serge Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Hello On each side of the bumper of a WARD LA FRANCE M1A1, there is a little steel plate. These late are welded on the front bumper and I would like to know their purpose. Regards Serge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Are they are to mount display boards on when used as an MPV??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markheliops Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 I have no idea Serge. They are original and most of the Wards, including mine have them fitted. I would hazard a guess they would carry some sort of ID markings. Anyone else want to have a stab. Markheliops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormin Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 The bumper itself is an unusual shape on the Ward La France. My guess is the bumper was used to push recover other vehicles. Those plates may just be there to protect the vulnerable wings behind. If as Mark suggests they're for markings, why not just put them on the wing itself which is at the same angle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markheliops Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 The bumper itself is an unusual shape on the Ward La France. My guess is the bumper was used to push recover other vehicles. Those plates may just be there to protect the vulnerable wings behind.If as Mark suggests they're for markings, why not just put them on the wing itself which is at the same angle? Ah ha - Norman - you have given me an idea. Although this picture clearly shows markings on the plates - it doesn't mean a thing. I could show you just as many pictures where there are no markings. However, as Norman pointed out - the Ward does have an unusual bumper. It was called the "tree-buster." Obviously designed to push down trees etc. Now common sense would dictate the metal plates were designed and placed to stop branches etc from slipping up over the bumper and under the wings and as Norman said - to stop damage from occurring to the wings and fragile engine components. How's that for a common sense guess. Markheliops Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Having seen a good many Landrover front wings ruined by branches in much the same way, I reckon that's a very good guess. I've often wondered about those shaped bumpers. I like the hand powered air horn on that one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adrian Barrell Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Are they are to mount display boards on when used as an MPV??? I reckon you've cracked it...:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Yes Mark, I'd go with that idea of guiding branches etc onto the wings and not under them. My personal view of the WLF bumper is that it a spectacularly useless design - only good when using the whiffle tree thingy. No decent towing fitment in the centre, and the one that's there would pull straight out of the flimsy pressing with any decent load. As have a good many that I've seen. So mine is going to have a 'stonking great bit of channel' hidden full width behind and welded to the centre lug for those bigger skin-off-a-rice-pudding jobs.....:cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stormin Posted March 3, 2009 Share Posted March 3, 2009 Yes Mark, I'd go with that idea of guiding branches etc onto the wings and not under them. My personal view of the WLF bumper is that it a spectacularly useless design - only good when using the whiffle tree thingy. No decent towing fitment in the centre, and the one that's there would pull straight out of the flimsy pressing with any decent load. As have a good many that I've seen. So mine is going to have a 'stonking great bit of channel' hidden full width behind and welded to the centre lug for those bigger skin-off-a-rice-pudding jobs.....:cool2: Perhaps that's why the design hasn't appeared since? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serge Posted March 3, 2009 Author Share Posted March 3, 2009 Hello I think that STORMIN is right. On WWII american truck there is no specific part mounted only for to have a marking (a star as showed on the previous pic). So I think that the purpose of these steel plates was to protect the mudguard when the truck was pushing an other truck or trees. I had soon asked to some owner of WARD LA FRANCE but nobody was able to give me an answer. regards Serge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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