Postwar busses ex-military Holland

Bill Murray · #1 23-08-10, 22:17

I thought some of you, especially the Dutch members, might enjoy these shots I got off of a bus historical site in Holland.

Apparently, I don't read much Dutch, a registration plate keeps on forever and does not go away with the first vehicle it is put on. These guys had a research project to find as many old "B" registrations that they could and some of them were to be found on multiple vehicles from the 1920s through the 1940s.

Anyway, here are a few and I will try to pass on some more.
Bill

Bill Murray · #2 23-08-10, 22:21

A couple of real oddities.
Can anyone ID the larger bus?
Bill

Bill Murray · #3 23-08-10, 22:27

Nice vehicles these!!
Make it three more, found another.
Bill

Richard Farrant · #4 23-08-10, 23:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Murray

A couple of real oddities.
Can anyone ID the larger bus?
Bill

Bill,

Based on a Mack perhaps? There are features that put that make to mind, I also think it is a driven front axle.

regards, Richard

Bill Murray · #5 23-08-10, 23:40

Hi Richard:

You may well be correct.

Certainly, it dwarfs the 1935ish Ford next to it so it is based on a quite large vehicle chassis. I also agree that it looks to have driven front wheels.

I am a bit concerned though that the Mack vehicles were really bad on fuel consumption which would be a tough sell for a passenger vehicle for hire.

I had thought maybe that it might be GMC or Chevrolet based but I am not sure. I do know the poster of the photo had no idea either.

In any case, some rather interesting trivia vehicle photos I think.
Edit: I think the answer may be in the type of front wheel and I am just now going to eat dinner so cannot look further. That is the major distinguishing characteristic that I can see.

Bill

Richard Farrant · #6 24-08-10, 00:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill Murray

.
Edit: I think the answer may be in the type of front wheel and I am just now going to eat dinner so cannot look further. That is the major distinguishing characteristic that I can see.

Bill,

It was the front wheel hub and wings that made me think Mack.

Bill Murray · #7 24-08-10, 16:36

Chev or GMC.
Bill

Paul Hazen · #8 24-08-10, 20:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Bill,

It was the front wheel hub and wings that made me think Mack.

I think that it is based on a Scoutcar or White halftrack. Just compare the front mudguards and axle. They are the same.

Paul

Bill Murray · #9 24-08-10, 22:00

Hi Paul:

Good eyes you have. It is spot on for at least the scout car.
And...they would have had to get rid of the armour in the front of the radiator so that is why we have a new "nose".

Even if not a Mack, that must have been one thirsty beast and indicates the huge demand for replacement vehicles in countries that had small vehicle manufacturing capabilities.

As you know, such vehicle conversions of CMPs and others were still running in Burma and I believe Cambodia as recently as a few years ago.

Bill

cliff · #10 24-08-10, 22:30

Excellent Photos Bill thanks for sharing. I especially like the Dodge bus in the first photo. It would make a nice camper van for me LOL

Paul Hazen · #11 24-08-10, 22:35

Not only in in those countries. There is a company in the Netherlands which is still using 12 halftrack's. There was recently a big refurbish program for these old soldiers. Just look at the pictures on the following link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skitmeister/4802197100/

The pictures aren't taken by me.
The reason that they are still using them is, that the owners can't find replacements with the same qualities. They are used for building high voltage pylons.

Ofcourse they aren't used as a bus.

Paul

Bill Murray · #12 24-08-10, 22:47

Well I'll be damned!!!!!

Hard to imagine those vehicles "soldiering on" after so many years and other than a few bumps here and there, they look almost new.

I know from visiting some of them in the 1970s and 1980s that Holland was/is famous for their "AutoDumps". In the mid 1980s, I and some fellow managers at SAAB's US headquarters purchased a number of vehicles from AutoDump Sindorf with which our dear friend Bart Vanderveen was then associated.

A NEKAF Jeep, a Land Rover, a Taunus ambulance on the military side and a Mercedes 220, two Citroens, a 2CV and an 11. As far as I know, all of them are still running up in the Connecticut area of the US.

I must think based on your half track story that such AutoDumps still exist and still cater to not only collectors but also those companies that still find such vehicles useful.

Thanks so much for the link.

Bill