Indian Pattern bodies

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Over the years, we have seen quite a few CMPs trucks with “Indian Pattern” bodies. These are not official designations, but a name given to all MCP and CMP truck with bodies which were built in India.

The Indian Army was a large user of MCP and CMP vehicles – see Revised 1942 S/M Contracts Listing – and assembled both complete vehicles knocked down for shipping, but also chassis/cowls with locally made cabs and /or bodies.

My interest is in gathering information about the Indian Pattern bodies for modelling and restoration purposes. These bodies were of composite construction, consisting mainly of wood with angle iron reinforcements, similar to military truck bodies as manufactured in Great Britain at the day.

For now I’m focusing on the CMP range of vehicles with these wooden bodies.

15-cwt: both 4x2 and 4x4 – see Indian Pattern 15-cwt GS truck

FAT: Chevrolet CGT and Ford FGT – see Indian Pattern FAT