Information request for FAT3

RichCam · #1 29-05-12, 18:15

Hello,
I came across a FAT3 shell. Attached are the vehicle id tags. I am wondering if someone would like to volunteer some information regarding what this vehicle would have looked like, when it was in it's prime. Thanks!
Regards, Richard

Gunner · #2 29-05-12, 20:07

Hi Richard:

IIRC the FAT1 was the 11 cab, the FAT2 was the 12 cab, the FAT3 was the first of the 13 cab versions and had four doors. FATs 4,5 & 6 were variations with 6 being a soft top square backed beast that loooked like a HUP on steroids.

See: http://www.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=h...ch&um=1&itbs=1

Are you planning to do anything with your find?

Mike

RichCam · #3 29-05-12, 20:40

Mike,

Thanks for the clarification on the FAT designation.

Included are some pics of the front and rear of the FAT3. It has a dump box attached to the chassis. Weird in that the back of the cab appears to be smooth and it doesn't look like someone chopped the back off.

To extract the wreck, as well as two other FAT cabs, it will come close to costing about $1000 in equipment rentals, fuel and time.

Is it worth it?
Regards, Richard

Gunner · #4 29-05-12, 21:06

Hi Richard:

You've hit on one of the fundamental questions of this crazy hobby. I have a very early Cab 11 tractor thats a mess but its worth keeping as it has a mix of Ford and Chev axles which was the norm for these early models.

I'd love to restore it but need much more in the way of parts so recovering what you've found would be, to me, worth while. I'm not try to cut your grass here as the rule I've always followed is finders-keepers until the finder states otherwise, so don't worry that I'm on my way to your neck of the woods with my patented CMP locating device stuck to my windshield!

Personally, I'm at the age and financial comfort level that I'm not dragging every wreck I find from the woods like I used to AND I have enough projects to keep me alive to age 374 years! The only things that will get my attnetion nowadays are guns (artillery peices) and artillery tractors so I would go the extra mile to recover what you found.

The questions you have to ask yourself is what do you want to collect? What level of rebuild is within your grasp (time, money, effort)? Most importantly, what will your other half tolerate?

Based on the photos you attached I would say your in for an interesting and challenging recovery. As for the cab back of the one with the FAT3 data plates I gues anything is possible... perhaps the parts migrated to another 60 cwt chassis, perhaps the previous owner grafted another cab onto the FAT3 chassis or robbed a cab back off another CMP. More research will help answer the questions.

Mike

Gunner · #5 29-05-12, 21:09

Hi Richard:

I took another look at the photos you posted. The front view is defintely a Cab 11 or 12 FAT and the back view just doesn't look like the same truck. I'm going to blow the photos up and get back to you.

Mike

RichCam · #6 29-05-12, 21:19

Gunner Mike,

Thanks for your comments and words of advice. As long as the kitchen gets redone, a far more expensive hobby than messing around with CMP trucks, I'm in the good.

My apologies, I sent you the wrong frontal picture. Attached is the correct front picture.

I have a dry barn here that I can store the shells. I'd hate to see them go to the scrap yard so I'm probably going to do this for charity.

I'll keep you guys posted.