Frequently Asked Questions

I started making dataplates primarily to get a good looking set of plates for my own jeep, and for a friend’s jeep. I have a Willys MB January 1945 and my friend has a Willys MB 1942. He was lucky enough to still have the chassis number plate, but unfortunately my jeep didn’t have any direct indication as to the exact d.o.d. (date of delivery). The only number I had was the bodynumber. At that time, about 1993, I could not find anybody who could give me any information about the value of such a body number. For learning more about the this body number I contacted many Willys MB owners with a composite body. During that time I met John Farley from England (author of the book; The Standardised War-Time Jeep). He had also collected many bodynumber. By putting together all this information I was able to date my jeep as a January 1945 jeep. Using all this information I had collected, I created a formula for calculating a possible frame number using the known bodynumber. Using this body number I created a serial number. Then the search started to find a suitable data plate. Not finding a good quality I started to make my own data plate.This started making data plates as for many vehicles as can be found on this website. All in the highest possible quality.

What is different about your dataplates?
The most important difference is maybe the dataplates are made with passion. In all the work I do I always try to make the best as possible. Therefor you will get with the products I make (dataplates, stamping, USA stencils etc) the best possible.

What material do you use for your dataplates?
For a dataplate close to original it is important to use the exact metals and finish as used in WWII.

That would be brass for the early Willys plates and zinc for the late. Ford did use brass, steel and aluminum. The only difference for the steel Ford plates is that to prefent rusting on the zinc coated steel plates, I use rust free steel.

What about your stamping service?
After you have bought the dataplates, you would like to have a correct stamping. I will make this easy for you. Not only I can stamp your plates, but for that authemlic look, I can stamp your plates using especially made stamps. As only one in the market I have 5 full range of fonts to be as accurate as possible for the model, serial number and d.o.d. of your jeep. I use pictures of original data plates to stamp the plates as close to original as possible! After stamping them you will get a picture of the original plate, so you can compare it with your newly stamped plate.

What was the original apperience of dataplates in WW2?
The metals used during the production of the WWII jeep differs from production data and make. All original plates had a nice black dull appearance with raised lettering.
My reproduction plates also have raised lettering, because they are etched like original plates.

What happens with my new dataplates when exposed outside?
Like original plates, the plates I make will elder during time. Most reproduction manufacturers use the wrong metal for their repro plates and use a blanc lacquer finish on their plates. Because a blanc lacquer was not used in WWII, I also do not use a blanc lacquer. The characterize of the different metals will decide how your plate will look like after some time.

The zinc plates will become dull, like the appearance of original dataplates. Most other reproduction manufactures use aluminium, instead of the correct metal zinc. Because I use zinc, my reproduction plates will get the same dull appearience like the original dataplates!

The brass plates will oxidice to a darker apperience. The steel plates will stay as they are. Aluminum plates could get a light oxidation. Looking at some examples pictures you see how they will look.