mcspool

I understand this tyre comes in two variants: "to fit flat base rim only" (6" wide rim) to fit a 5º taper bead (6.5" wide rim) Do you know which variants Totec currently has in stock?

Interesting collection! My guess is that it is a repaint, possibly for a film job? It is a rather late example (note the "FORD CANADA" stamping under the headlights), so I wonder when the Germans could have captured such a late example? According to this web page, they were used by the Soviets: http://www.o5m6.de/chevy_c60l.html (scroll dwon for the Ford version)

Hi Stu, Thanks for the info. If you please, sharing photos would be of great help to identify and sell this vehicle. Can you confirm whether or not the Vickers your friend is selling is the same one Marcel discovered in France four years ago? See below. It could fit the description in the MilWeb ad "used by a French farmer as a tractor.It was found by its present owner in 2006". Thanks, Hanno

It states DIT VOERTUIG KOST FL 27000 which translates into THIS VEHICLE COSTS FL [DUTCH GUILDERS] 27000 In the 1950s the Dutch Army tried to increase awareness of the cost of its equipment among its conscripts by stencilling the acquisition cost on the equipment. Not sure what 27,000 guilders of the 1950s with inflation are worth today, but since 2002 27,000 guilders convert into 12,252.06 Euros. Are you going to restore it as a Dutch GMC? Even though we took good care of our MDAP equipment, GMCs in Dutch configuration are becoming quite rare as most are restored in American livery. Regards, Hanno

BOSDEPOT, or BOS-Depot, or B.O.S. Depot, stands for "benzine, olie en smeermiddelen depot" - in English: "petrol, oil, lubricants depot". I do not know where Number 124 BOS Depot was located, will post here if I find out. HTH, Hanno

My pleasure, Jack. I'll be sitting by the letter box Not sure if you mean you have an interesting story behind them, but what I find interesting about both of these trucks is that they are exemplary of disarray of the early war years. US-built vehicles ordered by the French Armed Forces, some of which were used by the French Army, and captured and put in action again by the Germans. Other batches of vehicles were diverted to other allies, most notably Britain and the USSR. So on the Eastern Front it was quite possible the Germans and Soviets used the same type of American-built truck, paid for by the French! H.

Is this the one now offered for sale on MilWeb? http://milweb.net/classifieds/large_image.php?ad=54898&cat=1

Wartime colour picture, found at miliblog.co.uk

Indeed the Dutch Land-Rovers - both 88 and 109 - were quite different from the British spec ones. LHD is the most obvious, diesel engines were fitted as comply with NATO standards, at least initially tyres were 7.00-16 as reportedly there were huge stocks for its predecessor, the M38A1 NEKAF. Lots of detail changes like lighting etc. For further info see the attached article by connoisseur Richard de Roos (source: http://www.chaosboyz.nl/rubriek/techniek/techlandroverlightweight.htm), he wrote a book on Land-Rover in Dutch service and was not impressed to say the least. The Dutch Army wasn't either, though many of the problems orginated by tampering with the design of what was a fine vehicle. The Dutch Marines (part of the Dutch Navy) are long-time Land-Rovers users. After the LR Series 3 they went for the LR110 while the Army chose the Mercedes Benz G-series Geländewagen.

Here's another surviving White, as spotted by Jack during his trip to Belgium:

Thanks for the show report Jack, very funny! And you guys did come across a couple of rare trucks! First one is a GMC ACK-353 1-1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo Truck, second one a White 704S.

Did he have another haircut recently?

For you Land-Rover fans, here is a picture of a Royal Netherlands Marines Land-Rover 88 Lightweight, taken during training in 1985. Noteworthy (to me, at least), is that 25 years later I had totally forgotten this Lightweight was camouflaged. Says something for the value of a veteran's recollection after 65 years? Enjoy, Hanno

Nice find, too nice to ride actually, so you do realise you need another one to take for a spin around the stalls at Beltring, do you?

Alistair, Sorry to hear about your wild goose chase. I'm sure you will come across one sometime soon. I am sure I saw one for sale recently on this Belgian site: http://www.oldtimers-te-koop.be/Ford_oldtimer-vrachtwagens.aspx Have you tried advertising in Classic Commercial magazine and such? Hanno

Ah yes . . . :blush: Was BB-coding myself until now. . . Problem solved, thanks! Hanno

I know others have these features (see pic below) when posting a message, but I do not. How come? Thanks, Hanno

Convert it to LPG! It was a very popular fuel in the Netherlands from the 1970s, it has become less popular since every family car comes with a diesel engine. The engine runs smoother on LPG and you can see fom the engine oil it runs much cleaner, too. From my Australian friends I understand the Flathead V8 runs well on LPG. Lots of HMV's like GMCs and Dodges here in the Netherlands run on LPG to keep costs down. The conversion is simple to do, cost-effective and it can be removed leaving little traces if the next owner does not like it. And you get to keep that lovely V8 rumble! . .

Cheeky wartime cartoon Ans here I was thinking body painting was a recent thing. . . .

Stunning! It makes plane spotting easy when they are flying so low, isn't it? Seems like you can reach out and touch them! Thanks for sharing.

Great aquisition Eddy, found some more pics of the Finnish StuG's to whet your appetite

I cannot agree more. You are a sad anorak if one is counting rivets watching such movies - they are not a documentary! Try to enjoy the story. The tanks and vehicles are only there to dress the set. Off my soap box now.

Here's my original CMP side curtain stowage bag. Colour best described as "Matte Green"(?) Second picture comes close to the real life colour of the canvas. HTH, Hanno

Forgot to mention they were used on Dutch MTB's, too! http://www.netherlandsnavy.nl/Flak_Hisp20.htm

Great gun, but I think the veteran 's memory has failed him. Understandably, because after 65 years your Hispano Suiza looks a lot like the Polsten. But in 1944 1st AB Recce brought two Polsten 20mm guns on Airborne mount to Arnhem. A replica of one of these is on display at the Airborne Museum at Oosterbeek. Try finding the one of the guys of the Arnhem Battle Research Group, the published a booklet on the Airborne 20-mm gun. Also see http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/20_mm_aa_guns.htm for Colin Stevens' web page on 20-mm guns. Hispano-Suiza HS.404: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hispano-Suiza_HS.404 HTH, Hanno