Today I got the frame: 99.9% it is NOT a D8A, most probably a T215.
It seems that RHD hole has never been cut, this frame has always been a LHD.
Last unexplained mistery is the desert stone paint, sprayed directly on the frame : this is the reason why the score is not 100%.
The American Dodge frame numbers are the original ones.
I guess after the war someone bought this open cab truck, removed the cargo bed and exchanged the open cab with a D15 cab to improve comfort.
Now the question is what to do with this frame, I am thinking at 2 options:
1) Go back on originality, asking to Chrisler the build card of this frame to understand how it was when it left the production line.
2) Go ahead building a D8A replica, trying to be as accurate as possible.
Option 1 would respect originality but the final result would be one of the many, option 2 will give the chance to many to see how this rare vehicle was.
In the next days I will visit a farm close to my home where I saw several trailers made after ww2 using Canadian wheels: I know for sure I will find at least 4 wheels (6 bolts), wight now I am interested to see their hubs. If it is possible to put together 4 British hubs, may be option 2 will go ahead.
Cargo bed is probably not so complicate to rebuild after a visit in Austria.
Thank you very much again for your support.
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