NEED HELP WITH GOV MARKINGS ON 63 UTILITY WAGON |
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CaseyWillys
Member Joined: 29 Oct. 2022 Location: Casey, IL Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Posted: 24 Apr. 2023 at 8:13am |
I am hoping someone might be able to help me determine the meaning of the numbers painted on the roof of my 1963 utility wagon. Below is a picture of the markings. They are black, read " HO IG-1555", are about 4" tall and hand painted. There is faint evidence that these same markings were on the front bumper also. It still has the original paint color of GSA grey.
I bought my wagon in 1983 while working near Seattle. The only other markings are the data plate on the glove box and "US GOVENRMENT FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" stickers on the doors. The numbers on the roof were not visible until I washed it after moving it out of the barn after 40 years of storage. I am leaning restoring the original paint and markings and would dearly love to find out what branch of our government used my wagon and what it was used for. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Chris |
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CDUB
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Mark W.
Member Sponsor Member Joined: 09 Nov. 2014 Location: Silverton, OR Status: Offline Points: 7923 |
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Its most likely the Forest or Parks service. They were buying Willys Wagons in 1963 at the same time the first Wagoneers were coming out. They liked the older style wagon.
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Chug A Lug
1948 2A Body Customized 1949 3A W/S 1957 CJ5 Frame Modified Late 50's 134L 9.25"clutch T90A D18 (1.25") D44/30 flanged E-Locker D25 5.38 Since 1962 |
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cpt logger
Member Joined: 23 Sep. 2012 Location: Western Colorad Status: Offline Points: 3022 |
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I seem to recall those kind of numbers on Willys wagons that were up for auction in the mid seventies. I was buying Power Wagons & Caterpillars. The Power Wagons had data plates that said they were property of the U.S. Forest Service. Big surprise, they were painted forest service green. The auctions were for mostly USFS rigs with a few BLM, (Bureau of Land Management), thrown in just for grins. For me, this is what BLM will always stand for. Some of the Cats were marked "U. S. Navy". What the Navy needed D-8
& D-9 Cats for I have no clue. The Cats also had tags from the BLM. So they probably were acquired from the Navy by the BLM. Some of the Cats were Caterpillar yellow & some were Navy blue. Yet others were battleship grey. I bought the yellow ones. We overhauled them and put them to work. We even leased some of them back to the USFS & BLM for forest fire fighting work. It is a strange world sometimes.
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otto
Member Joined: 26 Feb. 2012 Location: Orygun Status: Offline Points: 2241 |
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Those are keepers!
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47 CJ2A w/fuel injected boat engine
48 CJ2A 64 Ford Econoline Travelwagon If you can't get there in a Jeep, get a motorcycle! |
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CaseyWillys
Member Joined: 29 Oct. 2022 Location: Casey, IL Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Yes, I misspelled Government. I am terrible at spelling. Thanks for pointing that out. Terrible at spelling and always in a hurry.
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CDUB
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CaseyWillys
Member Joined: 29 Oct. 2022 Location: Casey, IL Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Do you think the numbers were painted on just for the sale?
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CDUB
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CaseyWillys
Member Joined: 29 Oct. 2022 Location: Casey, IL Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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I posted these pictures on a antique Forest Service Signs Facebook group and the general consensus was that it is not a forest service vehicle because the door stickers would say forest service. I keep checking the post to see if there is new info. Also posted on Old Willys forum and struck out so far.
I am beginning to think I need someone who worked for GSA to check this out.
Not giving up. Thanks guys for your interest |
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CDUB
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cpt logger
Member Joined: 23 Sep. 2012 Location: Western Colorad Status: Offline Points: 3022 |
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No I don't. They were not "fresh" they had been on the wagons for at least a year, maybe five years or more.
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CaseyWillys
Member Joined: 29 Oct. 2022 Location: Casey, IL Status: Offline Points: 23 |
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Thanks
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CDUB
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Lee MN
Member Joined: 13 Aug. 2008 Location: Harris, MN Status: Offline Points: 4923 |
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Sir, have you ever heard of the US Navy Seabee’s ? , Probably the finest trade school on earth and have turned out some of the best heavy equipment operators I ever worked with as well as tradesmen of every craft, welders/machinist’s/carpenters and mechanics to mention a few. What did they need a D8 for, well my cousin Wilbur Martinson buried thousands of japs on Iwo Jima & Okinawa… Sorry for the drift 😬 Lee😉 |
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LEE
44 GPW-The Perfected Willys 49 2A “If you wait, you only get older” 67 M715 American Made Rolling History |
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cpt logger
Member Joined: 23 Sep. 2012 Location: Western Colorad Status: Offline Points: 3022 |
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I'll be darned, I did forget about the Seabees. My Marine uncle, who served in Iwo Jima, would whoop me bad for forgetting about them. May he rest in peace. Tell your cousin Wilbur Martinson thank you from my uncle & I. My uncle had great respect for the Seabees.
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Lee MN
Member Joined: 13 Aug. 2008 Location: Harris, MN Status: Offline Points: 4923 |
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Wilbur passed in 1987, a treasure of war stories went with him 🥲 Lee |
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LEE
44 GPW-The Perfected Willys 49 2A “If you wait, you only get older” 67 M715 American Made Rolling History |
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