Can anyone identify this?

[bob42100]

I thought it was British because of the wheels but it probably is French, looks a bit like a Citroën. Any help identifying would be appreciated.

[gordon]

KC-1 Dodge half ton, or slightly later, maybe mid 1930's

The sort that is normally called a 'humpback' when it is a panel van.

[bob42100]

Thanks Gordon, I never would have figured a Dodge. Does the marking on the door look familiar?

[gordon]

I think it might be a Dodge, not sure though

i've seen that door marking before but no idea where. Got a location for the image? France 1940 or something like that ?

Here's a KC-1 Dodge at Hickam Field, Pearl Harbor, shortly after the visit



Size, shape, suicide doors, left hand drive - it's in the ballpark

[bob42100]

It does look like the Dodge, the wheels hubs look the same too. Here is what was written on the rear of the photo, it is in German:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by bob42100

It does look like the Dodge, the wheels hubs look the same too. Here is what was written on the rear of the photo, it is in German:

Bob,

Can't help with IDing the vehicle, but the writing in the back reads:
"auf eine meine gefahren" = ran over a mine
"unser fahrzeug" = our vehicle
As the German driver wrote it was their vehicle, it was obviously used captured and used by them.

HTH,
Hanno

[bob42100]

Hano, thanks for the translation and explains the jerry can.

[Slava]

It might easily be Russian GAZ-M415 pick-up.
It was Ford-based vehicle produced before and during WW2.
Might be captured on the East front.

[bob42100]

Slava, You may be correct, here is a walk around and it matches perfectly.

http://svsm.org/gallery/gaz415

[gordon]

The side view is pretty much spot on. It's remarkable how much it looked like a Dodge to me, but then I don't know the contemporary Fords at all.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by gordon

The side view is pretty much spot on. It's remarkable how much it looked like a Dodge to me, but then I don't know the contemporary Fords at all.

Some people say cars all look the same these days....

Truth is within a certain time frame they all do! It's a matter of what's in fashion, the style buyers fancy at any given time. One sets the standard and other manufacturers respond to that. Of course in this case it was even an outright copy.

H.

[Andrew H.]

The clincher for me is the classic shape of the Model A Ford distributor sticking up above the engine on the damaged vehicle. I missed it before, but its a dead giveaway. Definitely a GAZ.

[bob42100]

Now does anyone know what German unit used that tree insignia? Could it be left over from the Soviets?

[Lynn Eades]

Gordon, you picture in post #4 with the very rounded cover frame, looks like it was inspirational for the Ford GTB bomb carrier frame. (somewhat lighter, I admit)
Was every body using the artillery wheels in that era. I thought they were a Chev thing?

[Slava]

I'm not a big specialist about insignas but that tree tells me nothing.
As far as I know there were not many cab and other marks painted on WW2 time Russian tactical vehicles.
The link to the GAZ pick-up might be used as a good source.
I know those guys who made that restoration, they are too pidantic and usually do perfect job. Shure they worked over as much info sources as they could and got good amount of spares preparing to the project.
I need to add it's too rare vehicle nowadays.
Vlad.

[George McKenzie]

It has the same body of a 1934 Dodge ..If it is a GAZ it would be a year or two older than the Gaz pictured . The 33 Dodge does not have a vent window .They had Dodge Brothers on the side of the hood till 1936 when they changed to just Dodge Maybe the engine was changed to a Ford engine.

[Lang]

Here are a lot of Eastern Front markings. Does not look like it is there.



http://moebius.freehostia.com/

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

Being the inquisitive type that I am I did a quick search to find out more about the GAZ. In the process I found a plastic model kit that you can buy so you can have your very own scaled down version of this interesting little ute (Utility) http://marsfigures.com/prew.php?m=9&...mb=3518&id=469. I have no dealings with the seller.

I did some more searching and found the same model available through a different retailer - this one has an interesting description about the war time use of the vehicle - M-415s were pressed into military service as a light utility vehicle, ammunition carrier, and with the help of a pair of Maxim machine guns, it even became an anti-aircraft platform. The Retailer's link is http://www.cybermodeler.com/hobby/ki...tte_3518.shtml - no dealings with this company either.

More digging and I found out that this type of vehicle also came as a half track http://www.oldrussiancars.com/gaz-m-415 - you will need to scroll down through the site to find the half-track photograph. This site also has details of the vehicle' specifications too.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Slava]

If any one is interested about GAZ-M415 you should google it in Russian description as "ГАЗ-М415". This way you'll meet Russian sourses, not only translated ones. If you can't type with Russian letters just copy the script from above and paste into Google.