[David_Hayward (RIP)]

There were of course two prdecessor trucks, the Ford and Chevrolet 15-cwt/ 3/4-ton G/S trucks. Here is the information I have:

The Ford truck was registered as a ‘FORD’, 1937 manufactured [registered with a 1937 Ontario dealer plate, 856-M] Serial Number C-4800, Engine Number C-4800, with a ‘box’ body, single rear wheels, 4300 lb. empty weight and 7,800 lb. Gross Load. The Manufacturer’s Model Number was ‘79’. Note the Ford Series 78 was the 30 h.p. 221 cu. in. capacity L-head V-8, and it assumed that the engine was the 1937 Model truck engine: 1937 30 h.p. car engines/serials started at No. A-1, and the 22 h.p. series D-1.

The Chevrolet truck had serial number 7151107427 Engine number T88,396 and was a Model 16-40S ‘CHASSIS WITH COWL’, with the ‘S’ suffix denoting ‘Special’ chassis. The ‘7 ’indicated 1937 Model Year, and Model Number 1511, the ‘7427’ indicating that it was the 7,426th built in Oshawa Plant in 1937 Model Year. This requires explanation: the whole truck was a Model 1640, which was a 1½-ton chassis, 131½-in. wheelbase, and the ‘1151’ indicates a combination of the chassis model 1511, and the model 1540 Cowl, without a cab. This standard chassis was then shortened to suit, but although rated at 15-cwt., or ¾-ton, was based on a chassis suitable for double the weight! A note from a Lieutenant R. Henderson confirms my assessment: the chassis and engine were ‘standard 1½ to 2-ton Chevrolet’ with a special War Office pattern GS body. The tyres were balloon type all round and were of the WD type. The Chassis Weight with water, fuel and oil including cab was: Front End: 2,475 lb.; Rear End 1535 lb.; Total 4010 lb. The Chassis Weight as before but with body was 2,500 lb.; 2,260 lb., and 4,760 lb., respectively. Left hand turning circle was 44 feet and the Right hand was 45 feet. Both Ford and Chevrolet trucks were registered in Ontario, by the DND Mechanical Transport department in Ottawa. However, as of 5 August, the Ford truck was still in the paint shop and it was expected that it would be complete and available for delivery on 11 August.

I have no idea what the Ford-Scammell and Chevrolet-Scammell FATs were but I conjected that the Ford was a Model 811-W as it was a COE chassis imported from across the Detroit River, and the Chevrolet was a 1531 modified.