White ad

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

WHEELS & TRACKS # 1 no less explains that the French ordered 704S 4 x 2 trucks, as G/S trucks

Is this Life Magazine picture showing the early demise of one of the French Army White 704S trucks?

A view showing an Army truck smashed into a tree. Location: France. Date taken: 1940

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Could be...it's one way of stopping the enemy getting a usable truck!

Did I really quote all that info in the previous posting? I can't recall doing so.
One suggestion from the son of the Ministry of Supply inspector stationed at AEC Southall, was that the Whites were uncrated at assembled at the GM Ltd-owned (former Hendon assembly plant to 1930) building in The Hyde onn Edgware Road, London. This partly a Frigidaire Ltd factory and partly leased to vauxhall Motors Ltd as a reverse export boxing plant. Makes sense!

[Mike K]

That White squished into the tree is a very good example of what modern car makers rave about .. cars now having a 'crumble zone' that absorbs the impact of a major accident ... the cab is intact and relatively undamaged . But I wonder if the engine is sitting beside the drivers seat !

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

That White squished into the tree is a very good example of what modern car makers rave about .. cars now having a 'crumble zone' that absorbs the impact of a major accident ... the cab is intact and relatively undamaged . But I wonder if the engine is sitting beside the drivers seat !

Or whether the steering column and the drivers internal organs had an unplanned meeting..... an altogether too common occurence in past.

[welbike]

Hi all,

This is indeed a White 704S, hope the tree didn't get too damaged!! Note also the original diamond thread pattern on the tyres, and one of the rear wheels is removed. (should be duals)

Now I know why there is only one survivor, (mine) found in a scrapyard in Troyes, France, there were 1500 made totally.

See here a picture of my White



Have many pictures of Whites used by the Germans, here's one



On the scrapyard in France was a model 920 too, but the fuel tanker body was removed, it was scrapped 14 years ago, I saved the cab and dash.

Have parts lists and drivers manuals for a lot of these ex french contracts trucks.

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

[Bill Murray]

Hi Lex:

I cannot speak for the other members, but most of them know that my specific interest in the military vehicle hobby is the history of US make military wheeled vehicles sold to or assembled in other countries during the period 1935-1945.

The "French Contract" or "Ex French Contract" vehicles have always been of interest to me but there are not a lot of photos out there either in Forums or books, on Ebay or Google or whatever.

Primarily through Bart Vanderveen's books, we do know that White, Chevrolet, GMC and Dodge vehicles were contracted for by the French in 1940 and there is a fair body of knowledge about this but not too many photos.

If I may ask, if you have a photo archive of such vehicles, could you share some of that with us on this Forum as you have the time.

Thanks,
Bill

[welbike]

Hi Bill,

Not a problem! Bart Vanderveen gave me many factory pictures, and the parts list, and have found much stuff the last 14 years since I have owned the truck, have a comparison test between the 704S, Dodge and GMC trucks, done by the french army in '39 or early '40, don't know where they got the time to do it!!! this is a bad copy, in french, have to retype it one day.

For starters I have a PDF file of an article I wrote at the beginning of this year for the norwegian magazine "Mud and Snow" I did not write the captions! it's too big here to download, email me on welbike(at)welbike.net and I'll email it to anyone interested.

Here's some more B/W ones:










Have also an IWM picture of the White Ruxtall tanktransporter, and much more, will have to scan a lot of pictures still.

Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by welbike

This is indeed a White 704S, hope the tree didn't get too damaged!! Note also the original diamond thread pattern on the tyres, and one of the rear wheels is removed. (should be duals)

Hi Lex,

I knew you were coming in to confirm the identity. Hope you like the picture.

Groet,
Hanno

[Bill Murray]

Hi Lex:
Thanks for the extra photos, they were all new to me.
To save time, you can email the file you mentioned to me
Regards,
Bill