset Administion records at about 525 miles from home hopefully this fall.

[Mike Wright]

Tom,
If every GPW owner would give just $5.00 to help further your research just think what you could do Send me your pay pal address so I can send another donation

[Tom Wolboldt]

Hi Mike,

For you and anyone else the paypal acct. is my email. Just click on the email button under my name on the right to see the address. And thanks in advance!

[jag]

Tom, as a newcomer to this Board , I was not aware of your valuable research project and the real costs associated with it. I believe you add a lot of credibility to this Board and certainly add much to the body of facts and informed opinion available. I look forward to continuing to learn from your knowledge. Check your Paypal account. Best regards, John

[Ronnie Guin]

Agree Mike and Jag. Check email Tom. Thanks for the research you are doing.

[fergeau]

.I just bought an early gpw from 2/19/1942 with number 1126. I would like to have more information on this car. Apparently assembled in the Dearborn factory under the 1st ford contract but I don't know the register number. I am looking for additional information: register number - unit of assignment. Can you help me or if you know someboby ,I very happy that. Thanks,