Thanks Gordon Yeo.

[rob love]

I have used a lot of restraint lately and realized I may never finish all the vehicles in the yard. My 5 year plan went to the dumpster when I started working full time at the Shilo museum. So I did sell off a few vehicles a year or two ago, and stopped bringing more home.

So I open my email the other morning and there is a note from Gordon along with some photos of a Ford 15cwt located about 45 minutes from me. I had seen the truck about 14 years ago as I had loaded it on my trailer for a friend from a local farm. Since then it changed owners once more, but was now on the market.

I chastised Gord for tempting me with such a vehicle. I think my words were something like: Damn Gord, you don't swing cocaine in front of an addict at 07:30 in the morning. I'll have to give it some thought.

Well long story short, I did manage to go a week without buying it. That's pretty good I think. So I guess I must now thank Gord for passing this one on to me. I guess he is forgiven for poaching from this area.

It is missing a few things like two seats, and of course the spare tire carrier. Of course, it had all the normal farmer modifications right out of the Manitoba Farmers Handbook: the spare tire carrier/toolbox removed and the box lengthened, wheel wells removed and flipped, and a grain chute cut into the tailgate. The one fender has also taken a bit of a beating. But on the plus side, the hitch is there, the radiator guard, all the lighting, original headlamps, and best of all, a totally rust free cab and roof. In the cab is the fourth POW holder, and the two side window frames. It also came with a set of good 9.00-16 bar tread tires.

There is not even a trace of bubbling at the lower back of the cab where so often they rot out. The truck was last licensed in 1953 judging by the plate on the front.

So without further yacking, here are some shots of the diamond in the rough, along with a few detail photos. I took photos of the door numbers for replacement later, and quickly gave it a couple of quarts of paint so it would look like something. I have always liked the Fords, and it will be nice to have the lighter model this time. Previous to this one, I have owned a KL, which was incredibly heavy.

Edited to add: I must also "thank" Rob Clark for this truck, as on a recent visit, he stated that a HUP is not a real CMP. How could I not have a real cmp in the collection? He can try and explain that statement to the others on this board.