T-boned by a CMP

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Grant Bowker

In immediate post-war Europe, my impression is that there was not a lot of cash floating around to buy replacement tires, many other priorities for the money that was about, few replacement tires to be had, fewer regulations about minimum tread depth and a less lawsuit oriented society. As a result I suspect that more than a few trucks of the era ran on similar tires, both in Europe and elsewhere.

You're right, even if someone had the cash, tyres and other replacement parts were very hard to come by!
The ex-Canadian Army trucks were released to civilian operators, those with public/priority functions came first.

Please bear in mind Europe was absolutely ransacked after WW2; the Gemans had taken anything of value and then the fighting damaged what was left.
My grandfather returned to Holland in 1945, after living through a Japanese internment camp in Indonesia, broke but alive! His first job was to reposess Dutch assets from Germany, ranging from machinery to an elephant (which was taken from a zoo). He was given a Captain's rank and uniform, plus a driver in a VW Beetle. But I digress....

H.