Ford CMP 8cwt - made by Bedford

[Kuno]

Dear Experts;

I have a statement of a travel log of a German driver who had a Ford CMP 8cwt with him during the Desert Campaign of WW2. There are photos of the truck giving proof that it is a typical CMP...

...only, he writes that it was a Bedford product.

Question: Did Bedford also produce CMP trucks?


Would be great if somebody could definatly confirm waht I beliefe: No, they did not.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Kuno

Question: Did Bedford also produce CMP trucks?

Like you said: no, they did not. But Bedford was related to Chevrolet - David Hayward is the man to speak to on this subject.

But how come a German soldier thought he was driving a Bedford which in reality was a Ford? But it reminded me of the story about the Chevrolet staff car captured at Dunkirk.

Hanno

[Kuno]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

But how come a German soldier thought he was driving a Bedford which in reality was a Ford?

Many thanks, Hanno.

I have asked myself the same question as you. The page of his "travel log" talks as well about Jerrycans of 25 liters....

I guess that soembody has faked something here

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Kuno

I guess that soembody has faked something here

Kuno,

Depends on when the travel log was written. If it was written anytime after the actual events, all sorts of indiscrepancies creep into recollections. Typically, after a few decades veterans recollections are worthless unless their memory is jogged by period source material.

Can you share a pic of the CMP truck?

Hanno

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I is here!

Now, the immediate answer that I had was this might have been a CMP rebuilt by Vauxhall Motors Ltd at Hendon. This was in part of the 1925ish-on GM Ltd building that was part-leased to Frigidaire and part to Vauxhalls. The latter was turned into an export boxing plant in 1932 and from 1940 was involved in all manner of war work, including crating! In addition Vauxhalls also had a repair facility in the 'Shadow Factory' at Dunstable, where the A22 Churchills were made. Ministry of Supply code for that was 'VMD'.

However I think it more likely that this was an assembly job at one of the Ford contract plants, and time has affected the memory. Ripple Lane, Barking is a prime candidate.

[Kuno]

Colleagues; I will be able to provide some low res photos later on today.