Selection of photos of Tom Bewick's Ford CMP F60S LAAT. Tom has been running his truck since the 1980s(?), driving across all of Europe to attend events. I think this is the highest milage CMP vehicle still in existence.

I gather these photos by Les Freathy date back to the 1980s or 1990s:

This F60S is a bit of a "trigger's broom" and has seen many incarnations:

• The soft top conversion was done early on. IIRC, Tom told me this makes for a less noisy cab.
• Over the years Tom has fitted a number of Ford diesel engines. When one wore out, he fitted another one.
• At some time the LAAT body was replaced by a GMC CCKW cargo body. IIRC, the LAAT body was rusted through and was "temporarily" replaced by the CCKW body.

Second photo was made earlier this month during the Camp Nijverdal event in The Netherlands.

Attachment 140555 Attachment 140556

I cannot argue with the owner making changes to suit his use requirements. It's his after all. If a diesel engine worked better for the kind of distances, speeds and costs he expected, that's his choice. If a soft top kept the driver alert and in control, good idea. Where the purists differ from the pragmatists and I don't disagree, is when spectators expect a certain look or performance, and which the original is just unable to provide, have the changes gone too far?

Additional info
 

Les commented: "A bit of info on the mono images, the one with Tom driving I took on the approach to Dover Docks and the rear view was at St Martins plain camp Folkestone on a early run to Arnhem must be 1970 early 1980s time."


Ian McCallum commented: "I think it was more of a practical body for all of his ill gotten goods on his European trips. Fellow Scottish Group member with him on the first photo, Bob Simmers."

I have a picture somewhere of tom at his first rally, Bon accord steam rally Hazelhead park Aberdeen 1976 that I must look out and post. The rear body is not GMC It's a Canadian one, shorter than the GMC with the four holes in the tailgate to let the CMP tail lights show through when It's lowered.