Hotchkiss produced the M201 under licence from Willys and from1956 to mid 1960 this consisted of 6 volt jeeps which looked very similar to the wartime MB both externally and under the bonnet. A few differences can be spotted on the cover of the original sales brochure (above) including electrically operated wipers, the distinctive Hotchkiss steering wheel, solid rather than split combat rims, and no 'notch' in the  body tub above the instrumentation by OS. There is no start button on the dashboard, the jeep had a 'heel and toe' floor start just like the MB. Note; the wood blocks on the bonnet also the jeep had a WW2 style blackout light at the front not visible in this photo. A fire extinguisher was mounted on drivers' side fender.

 

Reference is made by J-G Jeudi & M Tararine in the book 'La Jeep' to the fact that body tubs were initially imported from the US leading to speculation that the first M201s may have had notches though there is no real evidence to support this and certainly it is missing from the jeep used for publicity. The tyres fitted on the jeep were Dunlop Track-Grip though the army favoured the traditional bar grip tread which was used in production.

 

 

The above illustration is taken from army manual MAT 3422/1 (1959) for the M201 6 volt jeep. I apologise for the quality but it is a definitive illustration of the engine bay layout of an early M201 and therefore not open to debate. Un-rebuilt examples of these early 6 volt jeeps are few and far between but I have seen a couple and the engine bay looks pretty much identical to the MB with the exception of data plates, labels, stampings etc which indicate the components are of French origin.

 

The following photos were supplied by Serge Mangione (M201 no. 02983) of some detail of an M201 6 volt. The jeep was rebuilt at La Maltournée in 1964 and has been fitted with a later Solex type carburettor.

 

 

 

 

Army manuals show the introduction of the M201 an evolution followed based on a number of technical improvements.

 

YEAR	MODIFICATIONS	From no.
1956	Improved clutch plate by Aubern	00121
1956	Modified jerrycan bracket	00751
1957	Adjustable steering link and improvements to strengthen gearbox & transfer box	01056
1957	Larger clutch plate by Ferodo	03406
1957	Further gearbox modifications	03538
1958	windscreen wiper improvements including switch being moved to the dashboard	04544
1960	24 volt model introduced to replace the 6 volt model	08829
1960	Modifications to body panels, aerial mountings, headlights with integral sidelights	10461
1960	Earthed exhaust pipe to reduce interference, new Jager speedometer and cable.	11257
1961	Improved oil filter housing	13393

 

The fact that there was a gradual evolution can make it difficult to pinpoint the introduction of some of the revised features e.g. photographic evidence suggests that the wood blocks on the bonnet were replaced by metal stays on the windshield during the production run of 6 volt vehicles i.e. pre 1960.

 

Arguably the greatest advance was made with the introduction of the M201 24 volt model although the exact point at which this happened during 1960 is also difficult to determine. From army manuals it would appear that the 24 volt model was approved in April 1959 and manufacture began in the mid 1960s. All jeeps up to Nº 6966 (covered by army manual MAT 3541 / CAT 4-584) were certainly 6 volt, Nº 08829 was certainly 6 volt and, according to Army manual MAT 3541, all jeeps after no. Nº 8961 were 24 volt.

 

 

 

In a way the revised 24 volt design with its dashboard mounted start button, instruments by Jaeger, aerial mounts on each rear corner, later style blackout light on the front wing etc. has become what everyone today instantly recognises as a 'Hotchkiss'. This is not just because about nineteen thousand of the 24 volt M201 model were made but because most of the original 6 volt Hotchkiss M201sl, ITM jeeps, and even some MBs & GPWs belonging to the army were all rebuilt to this standard during the 1960s and 1970s by ERGM at La Maltournée.   Although the aerial mountings are listed as a 1960 improvement a number of photographs used to illustrate the new model show a 24 volt jeep without these. It is possible that some of the stock photos like the one below  from a Satory exhibition guide were actually of a prototype produced by Hotchkiss.
 

 

Strangely, army manuals for the M201 24 volt used rebuilt jeeps for illustration purposes even though they would have actually contained a 'hotch-potch' of WW2 and Hotchkiss parts. The examples below are from MAT 2835.

 

The official data shows that, both empty and fully equipped, the 24 volt M201 was heavier than its predecessor.

Obviously the weights and characteristics of ERGM modified models varied considerably. The SS10 launcher was probably both the longest at 3.52 metres and widest at 1.90 metres.

I am grateful to J-L Martin for providing copies of the various official data sheets used or referred to on this page.