C8Ax photos

[davidc8ax]

Hi i am new to this forum.
I have a C8ax which I have started to restore.It has been stored in an open front shed for thirty odd years.Berfore that it was a farm hack.
Under one of the layers of paint is a unit sign which is squire that is red and light blue with a large number 42 painted in white on it.
Does any one no the unit it belonged to.
Also I have the cab and chassy and no rear deck or any thing does any one have any photos of the C8AX.It has anumber 13 cab that has a latter top half ie no roof hatch.I have been told that this is a Korea war cab.

[Tony Smith]

Hi, David and welcome to the world of puddle jumping! To correctly determine your unit sign, you also need to find the divisional sign, usually located on the opposite front guard. Red and Light Blue is an odd combination for a WW2 vehicle sign, it could be RNZAF. Could the light blue be faded dark blue or green? Are the colours split horizontally, diagonally, or vertically? Any possibility of a picture of the tac sign or your truck?
C8AX's are more common in NZ than anywhere else in the world, I know of a couple of restored ones in the South Island and I'm sure that there is a few more in the North Island. For a good look at a rear deck, try contacting you local branch of the NZMVCC.
Where are you located?

[Brent Delaney]

Gidday David,
Ah "PJ"s" a rare vehicle indeed, unless you live in NZ and know were to look.
What City do you live in?
I'm in Lower Hutt, our vehicles are in the Waiarapa there are 3 C8AX's in our collection, if you are passing by your more than welcome to drop in and check out trays etc.
There are a couple in my area, either under restoration or derelict.
It would be interesting to do a tally of know C8AX's in NZ, I'm guessing 25+!

Kind Regards,

Brent Delaney,
Wellington,
New Zealand.

[Mike Kelly]

hi Brent ,

I can help you . I have a ex NZ C8AX here , I know of around ten of them here in OZ . I was lucky to find the remains of a original NZ GS body as fitted to the C8AX . I have made drawings of the GS body , rather basic drawings, but good enough to get you started . The method of construction is rather strange , panels are seam welded with a oxy torch !

I scribbled a article on the C8AX , it was published in WINDSCREEN magazine , the UK MVT publication , I can scan it for you if you wish , it's also being published in the next issue of ARMY MOTORS the MVPA mag.

Don't know about that unit marking you have , most of them here have the 3rd NZ div sign ( a kiwi ) on the pass side cowl . Mine has its NZ army number on the pass door 25466

Yes , quiet a few exist in NZ , a friend near Auckland is restoring one of the rare C8AX radio vans .

That pic you posted is of Arthur Polls truck . I was corresponding with him for a while .

I need another 6 stud wheel as I only have four of them .

Hope this helps you

Mike

[Mike Kelly]

another pic of my C8AX

Its currently fitted with a 1935 chev car engine that is seized ,
it was a tow truck at TEDS FILLING STATION in the Snowy Mountains area around Batlow or Tumbarumba , where quite a feww C8AX's have been found .

Mike

[Mike Kelly]

sample of my basic drawings

Mike

[Brent Delaney]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the info, but I think your reply should be directed to David
I would like a copy of the article you published on the C8AX please.

I changed my diff ratio in one of the trucks and fitted higher ratio diff heads from a gun tractor, increased the road speed by approx 10 mph.

Don't ever loose a front wheel cylinder (I misplaced one about 20 years ago ) and I'm still looking for it: They are peculiar to this model only. Hey they do good 180 degree brake test with only one front brake connected

I will see if there are any spare wheels next time I visit the trucks, but I don't think I have many 16inch rims either.

What are the chassis numbers and dod on your trucks guys?

Mine is......

CHASSIS MODEL C 15441
CHASSIS SERIAL XH 8448-322
ENGINE SERIAL FR 3863983
DOD 5-4-43

Cheers,

Brent D.

