F30 Laa

[Neil Ashley]

At the weekend I saw a F30 LAA fitted with what was described as a short wheel base GMC body.

The owner informed me that this was a conversion done by the Canadian Army after these vehicles were declared obsolete in their original role. He suggested war-time photgraphs exist of identical vehicles.

This vehicle may have been discussed previously before I joined the forum, but can members confirm if it has a war-time pedigree or if it is more likely to be a post-war mod.

[Pete Ashby]

Neil

I have to say I've not come across this before; my own view is that it would be highly unlikely during hostilities.

Mix and match was not favoured due to the problems encountered if stores re -supply was need at any time. I think someone else made the same point on another thread with regard to engine swaps.

It’s much more likely that the truck you saw was a MAP vehicle, the Dutch and Norwegian forces in particular carried out a number of modifications to their post war transport stocks over the 30 odd years that they held CMP and US trucks on the active list.


Pete

[Neil Ashley]

Peter

Thank you for the reply. As you say this is much more likely to be a post-war MAP rebuild. The room taken up by the lockers in the original tractor gun body must have been inconvenient in the GS role.

I know of a Canadian Diamond T in Dorset which had a similar metamorphosis post war from a Bridge Carrier to a GS Truck, complete with US made body. Its a pitty it does not retain the original body.