Ford semi tractor unit

[cliff]

I found the picture of this ford with what appears to be a military style open body similar to the GMC-CCKW open cabs. There is one other pic that I have from the same AWM photo database but it is too indistinct to use.

My question is that since Aussie had these in the Ford version would some conventional type Chev's have been done as well?

If so what wheelbase would they have been?

any help would be appreciated

[Tony Smith]

Cliff, get yourself a copy of Alan Smith's book (Top bloke, obviously no relation !) "Convoy's up the track". He talks about his service in the NT transport companies during WW2. Trucks used were Ford, Chev, Inter, and GMC. Interesting pics of all sort of hot weather modifications to keep the trucks running cool, like the removal of the front guards and engine side cowl in your pic.
If your local bookshop can't get a copy, PM me.

[Mike Kelly]

Hi Cliff

In 1979 , I found one of these cabs , near Grenfell in NSW . I have some pics of it, will post them tomorrow .

BTW . They were only used on the 1941 Ford Semi's , nothing else . There is a restored example in NSW , complete with the correct trailer .

Mike

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Tony Smith
Cliff, get yourself a copy of Alan Smith's book (Top bloke, obviously no relation !) "Convoy's up the track". He talks about his service in the NT transport companies during WW2. Trucks used were Ford, Chev, Inter, and GMC. Interesting pics of all sort of hot weather modifications to keep the trucks running cool, like the removal of the front guards and engine side cowl in your pic.
If your local bookshop can't get a copy, PM me.

Better still, get a copy of "Year of the Studebaker" DVD (PAL format only) which has an extended interview with Alan Smith! You can order it here.
You may ask what Alan has to do with Studs - he was at the 2003 Corowa event.

[cliff]

thank you for the info folks. It has helped a lot.

Mike I appreciate the pics.

Keith when and if I ever get a DVD then I will get a copy.

Thanks again Cliff

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I will look up Norm Darwin's books to see if he has any pix of Holden-created Chevrolet tractor units. I suupose they used C60S chassis if they had? Of course the only official Canadian CMP tractor-trailer combi was the Ford F60T.

[cliff]

Ford F60T? sorry David not sure on this one could you please enlarge on this one for me please.

thanks Cliff

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Ford Model C395Q Tractor + Semi-trailer 115" w.b.
The UK received some, but did Canada and Australia?

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all
Unfortunately some of the images in this thread were lost in the recent outage. The images were of modifications to the Ford truck. We have one of these at our Museum and I'd like to share some information and images. Some of the narrative was obtained from an elderly gentleman who was a driver on and during the construction of the North South Highway.

Just to take a step back in this thread, firstly the conditions at the time have to be appreciated. It was the early 1940s with the threat of a Japanese invasion likely to the north of Australia. As there was no road from Alice Springs to Darwin something had to be immediately done, namely build the road, that is now named the Stuart Highway or in those days the North-South Road. Several truck types were employed, one of them being this style of Ford prime mover coupled to a bow trailer. The following images are of an original North-South prime mover that is awaiting restoration in our Museum.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

The condition of the country the trucks had to traverse put great stress on the areas of the doors and mudguards. My understanding is that the military and Ford engineers combined their thinking and came up with these two innovations. Firstly the mud-guards (fenders) were totally removed but that resulted in problems with the mud. A flat bar was then shaped and welded to the side firewalls and a half guard affixed.

The doors were removed with the curved bracing piece inserted. Canvas doors were also part of the apparel but were quickly discarded by the crews, as was the fate of most canvas doors.

However with the re-fabrication of the mudguards another problem arose, namely the mounting of the headlights. This was rectified by relocating them on a spring steel bracket as can be seen.

Overheating of the motor was another major problem, but in this case the innovative drivers just cut holes in the bonnet front and inserted large tins to act as air scoops.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Typical hatch arrangement.

Hatch open detail

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

These trucks were also fitted with First Aid boxes and this is where they were mounted.

A point of interest here is that whenever a vehicle is first obtained the cab is invariably filled with muck and mire, leaf litter and animal droppings. Don’t be too hasty to discard this stuff as some real gems can be found. In this particular case I found these bandages and they possibly were the original ones issued with the truck. Their condition certainly suggests that. In other vehicles I have found old tools, fittings and the like that later proved useful as templates or to reinforce the provenance of the vehicle.

Original fuel tank. We also found a supplementary drop tank in a scrap yard but I haven't photographed that as its buried on the truck tray somewhere. One day.
Bob

[cliff]

Bob. Those pics are amazing! thank you very much for posting them. You have also solved one problem for me. At least now I do not have to scratch build the mudguards.

