can anyone id these kiwi quads in italy?

[cliff]

Originally Posted by kiwiquad

these are 6 field battery E troop quads most blokes from christchurch, the photographer was gunner jim smythe from christchurch, are these fords or chevs?

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2205/65533316.jpg

They are Chevrolet Gun Tractors judging by the round vents either side of the grill clearly seen on the second one back. Wonder where the trucks all are now?

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by cliff

They are Chevrolet Gun Tractors judging by the round vents either side of the grill clairly seen on the second one back. Wonder where the trucks all are now?

The second is a Chev (as is the third) but the front one is a Ford. Look at the diff and the narrow spring bumper.

Rip snorter of an image by the way.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

The second is a Chev (as is the third) but the front one is a Ford. Look at the diff and the narrow spring bumper

you are right Keith but all the other trucks shown, including the 3 tonner at the back look like Chev's when I enlarge the photo as they all appear to have round vents. The Ford also does not appear to have a spare mounted on the rear either. Wonder where the Kiwi's scored the Ford from?

[kiwiquad]

Originally Posted by cliff

They are Chevrolet Gun Tractors judging by the round vents either side of the grill clearly seen on the second one back. Wonder where the trucks all are now?

thanks for that info cliff, what engine would they have a side valve v8 then?

i have a side profile drawn by one of the crew which ill scan, it might shed a bit of light on these. i think the guy was a draftsman or something as it is a very good example.

[kiwiquad]

this was drawn by one of the crew im assuming it was of quad 4, these vehicles apparently went back to nz at the end of the war, jim smythe mentions that during their time in italy they picked up a lot of american tools which came in handy,at wars end the quads were only allowed to be shipped home with the contents they arrived with so the tools went down a well where they are probably still. his journey throughout the war is well documented in his diaries and photos, each town was written down in order and ive been to italy a couple of times and followed the same route, interesting when you read of them bombarding the "teds" then driving through the ruins and wreckage afterwards. if i had a quad i'd take it to italy and do the same trip as them and make a documentary for the discovery channel,imagine the locals amazement .
how do i post this picture below on the forum so you dont have to click on it to view it?.
http://img83.imageshack.us/img83/5338/4quad.jpg

[cliff]

Originally Posted by kiwiquad

thanks for that info cliff, what engine would they have a side valve v8 then?

i have a side profile drawn by one of the crew which ill scan, it might shed a bit of light on these. i think the guy was a draftsman or something as it is a very good example.

The Ford's had a side valve V8 but the Chev's had an Over Head Valve 6 cyl. engine.

[Keith Webb]

Hi Mike

When pictures are externally hosted you can use the little icon which looks like an envelope but is in fact some sort of a representation of hills and sun.

Click on that and past in your link.

[kiwiquad]

thanks for that keith. on my new imac that arrived today that image is huge and clear.

[Rob Beale]

must have included a lot of vehicles brought back from Italy.

On a course I remember an instructor telling us that a full divisional artillery train was assembled in Waiouru in the 1950's and headed out onto the "Desert Road" (State Highway 1) and travelled all the way around the 3 Volcanoes (Ruapehu, Ngaruhoe and Tongariro) and back to Waiouru. And as the lead vehicles approached camp, the tail was just leaving!

In those days 4(NZ) Div was a reality, with men from Compulsory Military Training, and the equipment on the ground.

In future years the paper organisation of 4(NZ) Div included exotic stuff that never materialised, except in the imaginations of people on TEWTs.

Great photos Mike

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by kiwiquad

thanks for that keith. on my new imac that arrived today that image is huge and clear.

WAY TO GO, MIKE!

[kiwiquad]

note these are scans of the original 3x2 's