[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This is from my forthcoming book:

"In 1944, the tide of war changed, and the requirements for new military vehicles declined, as was shown in the assembly figures. G.M. in the U.S., Canada and Australia started to consider their post-war models, which by necessity would have to be based on the 1942 Models. However, both Ford and G.M. of Canada produced 1945 Model M.C.P. [MODIFIED CONVENTIONAL or CIVILIAN PATTERN] trucks until production ended in December 1945 of Chevrolets/Maple Leafs and G.M.C.s, re-starting April 1946 with the 1946 Models, and in the case of Ford, until the strike in Windsor Plant started September 12 1945. A letter dated 11 September 1945 from the Minister of Munitions and Supply to General Motors of Canada states that wartime production would be ending in a few days thereafter: this seems to suggest that C.M.P. production as well as MCP production ended by 20 September, say 30 September at the latest, in Oshawa Plant.

The last C.M.P. models were plated as ‘1944 Models’, prefixed ‘4’on the build plate in front of the model year of Chevrolet trucks. However, assembly of trucks continued nevertheless after hostilities ended, especially in Europe just in time to be pressed into service for humanitarian as well as military purposes. There is no evidence that there were any ‘1945’ Model Chevrolet C.M.P. vehicles: the latest known build date stamped on a build plate was 30 August 1945: 1C11 Staff Car # 4844521386 ENGINE # FR4,057,573 to British order S/M 6407 though there were later contracts: the last one known was S/M 6524 again for Staff Cars. There were also 1944 Model Fords assembled into what was really 1946 Model Year: Ford Model C291Q, Serial Number CK-236140, Engine # 5G-420-F to [BRITISH CONTRACT] S/M 6389 was built in November 1945. The highest known Ford contract was for F.60L units to Contract S/M 6537, e.g. Ford F60L/WP built to contract SM-6537 on 4 September 1945 which has serial number SU-301065 and engine number 5G-11449F

However there were 1945 Model Chevrolet and GMC, and no doubt Ford, civilian pattern trucks produced, and some of these were exported to the U.K.: one Chevrolet was then sent back to Canada on repatriation post-war".

How was a Ford built in Windsor despite the strike? Perhaps the military line was unaffected or the date was in fact when the truck was assembled overseas as a kit of parts?