Do you have any info on the fifth wheel arrangement and /or the trailers they towed. No use me doing the tractor unit without the trailer and coupling.

Once again thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge and photos with me.

Cliff

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The rego records I have show that C8A 3884515562 was registered with East Sussex County Council on 7 July 1948 as a 6 wheel '73 cwt. artic' to V.T. Sweetman,Brighton. I wondered whether this was a wartime job, although a novel one even post-war!

[Rod Diery]

Originally posted by cliff
Do you have any info on the fifth wheel arrangement and /or the trailers they towed. No use me doing the tractor unit without the trailer and coupling.Cliff

Cliff, Fifth wheel couplings were not used a lot in Australia until the early 1950s. Most of these trailers were permanently attached to their prime movers. This pic is of a Blittz trailer coupling on a trailer in John Belfield's yard in Melbourne. The square steel frame in the centre of the photo would be bolted to the chassis of the prime mover.

Cheers
Rod

[cliff]

Originally posted by Rod Diery
Cliff, Fifth wheel couplings were not used a lot in Australia until the early 1950s. Most of these trailers were permanently attached to their prime movers.

thanks for that Rod. They must have been a real pig to turn!

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Cliff - for you

Bob

[cliff]

thanks for that. I can scale off those once I have the wheelbase.

Cliff

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by cliff
Ford F60T? sorry David not sure on this one could you please enlarge on this one for me please.

thanks Cliff

This is the info for the F60T which went missing in the outage:












link

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Cliff, get yourself a copy of Alan Smith's book (Top bloke, obviously no relation !) "Convoy's up the track". He talks about his service in the NT transport companies during WW2. Trucks used were Ford, Chev, Inter, and GMC.

Have now found that Chev Maple Leaf trucks were also used!

This vehicle turned up in a new acquisition by a museum nearby. It's a Holden bodied Canadian Maple Leaf truck with definate North-South track convoy history. It's in excellent condition with no rust or dents, although much of the paint on the bonnet has dissapeared, leaving only a faint trace of it's ARN, 421xxx. All original tyres are still there (with D^D burnt into the sidewalls), and it runs like new (fuel is gravity fed from a 20lt Kero drum ). Tac sign markings for the 12th Div are plainly visible, and I'm working on the Unit ID. Likely candidates are 121, 122, or 148 General Transport Companies, AASC.

[Tony Smith]

The interior is something of a time capsule, with the original seats and roof lining in place but tattered. Bob would love the near perfect speedo gauge! Scratched into the dash are the details of Driver HR Mules, Driver LH Payne, and Cpl J Spragg. There is also a "R Warner" featured, this could be Dvr RW Warner or Cpl RH Warner
All of the Drivers are from 122 or 148 Gen Tpt Coys, while both Cpls are from 4 Fd Regt (Shouldn't they be Bombardiers, unless they were from the Regts Transport Platoon?).
12th Div was a Militia Division stationed in the Northern Territory. All 5 Servicemen have AIF service numbers, but 4 have also got Militia numbers too. Were they "Bumped" from the AIF?

[Keith Webb]

That is a nice find and also great detective work with the drivers names.

[Tony Smith]

The rear tray body is also original, but the timber is starting to deteriorate. It is missing two side planks all the way around. A Visibility improvement?

[Tony Smith]

While the Maple Leaf is a Canadian truck (it is the Canadian GMC), it was assembled locally by General Motors-Holden's, and has a few GM-H features. The Cab is GM-H with the cowl vents and the hubcaps on the front hub also feature a "GM-H" logo. On the firewall, (poorly placed behind the Coolant Condensor can!) is a Holden's badge.

[cliff]

Hi Tony,

I have already got the book and made the two models in 1/35 scale pictured below. First is the Ford Semi with load of barrels as per the AWM photo in the first post and the second the original Convoy fitters Chev before CMP's became availiable.

Just love the photos you posted of the Maple Leaf Chev and I would say it is more likely to be a 148 General Transport Co.

PS> the Ford Semi and trailer is totally scratch built including the V8 motor complete with wiring. The fitters truck has a Tamiya GMC motor, headlights and wheels but is otherwise scratch built.

[jim sewell]

Nice models Cliff , well done .

That Maple Leaf was a good find , would look nice preserved under cover .
Thanks Tony
Regards
Jim S.

[Euan McDonald]

Hi Clif,
I have a north-south round front trailer if you require any detail pics. I also have a folding boat trailer as pictured by Rod if it helps.

[cliff]

Thanks Euan, Bob took a load of photos of the Round Front Trailer for me when I built the model and I will keep in mind the folding boat trailer for the future. Thanks for the offer I really appreciate it.