[davidc8ax]

Thanks for all the replies.
my chasis number is c 15441
serial no XH 6448-481
date of manu. 5.5.43
engine no is FR 3863988
Mike kelly Could you plese scan your plans and e-mail them to me Thanks the sign is on the right hand side on the nose pannel it is 220mm across and 245mm deep.Top half is red and the bottom half is a light blue.The number 42 is large and goes from top to bottom in white.Colours splint horizontally
The front hub caps have traces of yellow paint.
I am missing the drivers door.
Brent D.
I live in Pahiatua which is not far from Lower Hutt.Thanks for the offer.Not to sure on how you post photos
Thanks David

[Tony Smith]

I hope you keep an eye on that Harvard in the park in the centre of town!

[Mike Kelly]

Hello fellow C8AX owners

The body drawings , I have them on a CD , I can post them to you if you wish . As I indicated , they are only basic drawings, I should re draw the body in better detail.

David, I can tell you from experience , you need to look at a original body in order to make up a accurate replica . There should be quite a few C8AX bodies in NZ for you yo measure from .

Ok on the rare wheel cylinder . The axle ratio conversion Brent described is interesting . The C8A series had two ratios fitted , early and later production .

The data plate from my C8AX is below . All of the C8AX's I have seen here have DOD 5-5-43 . A restored one in the local club is very close to mine in serial number . Mine is 377 . What became of the list made up by that guy .

Mike

[Philliphastings]

Greetings all.

back in the late 1990's I was able to locate and recover one C8AX myself, (which is now in the able hands of Mike in VIC) and a second vehicle which went to Les Bell in Sydney. Both vehicles had been in use near the base of the Snowy Mountians near Batlow NSW. The body from Les Bell's was located in blackberries many miles away from the truck and mated to Mikes example.

I was on to leads for another two C8AX's in the district but moved interstate with work and never followed up.

I can confirm that a handful were imported as part of the mass disposal of former allied vehicles from Torokina ordnance park after the end of WW2. One gentleman named his company Torokina Spares and traded a goodly number of CMP's etc from Sydney. Many of these vehicles made their way into the snowy mountains area where they were often worked to death by timber hauliers. There must have been at least five or six brought to the Batlow/Tumbarumba/Tumut area in the fifties.

There are still to this day a number of CMP's in the district but it takes some real detective work to track down the 'little chevs' and determine whether it's a C15 or a C8AX hiding in the blackberries...

Cheers

Phill

[Tony Smith]

from Arthur Poll's C8AX.

Chassis No. 606
Dated 5 May 43

Walkaround of Arthur Poll's rear - his C8AX's rear, that is

and:

And again:

[Tony Smith]

From Andrew Crossen's C8AX:

Chassis No 870
Dated 5 June 43

[Mike Kelly]

I met another C8AX owner at Corowa from Yass .

Arthur Polls truck has a repro body on it , he had it made up . Nice job .

Mike

[AnzacPJ]

Hi Lads HELP ME!!!!!!!!!

I AM GOING TO AUSTRALIA ON THE 2ND OF AUGUST TO THE 16TH CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH CMP PARTS IN AUSSIE? I WILL BE IN BYRON & AM WILLING TO TRAVEL ANYWERE TO MEET OTHER CMP OWNERS & SEE HOW THEY DO THINGS AND TO LOOK AT OTHER CMPS,

MY EMAIL IS anzaclad@gmail.com

My wife wants to see all the sights & go shopping but all I want to do is meet new cmp Aussie friends & escape the malls!!!! HELP ME BOYS, PLEASE?
And I am a pannel fabricator by trade & always keen to help!

Thanks, James Mackenzie.

[Tony Smith]

Are you flying into Sydney or Bris?

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thanks for the advice of the details.

[AnzacPJ]

Hi tony,

I will be arriving in Sydney & staying with friends in Byron for two weeks then fly back to NZ.

[Howard]

As for everyone in this MLU community, if you find yourself anywhere near Ganmain, well, you are probably lost.
But look us up if you are in the area.