GMC query

[gordon]

At this time twin unit packs and multiple knockdowns hadn't got going, and since these trucks must be almost brand new then damaged in raid / fire must just about be the only option?

I'll go back to sleep now.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Good points all, thanks! Been up at 5, taken daughter to work and back, 40 mile round trip then went back to bed then got up at 9.30!

[Anthony Main]

One of the chassis looks like an Austin K5,
My parts book for the ACKWX 353 list's the cab used as Model 984!

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

It turns out that these vehicles were war-weary and being rebuilt in 1944 under contract. They could be Free French according to someone who worked on them. Not very sulubrious surroundings or much space to work on them!

[gordon]

There you go, I've said it.

They aren't war weary anything, or cabovers. Note the tyres which are in brand new or delivery mileage condition, all the equipment (that is there) appears to be in perfect order, no damage to cab - I could go on.

Cabovers would have a noticeably different cab, inlet and exhaust manifold would be different, engine accessories different, transmission linkages different, etc, etc.

As of now I'd stake my non-existent reputation on them being nearly new GMC hard cab CCKW's from 1941 being rebuilt because of shipping, handling, fire, or raid damage.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thanks for input. I think that we have a date code that has been worked out now. I'll check. I only have a crud version of the original (lo-res) but can see what has been suggested. They are NOT COE chassis. They may have new tyres as they are being fitted. I think that the original shows that that chassis is twisted. Without seeing the original I can't tell if the front chassis tyres are worn down or not...will see if I can get hold of a version.

Cheers!

[gordon]

Looks to me that they are building up the chassis furthest away from the camera, robbing parts from the others. Presumption would be that the one visible cab would go on that. Number of steering sheels on the wall roughly matches the number of chassis, almost suggesting we are not seeing part of a larger operation with more trucks scattered about.

Consider what we are NOT seeing; no body parts, running boards, fuel tanks that I can see, no obvious burning (as if the fuel tanks had gone up) so I'd think mechanical damage.

Notice that things like the bumperettes and tow hitch have been stripped from the left chassis, and you'd have to be really keen to do that, even on a new truck. Such parts would almost never get damaged in a purely mechanical incident such as a building collapse.