The real thing

[Keith Webb]

I found another FGT #9 last weekend, or should I say my dear WIFE found it... it belongs to the partner of one of her painting friends and has been in constant use for the past 25 years in his ownership.
Although it has been cut down, it still had one significant asset...



More pics here

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

That's another of those 1942 Orders for Australia accounted for! S/M 2508 was for Gun Tractors, and so is now proven to be for Ford C291Q models.

After the war it seems that a number of GTs were registered in the UK on demob as agricultural tractors, though I have never heard of a conversion to a crane before. It must have been done though. Thanks for that one!

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
That's another of those 1942 Orders for Australia accounted for! S/M 2508 was for Gun Tractors, and so is now proven to be for Ford C291Q models.

After the war it seems that a number of GTs were registered in the UK on demob as agricultural tractors, though I have never heard of a conversion to a crane before. It must have been done though. Thanks for that one!

It would seem a yard crane or tow truck (light breakdown) was the most common fate of Australian gun tractors once demobbed, with their winch they were ideal vehicles for the task.
I have seen pictures of one #9 converted to a delivery van.

[Steve Guthrie]

Hi there

How common was it to mix and match the data entries on the plates.

Line three asks for the trim number and the contract number is there

Line four asks for the paint code and the date of manufacture is there.

Am I missing something :

Steve

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Steve Guthrie
Hi there

How common was it to mix and match the data entries on the plates.

Line three asks for the trim number and the contract number is there

Line four asks for the paint code and the date of manufacture is there.

Am I missing something :

Steve

I've never seen a Ford CMP with correct paint and trim details - I don't think they ever bothered.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The classic example is Oshawa's insertion of the engine prefix for Walkerville/Windsor-built engines in the "TRIM" section of 1940-41 trucks.

[Mike K]

What a waste , those chevron 900-16 tyres , tears from collectors around the world .

Thay look like OLYMPIC 900-16's , made until the early 1970's .

Mike

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Has anyone thought of asking the Indians whether they could produce tyres to the relevant spec?

[Keith Webb]

Compare with this picture I took in 1973



I'm not sure whether Bill Drew converted more than one FGT like this but I think he did... his was a distinctive cutdown and if not this particular truck, it was probably done by him.