Modified Conventional Pattern Trucks

[Bill Kreiner]

Did all the major companies' Canadian branches make civvy-lookalike MCP trucks during WWII? I have Canadian Chrysler and Ford sales charts but MCPs are not distinguished as such. I know Dodge and Fargo trucks were made in this style, and I know from my charts that actual civilian versions of these were turned out in small numbers during the war. I suppose I should dig out my Vanderveen books when I get home (I'm at the office now). David's site shows the Chevrolets made. I'll need to check that out again as well.

I guess my real question is, were there GMC and Ford MCPs? Here in the states, there was the Ford G8T, which was in production straight through the war, but looked like a 1942 Ford civilian truck. In addition, there were 3,500 civvy-type Ford light (1/2-ton) pickups made for the U.S. military between March 1942 and the end of the war (with 12,420 turned out during Feb.-Mar. 1942).

Incidentally, Ford U.S. passenger cars for the military were produced as follows:

10,476 between November 1941 and March 1942 (probably standard Ford cars)

For the period March 1942 through the end of the war, the passenger-car figures are as follows (these were built using parts already produced, and production of most of these was covered by 9 contracts, with a number of small orders being placed throughout the war):

12,177 Ford Fordor sedans for the U.S. Gov't (painted in olive drab)
104 Ford Tudor sedans for the Justice Dept. (painted in black)
138 Mercury Fordor sedans for the U.S. Navy (painted in olive drab)
200 Ford Deluxe station wagons for the U.S. Navy (painted in olive drab)

[rob love]

I have seen mostly Fords and some Dodge trucks as MCPs. They had a lighter version of the spring and bar push bumper on them, similar to the CMPs. They also had the Canadian style military marker lights on the fenders and the rear.

I have not run across any Chev MCPs in my travels. They likely existed I suppose, but generally I find the chevs are not as much in demand with the commercial truck restorers.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bill Kreiner

I guess my real question is, were there GMC and Ford MCPs? Here in the states, there was the Ford G8T, which was in production straight through the war, but looked like a 1942 Ford civilian truck.

Hello Bill,

The short answer is yes, Ford did make MCP trucks, and they differed a great deal more from conventional trucks than their American enlisted cousins - see the quote from an earlier thread below. Chevrolet built a similar model, the CC60L.

More later,
Hanno

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And here is a picture from Vanderveen showing the Canadian-built 1942 model Ford FC60L (or C298TFS), a 3 -ton 4x2 GS truck with 158in wheelbase and 95-hp V8 engine and a two-speed rear axle.
It had typical MCP features like right-hand drive, 10.50-16 tyres on British split rims and a Canadian-built cargo body.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

There were military Canadian GMC trucks and the 1940/1 Model US GMCs were initially modified civilian pattern trucks.

[Bill Kreiner]

Thanks, everyone, for your helpful responses.

Hanno, which book is that photo from? Is it from Historic Military Vehicles Directory, or one of the versions of Fighting Vehicles Directory? I have them all. Sadly, I don't have any issues of Wheels & Tracks (but I do have the four articles dealing with British "Tillies" -- Austin, Hillman, Standard, Morris). I didn't realize the Canadian Ford MCPs differ significantly from the American civilian-type military Fords. Offhand I can recall that the American-built G8T of late-1942-thru-early-1945 has headlight guards and no nameplate. Other than that I don't know.

David, do you have the GMC MCPs listed on your site somewhere?

[Ganmain Tony]

A bit rougher than when it was built Bill, but here is a Chev MCP we are currently working on.

Under the thread "its infectious" there is more information on this truck

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Bill, I am sending you those copiues that you wanted.

I have a list of ALL Chev/ML/GMC trucks on sale from 1939-45 from a parts list but you can't tell which ones were actually produced. I also have scanned photos of variopus military GM of Canada trucks, and they include from memory a GMC RCAF fire tender. I shal have to look it up sometime.

There were I should add three? versions of the Chevy CC60L MCP which differed slightly...it gets very complicated!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Bill Kreiner

Hanno, which book is that photo from? Is it from Historic Military Vehicles Directory, or one of the versions of Fighting Vehicles Directory? I have them all. Sadly, I don't have any issues of Wheels & Tracks (but I do have the four articles dealing with British "Tillies" -- Austin, Hillman, Standard, Morris). I didn't realize the Canadian Ford MCPs differ significantly from the American civilian-type military Fords. Offhand I can recall that the American-built G8T of late-1942-thru-early-1945 has headlight guards and no nameplate. Other than that I don't know.

Bill,

That picture comes from Vanderveen's FVD WW II. As far as I can recall, Wheels & Tracks only has minimal information about MCP vehicles - click here to see a fairly complete listing of relevant W&T articles.

Please bear in mind there is a difference between conventional and modified conventional pattern trucks, both of which were used by the military. I will piece some more info on this together later and post it here. I doubt if the differences between conventional, modified conventional, military pattern and one-offs show up in the sales charts, but it would be interesting to get some more detail.

Hanno

[Local Chap]

Some MCP (Ford, Chev and Dodge) pics from the Aust War Memorial site:

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This is a good reference from the 1940 Chev MCP parts book. Courtesy of Keith Webb.

E6CA232C-3E7A-41D0-B02F-AF418E7C1057.jpeg

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

This is a good reference from the 1940 Chev MCP parts book. Courtesy of Keith Webb.

Thank you very much. Very valuable literature.

[Konstantin Chernov]

Does anyone have any information on the designation of the Australian 1941 Chevrolet and 1940 Chevrolet Series 16 ?

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

This is a good reference from the 1940 Chev MCP parts book. Courtesy of Keith Webb.

Attachment 115283

I have that book. it was produced for the AIF by NASCO, the parts division of GMH

I believe this is the E11 model in civilian use.

A chap who posted on the Modified Conventional FB page, has one of these rare coupe utes , in his case its the GMC version he has

[Konstantin Chernov]

Is this a model E11 or E10 ?

[Mike Kelly]

Originally Posted by Konstantin Chernov

Is this a model E11 or E10 ?

E11 has the seperate cab / tub as in your pic.The E10 has the coupe style cab , one piece, the AIF seemed to have the E11 type mainly

[Tony Smith]

Registration details are scant, but the AWM records AIF V-5252 simply as a "Chevrolet 1 Ton GS", which was shipped to the Middle East on 8 Oct 1940 on the ship Suffolk.

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

E11 has the seperate cab / tub as in your pic.The E10 has the coupe style cab , one piece, the AIF seemed to have the E11 type mainly

I think that the photo is still a model E 10. The cab, separate from the body ( light truck ).