Ever purchase a Military Jeep and wonder what the markings mean or how to reproduce them?
In this post, we will attempt to shed some light on this often overlooked and little understood history surrounding military Jeep markings.
If you are one of those Jeep owners who doesn’t flinch at the high cost of years and money a great restoration can sometimes require, then chances are you an enthusiast who wants to get it right. But what do you do when your markings have been painted over by the military before being sold, or even worse, when they appear to have been lost forever?
First course of action: STOP. Before you take a sandblaster or stencil to your vehicle, examine the original markings, if any are visible. This is especially important for collectors, as markings are often used to verify a vehicle’s history and identity. The markings on your military Jeep can be used to identify the jeep itself as well as the unit and formation that it was serving in. A brief history about military regulations on vehicle markings:
Unit markings:
According to the AR 850-5*, markings were to be made with gasoline solvent paint (or paint as prescribed by the War Department). Unit identification markers were to be painted in white letters on an olive-drab background.
National symbol: A white five-pointed star was the national symbol of all motor vehicles assigned to tactical units. (Sizing of this star was dependent upon the motor vehicle type and had to be large enough to take advantage of the surface upon which it is painted). When required for camouflage or concealment, the symbol was to be covered by lusterless olive-drab gasoline solvent paint.
Unit identification symbols: Front and rear markings were to be identical and consisted of four groups in consecutive order, from left to right, separated by a 1″ long dash. These markings were permitted to be on either a single line or two lines.
Special Note on Administrative Vehicles:
Administration vehicles were required to substitute abbreviation or words for the first two groups in order to show station and activity represented.
Want to know more? You can download the full versionof the AR 850-5.
*Source: AR 850-5(http://www.jeepdraw.com/images/AR-850-5.pdf) –
1942 publication containing official regulations for unit identification markings on vehicles and equipment.
If you are working on a military jeep restoration, check out our selection of stencils and decals. Or order our complete military stencil kit. This is a great kit and includes all the stencils you will need for your military vehicle restoration.
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If you are looking for, Willys Jeep Parts, or Willys Jeep Restoration Parts and much more for your 1941-1971 Willys vehicle, you have come to the right place!
Check out our Decals, Stencils, and Data Plates. There are star stencils and star decals for your military jeep vehicles. Have a great Day!
NEED TO BUY STARS FOR HOOD AND SIDES OF JEEP.
I am restoring a 1951 Willys military Jeep. I was told that it was a M38. After looking at the label plate mounted on the passenger side fire wall, I am not sure what I have. The I.D.# reads either 151-GB1 36858 or 451-GB1 36858. Can anyone help identify the model?
It does have a one piece windshield similar to M38.
Thanks , Willie
I have an M-38 that was with the 12th Aviation Brigade 3 Battalion 158 Aviation Regiment. How would I lay this out on the front bumper. It was also HQ 31.
Gary
I really appreciate your web page
I have been calling my 1942 Jeep a model MB for years. After reading a readers’s response in a earlier blog, I am now calling it a Government Pookey War-equiped ( GPW ) as it is a Ford. I am very happy about your new blog section and info. I have let my Jeep set for several years but am getting it running again. My inspiration comes from your blog writings. Thanks for giving me more work and ENJOYMENT. Garry
[…] Military Jeep Vehicle Markings […]
I have done extensive research on Jeep markings and came up with the following web sites that were helpful. The first is excerpt of Section 10 is taken from the August 1942 version of AR 850-5 on http://www.lonesentry.com/panzer/jeep-markings.html
the other site references Jeep hood registration numbers. It is: http://wwiijeepparts.com/Tools/WWIIJeepHoodRegistrationNumberEstimator.html Good luck, keep trying, there is a lot on the internet. -Andy
I have been calling my 1942 Jeep a model MB for years. After reading a readers’s response in a earlier blog, I am now calling it a Government Pookey War-equiped ( GPW ) as it is a Ford. I am very happy about your new blog section and info. I have let my Jeep set for several years but am getting it running again. My inspiration comes from your blog writings. Thanks for giving me more work and ENJOYMENT. Garry