Yet Another ID Number Mystery

[A45WV]

No carburetor? I am thinking you mean no emissions carburetor? What is the number cast into the top of the carburetor?

Correct, there is a carb. I could be wrong, but I don't think it is an emissions carb. I've attached a photo of the carb number - 11681709.

[rickf]

Another issue would be the importation of military vehicles from overseas. There was and still is a ban on importing American vehicles from overseas. There are some ways around it now that they are so old but back then they were still an active duty vehicle and I seriously doubt a 73 vehicle could be imported as a private vehicle before it would have even been decommissioned at the 10 year point. Let alone the normal military vehicle import ban.

[rickf]

That carburetor is the last contract carb and they were made in Taiwan under contract from Zenith. Although Zenith denies ever doing that. Just like Holley denies they ever made the original Holley carb used on the M-151. So that carb will date to the late 80's. And I see a lot of non stock rubber lines there.

[A45WV]

I would be very, VERY skeptical of the story of how it got here. Think about this. The North Vietnamese over ran the country in 1975 and I can Guarantee you nothing came here from there at that point! Anything left behind was either destroyed by the communists or left in the jungle to rot. Second part of the story is the Phnom Penh part. Have you ever read "The Killing Fields"? The Khmer Rouge were "Reeducating" all of the people from that area and if those people refused or tried to get away they were killed. There was no talk of America, not even any thought of America. Any of that would get you killed. It is sad that the one person that did get away and was the main character of the book was killed recently on the street in Ca.

Personally I think this is a made up story to embellish the sale of the vehicle. Unless I saw a certified shipping invoice or Bill of lading I would call this a fake story. Just my opinion.
But does it really matter? It appears to be a very nice A2 so who cares where it came from?

I agree with you. As you say, just going on what we both know was going on in Vietnam/Cambodia at the time, the story is so implausible as to be unbelievable.

My main goal, is to figure out some kind of Army or USMC Reg Number. I understand that this may turn out to be impossible. My intent has been to register it as in Texas as a Former Military Vehicle. That said, I can't in good conscience, put a mangled number (like the one on my data plate) on the truck, lol.

[csmith]

"I have run a magnet over the entire body and cannot find anyplace that seems to be bondo. The driver's side rear corner, has a bit of a bondo look to it, but again--the magnet sticks pretty securely even there.

Would be interested in your thoughts on the story I was told. To your knowledge, was there ANY kind of trade going on between VN/Cambodia and the US in 1982? My memory (I would have been 20 years old at that time) is that everyone was still kind of pissed off with each other at that point."

Could have happened, I am not versed on what was happening there in the early 80s as I was also in my early twenties and my time in VN only dates back about 18 years. Anything can happen with the right people involved. I agree with Rick that Cambodia was not a place to be at that time and in fact it has only opened up in the last 10 years. Perhaps you can hunt down the story teller and try to find some more links along the way.

[Cliffaliff]

My A2 has a red data plate. Why?

[rickf]

Picture? Kind of hard to say what you have without seeing it. It would not be anything that sounds like original.

[Cliffaliff]

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TCRAcCj9kANdXpVE9

My data plate

[rickf]

That is a normal data plate but it has faded pretty badly. I also notice the add on plate on top to show it was upgraded with the ROPS.

[Cliffaliff]

Yes, it does have ROPS. What can I do to restore the data plate? And why is it red? It's also a TOW mutt.

[Mr. Recovery]

It has turned red from the sun and other weather over the years of sitting outside, they were Silked screened with ink.

dan-2beers.jpg

[Cliffaliff]

Thank you sir. You have been very helpful. Thank you.

[rickf]

That is not the dataplate for a TOW mutt. A tow mutt is an M825. It will have fold down single seats on the rear fenders at the back and the spare tire will be mounted on the front right side making it hard to get in and out of the passenger seat. The TOW will also have overload springs in the rear but most of them have been removed for one reason or another. I am also not sure I have ever seen a TOW with ROPS? Is it actually mounted in there? I cannot picture being able to aim it with the ROPS.

[Cliffaliff]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/x0m8nnievyhz4 ... 5.jpg?dl=0

This is my tow name plate.
Cliff

[Gavin]

Actually, Rick, it is entirely possible and here's why:

Cambodia acts as a "clearing station" for any vehicles either stolen, or without paperwork, from Thailand, Laos and Viet Nam.

The PAVN invaded Cambodia and kicked out Pol Pot and his henchmen in 1978 - the US reinforced Thailand at that time because it was assumed the Viets would not stop at the Mekong, but they did.

There are a lot of 151s in Cambodia these days and not that many were actually sent there.

This is not to say that the provenance of that particular truck is kosher, but it could easily have come out by that route post-1978.

I've had a motorcycle and a car nicked in Bangkok and they went straight across the border.

The Customs boys make an absolute packet from this trade.