Canadian WC52 1944

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hendrik van Oorspronk

Operation varsity was on march 27 1945, there is a piece of film with the Dodge in it, http://www.paradata.org.uk/media/859...Section=videos at 1.21 you can see the Dodge, it looks like the Bridge classification sign is about 1 til 2 inch in front of the mudguard. With the Canadian Dodge the grill? stands before the mudguard, so the plate will also be in front of it. With the US Dodge the front of the grill is in line with the mudguard , so the plate should touch the mudguard. I know it is not very good to see, but I believe it is Canadian and brand new.

It's a Dodge alright, but the footage was shot during training before the operation....

H.

Dodge in glider .jpg

[Maurice Donckers]

I just put a bridge classification plate as a match on my american dodge , and it sits the same as the one in the picture , so it is an american dodge , the canadian grille is mounted a lot more forward .

[Alex van de Wetering]

so it is an american dodge , the canadian grille is mounted a lot more forward

My idea exactly. Hanno's screendump illustrates it nicely... the frontmost edge of the fender lines up with the grille. With an APT there would have been a considerable difference.

[Nick T236]

Hi,
my dodge is definitely original,has correct APT, chassis body and relevant serial data plates and earlier 'wide body' about 3/4" different to US model.
I have limited knowledge on this vehicle, but have photo graphs of an original one, about produced approx. 1550 later than mine, guy recons it was in or about Normandy from markings found when taking off orig. finish.
Found Black 6"x8" with white 41 on it on bumpers right hand (passenger) on front, opposite on rear he kindly sent pics.
I have read that in '44 division markings were painted out and unit markings painted on black back grounds so as to present less of a target?
Mine has also had the bonnet cut and bent back around air filter for a snorkel,
and then gas welded back shut. They were not used as for as I am aware in the pacific?
regards Nick

[Maurice Donckers]

here we go again, when they were produced and shipped to Europe , d day was already long past , the markings may be from an earlier restoration. Bart Vanderveen had a list with shipping details , in that lot were also all the APT Chevrolet 3 ton trucks which are also all built after the Surrender of Germany most seem to come from august 45 , these were also supplied direct to French navy ,Dutch lifeboat institutes , and some to UNRA. So none had markings and invasion stars.
Bart had a list with how many went to whom , list must be now somewhere in Army cars museum archive. The APT Dodges were also listed in there .