Durham Tees Valley Area M.V.T.

Steve's Hotchkiss (Return to Contents page) (Return to Members Vehicles)

 

 


Steves Hotchkiss as aquired


M201 Hotchkiss factory history.

Henry Ainsworth, Managing Director of Hotchkiss, managed to escape to London at the beginning of the war where his knowledge of vehicle and tank manufacture was put to good use by the Allies. Part of this work involved liaison with Willys-Overland, a factor that was to shape post-war Hotchkiss activities. After the war Henry Ainsworth returned to France to re-establish Hotchkiss as a motor manufacturer.

Hotchkiss concentrated on distributing spares for the large number of jeeps in Europe, including those acquired to re-equip the French Army they took the opportunity offered by the Willys Licence to order some new MB jeeps from Hotchkiss to meet its growing need for more vehicles. Production capacity was small but the assembly of MB jeeps was under way before the end of the year, initially using parts imported from the U.S.A.. Gradually more and more parts were manufactured under licence as tooling was moved to France.

In 1956 Hotchkiss merged with Brandt to create Hotchkiss-Brandt and it was from the Brandt factory in Stains on the Northern outskirts of Paris (not the St-Denis plant) that the majority of the 27,628 Hotchkiss M201 jeeps based on the original MB design were produced for the French Government between 1957 and 1966.

Extracts from Histomobile .com


 

Hotchkiss M201 1/4 Ton Jeep

 
 
 

 


 
 
 

Some history of the Hotchkiss M201 1/4 Ton Jeep

Years Produced: 1952-1957

My jeep was an early build 6 volt M201, leaving the factory in December 1958, virtually identical to the Willys MB. Because of this early build date, several recycled WW2 parts were incorporated in the vehicle, ranging from nuts and bolts to much larger components. It was given the Army chassis number 5792, and bore the registration 031 026. At some point it was upgraded to 12 volt with a second battery between the front seats. Eight years later, it was rebuilt by the Etablissement de Réserve Générale du Matériel Automobile near Paris. It was given the MALT job number 28196, was completely stripped and a new 24 volt Jeep built from refurbished parts. Several upgrades were made including a larger clutch, electric wipers, and stronger springs. It was given the registration 265-0439, and rebuild plate dated 3rd June 1966. At some point, the jeep was also converted at some to carry radios.

In the following few years, it received a replacement gearbox dated 21/05/69, and engine dated 6/7/87, almost 30 years after entering service.The engine is a '44 Willys unit #MB 465640, with a casting number of 8-18  638632  W5  NI-CR  N1 showing it to being made on August 18th 1944. It finished its service in the French Army in the three tone green/brown/black camouflage with the white circle and black broken 'O' on the side; a recognition marking used in the 1980's. Only a few of the Jeeps remaining in French Army service carried this marking, but strangely, the rear light clusters weren't upgraded to comply with the French road law following the Tech Bulletin in 1985.

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 as lot number 79 at the sale on 27th of January 2000, going to WHB Jeeps in Scotland from where I purchased it in April 2005. For three years, it remained a normal green Jeep, finished in 100th Bomb Group markings, but in early 2008, I began to convert it to a 'Follow Me' airbase Jeep. This included adding a checkered top and sides, warning flag, follow me sign with light board and BC348 radio.

  
     

Roset 1/4 Ton Trailer

Almost identical to the wartime Bantam Jeep trailer, this trailer was built by the Dutch Roset company post war. Minor differences include a slightly different towing eye bracket, different end panels, three removable ribs to support the canvas cover and non-perforated spring hangers. The data plate had been over painted, but careful rubbing down with wet & dry paper revealed some information. The Contract No. A2463/04/0407, and there are two sets of numbers stamped into the plate, one reading ABR No. 078, the other is REG No. KT 80-30. There also appears to be the date 1953 printed amongst the other information.

I bought the trailer in June 2007, as my collection of Army Air Force kit had outgrown the back of the Jeep. It's amazing how much you can get into the trailer, and it then allowed us to take the Jeep away for weekend events with all our camping gear. Since June 07, the trailer has been all over the North East and North West of England, and I don't know how I managed without it.

 

 


 
     

Dodge WC51 Weapons Carrier

This Dodge WC51 Weapons Carrier is a late build model, rolling off the production line on August 11th 1944. It was produced with the access body with the shorter left side to the rear body, to allow the driver to climb out past the spare wheel. Post war, the Dodge entered the service of the Norwegian Army, ending up in the Arctic Circle. Once in the service of the Norwegian Army, it seems that it wasn't used that much, but kept in the reserve vehicle fleet.

Steve writes the following vehicle history:-

From my limited understanding of the Norwegian documents, It was purchased in September 1995, by a Norwegian enthusiast when the vehicle became surplus, and sold on again in July 1999.  I think the mileage at this point was 8774. The Norwegians did rebuild the Dodge twice during their ownership, and it was probably during these rebuilds that the 1944 truck was mixed up with earlier models. At some point it has also received a much earlier engine to that listed on the build card. It was then imported into the UK in 2005 by the previous owner. When first imported, it remained in olive drab for a few years before receiving the black and white checkers and the 'Flying Control' rear body conversion. In August 2010, after six years of ownership, the Dodge was put up for sale. After a week of being on the market, the deal was done, and the Dodge became my second military vehicle.