The serial numbers are :
on the frame, left side just behind the front bumper
on the body on the data plate on the glove compartment lid
on the engine stamped into the casting near the water pump
As the originality of the body tub, if you find any stamp with a skript F, or any number with
GPW-xxxxx, it is an original Ford body. Of course, a WW2 MB body will not have these markings.
Keep in mind that when the jeeps were repaired and reconditioned during or after the war, no
consideration was taken to keep the jeep 'number like', and GPW and MB parts are
interchangeable.
As for tracing the vehicle history from numbers, this is close to impossible, as almost no
records (if any were made) have been saved.
Lars Svaasand