[cliff]

Originally posted by Kuno
(btw I wonder how the rear panel stood stable at the LRDG-trucks, where the doors had been removed completely).

The LRDG trucks were a totally different design as they were flat faced cowl units and not full cab versions with the roof removed. So the rear panel would have been designed and built with the strength to 'stand alone' without the support of the doors.

On the French truck if just the doors had been removed the cab itself would have retained it's integral strength as they were designed in such a way that the roof offered a lot of the bracing capabilities of the cab. Once the roof is removed over half the structural strength was gone. This is why convertable cars are built so strong and why modern cars without a full chassis bend in the middle if the roof is removed.

I hope I have explained this so it is understandable.