numbers
 

Hi Tony,

Yes the numbers are 385 not 355. Just got word from the chap who owns it. Said between his eyes and the etching on the data plate it was hard to read.

Another point of interest on this list would be to also post the location, even town name only, where these old girls are. I know 016 is Coonamble and mine 518 and Moody’s 275 are located in Coonabarabran. Just a thought.

Mick

Thanks
 

Thanks for the input and correction. Somewhere out there must be #1!!!

Correct, the C8AX-01 Parts List does show the same part number for the 4 parts of the front fenders/wings/guards as those listed for the C15A and C60L in those parts lists.

David, we can tell you that the search has continued, despite you not being here to give your input.

Still have not located 001, but have not found any vehicle higher than 900, either. Did anyone ever find the original purchase demand or contract details that listed how many C8AX went to NZ?

I have been considering the conundrum of the build dates. I wonder if we have automatically assumed the the "5" in the date field is actually meant to represent the day of the month? All of the stampings show the 5 well over to the left side of the box, while the month and year are on the far right hand side. I wonder if the 5 means something altogether different and the build date just records the Mth/Yr?

5 Mar 43 was a Friday.
5 Apr 43 was a Monday.
5 May 43 was a Wednesday.
5 June 43 was a Saturday.

What administrative, clerical or production milestone was recorded on the 5th of the month, when they were such diverse days? Maybe 5 instead represents an assembly section or production department at Petone, in the same way a batch or lot number might be shown for other defence products?

Tony.

It does seem odd the ‘5’ is a constant on all data plates, and is always to the extreme left of the Date Box on the data plates. You might be correct in that it has nothing to do at all with the build date.

I know nothing about the CKD production process, but suspect the vehicles were never fully assembled by GM at their Oshawa plant. Assembly likely went only so far and then everything else was packed in the crates for shipment. It would make no sense to fully assembly the vehicles, test them and then strip them all down for crating.

So, if the CKD vehicle reaches the end point at the production line, technically for the GM plant in Oshawa, the assembly/build is not complete on a particular date, but all the pieces would be ready to go at some point in any given month and year. The ‘5’ might, therefore, be a reference code used internally by GM to denote a ‘Complete, but not assembled vehicle’ that is ready for shipping.

I think the work at GM’s Oshawa plant for GM would have only been the Cab and Chassis part of the CKD. The CKD body would have been shipped knocked down from its separate builder and/or sourced locally at a foreign Assembly Plant.

I have only ever seen one CKD complete vehicle. It was a Ford Cab 13 15-cwt GS. The cab data plates did not have ‘CKD’ on them anywhere as I recall, but the body data plate on the rear of the box did have ‘CKD stamped into it. The box came from a plant in Tillsonberg, Ontario as I recall.

Maybe it might be worth checking other CMP weight classes for surviving CKD vehicles from GM and see what their cab data plates have to say. The same ‘5’ stamp might show up on them as well as these cute little trucks.

Just my 2.5 cents worth.

David

David, I believe all the rear bodies were built here, none being supplied from Canada.

Spare tyres
 

Good day,
Question for the experts, did the C8AX have a spare tyre? The only one that is shown with a spare, that I can see on this forum is the one in post 117 at Coonamble. I am asking that question because the wheels are hard to find and if they didn't carry a spare that is one thing less to find.

Are the fuel tanks normal C15/15A/60L tanks or are the fillers a little bit different?
Cheers Ken.

tyre
 

Yes the spare wheel bolted onto a crude bracket inside the tub , forward end . will look for the drawings. The tyres were 9.25 x16 low profile from memory

C8AX line-up
 

Nice line-up of C8AX's, and other CMP trucks:

Attachment 110957

Nice image Hanno. I wonder if NZ24990 is a survivor?
Is the 4th one a radio shack?

Interesting to see the different tyre mounting variation on the first vehicle compared to the rest in the lineup.

