WW2 Jeep business in France

If you remember, on June 6, 1944, lot of Jeeps arrived in France. And maybe some members of your family.
We thank you for this.

I met a friend today in the supermarket. he is the only mechanic in a specialist of WW2 cars.
And he told me that he was very very busy.

In France, some people are very found of the WW2 jeep and other machines, tanks, GMC, Dodge WC.

I like very much the Dodge command car, but a little big for me.

So these people try to have the best collector Jeep, they want the exact canvas, the original electric wire, and they pay a lot for this.

Some are making shows, they buy american WW2 clothes, officers, private... WHen there is a ceremony, the go with their Jeep to the official parade. It is very beautiful.

Many Jeeps are not exact models, but "replicas" made in France under licence for french army.

But they are transformed in US army look, because french army Jeeps were used in colonial wars, especially in Algeria.

And because now maybe 2 million people from Algeria are living in france, it is a bad souvenir.

It is better to use a Jeep as a good souvenir, victory against nazism.

That's why my friend has a lot of work to do. If you want to invest in a garage in France, it's time, you have the spare parts. They don't like too much parts from Philipines, they want the actual WW2 parts.

Why not, for sure it must be a pleasure to have a true "Liberté" Jeep, and that's why they are so much expansive.

 

We do get Hotchkiss M-201 Jeep parts over here. I called a vendor for a friend about a T-84 transmission case and the vendor said "I have 3 options, MB, GPW, or Hotchkiss."

You guys have allot more parts over there than we do. When we took everything over there, we didn't bring them back. A major parts supplier here in the US, Brent Mullins Jeep Parts, is constantly going to France and bringing back shipping containers of crates of NOS parts.

Have you ever heard of this supplier? http://www.eaglejeepparts.nl/

Since you are from Louisiana's original mother country, I bet you can pronounce Bossier. Unless you are from here, no one ever says it correctly.

laissez le bon temps rouler

 

Very strange, I believed that you were the masters of jeep WW2 spare parts.
I don't now this supplier, this is in Netherlands. Hotchkiss parts and full hotchkiss are expensive, but easy to find.
Below, some french suppliers with stock :
http://www.lys-tout-terrain.com/cataloguevehicules_cd1_250.html
http://www.jeepest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64&Itemid=56&lang=fr

As you can see, it is expensive. But we have the spare parts.

 

Bows-ee-ay?

 

Boh-see-hey at full speed?

 

I saw lots of them in Holland too when I lived there.. Always gave me a big smile to see an original GI MB rolling by ..

 

Bow(like a bow and arrow)-jer

 

Probably, I don't see the solution, I don't see how it can be said in english exactly as said in french.

Well, that's not the subject. Today, we had freeze and snow, I was very happy with my Meyer hardtop and doors...

 

It's undeniable that a whole lot of individuals nowadays are fond of collecting some stuffs that they could have for long,that they can make use of each day,and among these is the jeep. It can't be denied that there's a variety of jeep that leads to some individuals to think of what really the kind of jeep to pick with great simplicity of design and function. Any suggestions that you can hand to me so that i can pick one today?

 

That's entirely a function of your willingness and ability to work on it yourself. Obviously newer models are easier to keep up with parts and such and older jeeps are more or an exercise in self punishment haha... Anyhow choosing a jeep right for you is like choosing underwear.. Everone has thier own favorite for their own reasons!

Bubba

 

This is really interesting but, I want to have some information and some clarification that regard on WW2 business jeep. How does it affect to the society? Please give me some details regarding this matter.

 

You can find below in french the website of the true collectors. It is said taht probably 200.000 Jeep were "reconstructed" in France, and some parts are from US origin, others made in France or other places.
What makes the value of the WW2 Jeep is that you own a part of the liberty, it is positive, you are a hero.
Why do people buy WW2 Jeep?
- to be a hero, this is mainly old people and very few young ones, except if the Jeep was in the family: look at the website.
http://mvcgfrance.org/index-2.html - Maybe some people believe that it will take value, as antics, as a Van Gogh painting.
- to have a Jeep with spare parts easy to obtain : it is the only vehicule with parts always available, still in production; and you can buy a "new" one fully reconstructed, origin Philippines and other places, for 29.000 Euros in France.
- as a souvenir of the french army, mainly people who were or still are in the french army.
If your Jeep is military looking, you are not in "fashion", except if it is with US army marks.
The trend is ecologic, to have a Jeep is not ecologic so you are not in fashion too.
Sociologically looking, the Jeep owner is not in fashion in France, he is a symbol of the past.

 

Jeep IS ecological... they are simple, built without any excess material, and they last for a lifetime or more!

Vive Jeep!

 

971.02 US Dollars or 750 euros for the trailer? they must have more there than here. http://www.jeepest.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=38&Itemid=28&lang=fr

 

People don't really buy trailers in france, it was for the french army so there are many.

I know well Jeepest, they have a lot of work rebuilding WW2 Jeeps for collectors.

Yes it is true that a jeep is ecologic because you never throw them away, it is longlife...

 

Alan, do you have by coincident about spare Parts for a 53 CJ3 in france.