M274 Mule Information

[markmule56]

I am looking for some guidance on finding what the correct registration number, serial number and date of delivery should be for my Mule. For some reason the origianl data plates have been removed years ago and the former owner has no idea where they may be now.
The former owner also told me that he believes it is an M-274 which should make it a early 1958-1959 model year and it was converted from a 4 to a 2 cylinder engine which (I was told) should make it an M274-A3 model but other than that I am not sure of any additional information.
I am wondering where whould I look on the frame or any other place to help in determining what the correct year, serial number and hopefully the correct registration number or something close to what the numbers should be? Would also like to find (again if possible) if it was issued to the Army or Marine Corps.
Thank you Mark.

 

[NDT]

Unfortunate situation. On the side of the platform, is there any possibility that the registration number has been painted over, along with the service branch? You might have to do extremely careful sanding to find this. Typically people do not sandblast these like what happens with steel vehicles.

 

[markmule56]

Unfortunatally when the former owner was restoring the Mule he did not find any information. Thank you for the help and I will keep you posted on my progress. Mark.

 

[NDT]

Here is a list of US Army (not USMC) mules that remained in service in the 1980's. As you can see, backing into a year of MFG is dependent on getting the registration number from the platform by carefully sanding with a DA sander. List courtesy of member Carnac.

 

[glcaines]

I just purchased a Mule from an auction at a private museum. It has a platform without the access panel convert from 2 to 4-wheel steering. It has full-time 4-wheel steering without provision to change to 2-wheel steering. It is in excellent condition but hasn't been run in many years. The fuel tank was nasty and I had it cleaned and coated. It will start and run for 10 - 15 seconds and then floods, with fuel running of the carb intake. I have an NOS carb on the way. I have no idea if it is ex-USMC or ex-US Army. The data plates on the side look new and may have been replaced, but with the excellent condition of the rest of the Mule, the data plates may be original.

The data plates state:
Mfg. By Bailfield Industries
Mfg. Part No.: 8736756
USMC Registration: 325 363
Mfg. Serial Number: 11071
Date of Delivery: 7 - 1968

Since the serial number and registration numbers fall between some on the list of US Army mules still in service in the 1980s, I'm wondering if it is US Army. Did Mules have separate data lates for US Army and USMC or were they the same?

 

[markmule56]

Here is a list of US Army (not USMC) mules that remained in service in the 1980's. As you can see, backing into a year of MFG is dependent on getting the registration number from the platform by carefully sanding with a DA sander. List courtesy of member Carnac.
[/QUOTE
Thank you Gary.

 

[markmule56]

Unfortunate situation. On the side of the platform, is there any possibility that the registration number has been painted over, along with the service branch? You might have to do extremely careful sanding to find this. Typically people do not sandblast these like what happens with steel vehicles.

Thank you NDT.

 

[glcaines]

I've sanded down on other MVs and obtained the information. It appears that the original paint was stripped off when repainted by the museum that owned it. Unfortunately, the guy that was responsible for it has passed away. Has anyone ever seen a data plate on an A5 that didn't reference the USMC? Someone else told me that all A5 data plates referenced the USMC regardless of the branch of the military that received them. Sounded strange to me.