David

The front one is set up for longer tyre life on road, the other two for running in mud. Reality is" put those wheels on those trucks...............at the double!"

What are the markings on the door? Not the NZ number, but beside it. I might be inclined to believe it says "TF"

It location looks very well like it could be GM NZ at Petone, might these be newly assembled trucks for delivery?

Lynn, yes the 4th one is a W/T truck. It looks further down the line are Wheeled Armoured Carriers.

Mark Arnott mentioned "NZ Army loading up for the voyage to Korea..." Source: Wellington Evening post.

H.

I was reading this thread when i learnt there was a C8AX ambulance with a slightly lengthened body. I have been aware of this very poor photo showing an RNZAF ambulance at Jacquinot Bay in 1944. I alway thought the body looked a bit long for 8/15cwt but not long enough for 30cwt.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9506139950.jpgfullsizeoutput_189f by tankienz, on Flickr

Then a few nights ago I found this photo on the RNZAF Museum website showing RNZAF units departing Green Island for Jacquinot Bay. This led me to search this site. So proof at least one served overseas.

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...d2d3cfbc45.jpgPR6736.t5ea48e08.m600.xAnfr-P3H by tankienz, on Flickr

Great pics!
 

These last two posts help fill the gaps in written accounts as only pics can do!

The pics of C8AX ambulances prove that they were landed on the Solomon Islands captured by 3 NZ Division.
Until now I had only seen a pic of ambulances on Guadalcanal which in 1943 was the forward base from where the amphibious assaults were mounted.
The war histories of the army medical units state they removed the red crosses as the Japanese would target them!

The line up of vehicles going to Korea with K Force is interesting as one contingent with 163 Battery RNZA was aboard an old inter-island ferry named Wahine which ran aground on an island to the north of Australia in 1950.
All the men were rescued by a tanker nearby but all the vehicles and 25 pdrs went down with the ship.
A gunner was decorated for diving into the holds to disable the guns a point of honour as the guns are their colours!

(Another inter-island ferry called Wahine foundered in Wellington Harbour in 1968 with serious loss of life)

Rob

C8AX Ambulance
 

From another page:

Comments by Rob Beale:

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/shep...itz/1277925967

Here's a funny one posing as an F15 (it might be an F15A chassis, it has 8 stud wheels?), but it does at least have a new C8AX plate for us so the list is now:

XH8448-073 FR3867782 mfd 5 - 3 – 43
XH8448-079 FR3862924 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22897
XH8448-080 FR3852622 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22958
XH8448-087 FR3838752 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22899
XH8448-161 FR3838745 mfd 5 - 3 - 43
XH8448-199 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ25422
XH8448-229 FR3863719 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ23261
XH8448-252
XH8448-254 FR3863431 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-273 FR3863445 NZ26023
XH8448-275 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-304 FR3863576 mfd 5 4 - 43
XH8448-322 FR3863983 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-339 FR3864029 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-377 FR3863573 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-382 FR3863937 mfd. 5 May 43
XH8448-392 FR3864366 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-394 FR3863668 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-419 FR3863618 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-427 FR3863894 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-428 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-452
XH8448-459 FR3863469 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-481 FR3863988 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-496 FR3863872 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-497 FR3863875 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-502 FR3863593 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-564 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-594 FR3863668 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-606 FR3864085 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-611 FR3864083 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-622 FR3863893 mfd 5 4-43
XH8448-634 FR3864089 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-650 FR3883923 mfd 5 May-43
XH8448-657 FR3864068 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-718 FR3864330 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-721 FR3864172 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-742 FR3863886 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-747 FR3963973 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-833 FR3863827 mfd 5 June 43 NZ25791
XH8448-834 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-857 FR3864045 mfd 5 June 43 NZ25526
XH8448-870 FR38635?4 mfd 5 June 43
XH9448-887 FR3863776 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-890 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-891 FR38638?2 NZ25051

I have been contacted by a member who has 2 new vehicles for the list. Pictures to follow!

