Hotchkiss M201 chassis numbers

ONE JEEP - TWO CHASSIS NUMBERS

There can be few vehicles with quite as many different numbers stamped on the chassis in various places as the Hotchkiss M201. Quite a bit of individual vehicle history is locked up in these numbers but they can also cause confusion so I have created this page by way of an explanation.

To start with each M201 actually has two 'chassis numbers'! An explanation for this is given in the French Army manual MAT 3541 'CATALOGUE DE PIECES DETACHEES' ¹

The first of these numbers, and original number, was given to each jeep by Hotchkiss and the second by the army. Their locations are given in the diagram but be aware that they are sometimes lost under the layers of paint!

HOTCHKISS SERIAL CHASSIS NUMBER (e.g. 21968 in the diagram below)

The Hotchkiss serial chassis number is exactly that. It is a unique sequential factory number stamped on each M201 on the production line by Hotchkiss. This number places all M201s in the exact order that they were made and in theory the year that the jeep was actually made can be worked out using the table (right).

The table is based on factory production figures given in the book "Hotchkiss 1870 - 1970 petit dictionnaire du juste milieu" by Daniel Tard. There is a slight discrepancy between the factory total of 27614 and the army derived figure of 27,628 jeeps having been produced.

Hotchkiss Serial Nos.
YEAR	First	-	Last
1956	00001	-	00882
1957	00883	-	04060
1958	04061	-	06653
1959	06654	-	09349
1960	09350	-	13075
1961	13076	-	17591
1962	17600	-	21961
1963	21962	-	25336
1964	25337	-	26927
1965	26928	-	27385
1966	27386	-	27614

ARMY SERIAL CHASSIS NUMBER (e.g. 19990 in the diagram above)

Unfortunately the army decided not to use the factory serial number, perhaps because they assumed (wrongly) that they would be one of many armies to purchase the M201. Instead they issued their own serial number and stamped it on the top of the front chassis rail. It is this number that was used on all official documentation e.g the 'carnet' (logbook) on the left and the 'Certificat de vent' (auction certificate) on the right.

As the army numbers were not issued until after the jeeps had left the production line they are not in direct sequence with the factory numbers. In collating a database of over 6000 M201s it has become apparent that from time to time batches of jeeps were not issued with an army number until some time later making exact dating from an army number difficult.

FRAME NUMBER (e.g MV 11216 in the diagram below)

The frame number is stamped on the side of the front chassis rail as shown in the diagram. It is simply a unique identity given to the frame when it was made and as the frames were not used sequentially on the production line there is no direct correlation between this number and the chassis number.

The frames of early M201s simply had a number. From about mid 1958 a new series began prefixed by the letter 'M' probably indicating that a revision to the frame design had been made. In 1960 a second new series prefixed 'MV' appeared that continued until production of M201s ceased.

The only other letter to appear in the prefix occasionally is an 'S' as in 'MS' or 'SM'. It is possible that these frames were strengthened as there is a link between these and the Sahara jeeps made at the factory which are Known to have had a strengthened frame. If you have a jeep with an 'S' in the frame number please do let me know as I need more examples to prove this theory.

ARMY REGISTRATION NUMBER

The custom of stamping the registration number on the rear chassis leg of new jeeps had been used for the Delahaye VLR and was continued with The Hotchkiss M201. This practice was not used on WW2 jeeps or ITM jeeps made from recycled WW2 parts. This number did of course also appear painted on the front bumper and on the rear registration plate.

On very early M201s it was stamped as indicated in the diagram with 50s registration number 088 234. Most examples of M201s have it in the slightly higher and further forward position as illustrated by the 60s style registration 221 4431. There are a few examples of M201s without this number being stamped here. I am not yet certain of the reason for this.

When jeeps were rebuilt they received a new registration number on reissue but this was not stamped anywhere on the frame.

EXAMPLES OF CHASSIS NUMBERS


Hotchkiss chassis number '3472'	Army chassis number 02745	Rare example - number stamped on wrong side.	Rare example of ITM number stamped here

FINAL POINTS

It is not always possible to read the chassis numbers without first removing the thick layers of paint that have built up over the years but it is worth doing if you want to find out something of the history of your jeep.

French army jeeps that have been rebuilt at la Maltournée also have a MALT plate welded to the chassis with a number on it. Details about this are given on the pages dealing with rebuilt jeeps.

Much of the information about dates and numbers that I have included in this section of the site has been gleaned from a database that I started six or seven years ago and my thanks go to all who have provided me with details of their jeep. If you own an ex-French army jeep (MB / GPW / ITM or M201) you could help make this section even better. Please contact me and I will explain how you can help. Thanks. A full guide to chassis number identification (in Word format) can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here.

Thanks to JLM for the use of his excellent drawings of the locations of chassis numbers.

Reference ¹ MAT 3541 'CATALOGUE DE PIECES DETACHEES'

"Le numéro de sortie de chaine donné par la Société HOTCHKISS est frappé au niveau de la fixation AV du moteur sur la partie supérieure du longeron gauche."

"Le numéro de série de châssis donné par l'Amée se trouve frappé sur la partie supérieure de l'extrémité avant du longeron droit du châssis ainsi que sur la plaque d'instructions. Ce numéro est celui qui détermine les tranches de véhicules pour lesquels seules certaines pièces sont viables dans ce catalogue."