[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Hanno, there were two, one Ford-Scammell and one Chevrolet-Scammell 'Dragons', 6 x 4 that were built in 1938 but by the following year, from memory early in 1939, the WD altered Spec.36 of 1936 to favour 4 x 4 tractors and G/S trucks cross-country trucks instead of the previously required 6 x 4. Of course the Quad-Ant and MCC Quad debuted circa 1938 and thus the concept was definitely pre- 4 x 4 15-cwt.

Further from 1936 Vauxhall had been trialling a 4 x 2 military truck that by 1938 had become the progenitor of the MW series with that flat front. 4 x 2 military trucks therefore were conceived just before the 4 x 4 tractors. It was then a logical step to adapt the 4 x 2 to 4 x 4. However I date the Ford of Canada 4 x 4 prototype to very early 1940 although I may be wrong, and by then the details of the Guy and MCC tractors had landed in Canada for inspection, to form the basis of the new Ford and Chevrolet quads.

That said there was discussion slightly earlier, just after war broke out, about equipping 4 x 2 trucks with M-H 4 x 4 equipment and arguably therefore the 4 x 4 was a wartime development of the 4 x 2, whereas the 4 x 4 quad tractor was tried, tested and in production. On that basis it was 15-cwt 4 x 2, 4 x 4 GT, and then 15-cwt 4 x 4 with the 30-cwt and 3-tonners including F60H 6 x 4 being developed from the GT chassis. Perhaps it is more correct to say that M-H components were suggested for production, but the CMP components were series-production adaptations with the necessary ability to use 2-wheel drive and also a PTO winch. The production 15-cwt 4 x 4 was then perhaps a further development with a new transfer case design for component supply expediency?

On reflection it is also arguable in my mind that the 15-cwt 4 x 2 had a seperate genesis from the quads, but Ford of Canada adapted some components from the quads and of course the cab, to the 15-cwts.

Where that leaves the 8-cwt chassis I have no idea save that it was presumably not difficult to downsize the 15-cwt components/cab to fit a commercial 10-cwt or 1/2-ton chassis design.

The end result of this is that, as mentioned before, the GT was a 60-cwt. chassis according to the DND and the 30-cwt and 60-cwt chassis were derived therefrom. I wonder how the GT chassis/build compares with the British equivalent...heavier build or not?