XH8448-073 FR3867782 mfd 5 - 3 – 43
XH8448-079 FR3862924 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22897
XH8448-080 FR3852622 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22958
XH8448-087 FR3838752 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ22899
XH8448-161 FR3838745 mfd 5 - 3 - 43
XH8448-199 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ25422
XH8448-229 FR3863719 mfd 5 - 3 - 43 NZ23261
XH8448-252
XH8448-254 FR3863431 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-273 FR3863445 NZ26023
XH8448-275 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-304 FR3863576 mfd 5 4 - 43
XH8448-322 FR3863983 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-339 FR3864029 mfd 5 - 4 - 43
XH8448-377 FR3863573 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-382 FR3863937 mfd. 5 May 43
XH8448-392 FR3864366 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-394 FR3863668 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-419 FR3863618 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-423 FR3863597 mfd 5 5-43
XH8448-427 FR3863894 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-428 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-452
XH8448-459 FR3863469 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-481 FR3863988 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-496 FR3863872 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-497 FR3863875 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-502 FR3863593 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-564 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-594 FR3863668 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-606 FR3864085 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-611 FR3864083 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-622 FR3863893 mfd 5 4-43
XH8448-634 FR3864089 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-650 FR3883923 mfd 5 May-43
XH8448-657 FR3864068 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-660 FR3863896 mfd 5 May 43
XH8448-718 FR3864330 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-721 FR3864172 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-742 FR3863886 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-747 FR3963973 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-833 FR3863827 mfd 5 June 43 NZ25791
XH8448-834 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-857 FR3864045 mfd 5 June 43 NZ25526
XH8448-870 FR38635?4 mfd 5 June 43
XH9448-887 FR3863776 mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-890 FR ? ? ? ? mfd 5 June 43
XH8448-891 FR38638?2 NZ25051

Initials are AG maybe.

While there is no firm answer on the number of C8AX vehicles procured, numbers of 900, 1000 or 1200 have been suggested.

Whichever of these numbers proves to be correct, it is quite remarkable that the confirmed list of surviving vehicles currently stands at 47 vehicles. It is conceivable that there will be a number of "undiscovered" vehicles out there, hidden away on farms, workshops and wrecking yards, potentially expanding the list by 100%.

This means that after 77 years, around 10% of these vehicles still survive, many in restored and operating condition. Is there any comparable class of military vehicle that has stood the test of time so well?

Survival rate
 

Some 46 Grizzlies out of 188 built have survived: http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_Grizzlys.pdf

That is mainly due to these not seeing combat, plus many were supplied to armies after WW2 which only used them for training and kept them in reserve long enough for collectors to snap them up (rather than being scrapped).

GMC, Dodges and Willys/Ford military vehicles being kept as strategic reserves were a main source for today’s fleet of preserved vehicles (as were the French Navy’s stock of CMPs) in Europe.

AG has sent these pics of 423 and 660.

Nice
 

At least, these beauties were saved form the scrappy . Would be nice to know the arrangement of how these ex NZ army trucks were imported into Australia from the Solomon Islands . Did the NZ Govt. just sell the whole lot as a closed one off deal ? Was there a open bidding arrangement ? Torokina Equipment in Sydney were selling their 'Island stock' which included not only C8AX but other surplus vehicles, they didn't stay around in business very long.

C8AX s/n XH8448-259
 

Cross reference from Heads Up: C8AX in New Zealand:

Serial number reads as XH8448-259. Seems we haven't seen this one on here before.

Attachment 126203

S/n XH8448-075
 

One more for the list, via Roger Wilson:

NZ22945 Ambulance 4 Stretcher 4x4 Chevrolet C8AX at one time issued to a unit in the Northern Military District. It is now owned by Roger.

Attachment 126406

Attachment 126407

Attachment 126408