CMP truck wrecks in the North African desert

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Further to Kuno's "Ford Wreck in the Desert" and related threads, I'm sharing another fascinating and recent find during the March 2022 expedtion to Jebel Uweinat in Libya by the Fliegel Jezerniczky company. These trucks are located somewhere in the Selima Sand Sheet in Sudan.

"We continued traversing the bad rocky country, navigating from one sandy patch to another, until we came across an old looking series of deep tracks that finally offered better going. Judging from the discarded 4 gallon petrol tins, we have stumbled upon one of the principal routes of the SDF Kufra convoys leading from Selima towards Jebel Kamil in Egypt. Rounding a bend and a low knoll, we suddenly came upon a CMP truck, clearly an abandoned convoy vehicle. Closer inspection revealed that it was a CMP Chevrolet c60L with the early Type 12 cab, the same truck that formed the bulk of the convoy shown on the photos of G. J. Mostert. It was complete with its in-line six cylinder engine, several of the dashboard switches were still in place. It appeared that the truck was mostly in the state it was in when abandoned, all the tyres (Dunlop Trak Grip 10.5-20) including the spare was still there, apparently in a brand new unworn condition. I have never seen any photos of this wreck, it appears that we have stumbled on it after 80 years without anyone else knowing about it."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

And on the Ford F30:

"Diverging from our onward track we followed the convoy route, which proved to be a much easier way across the stony ground. After a dozen or so kilometres a dark speck appeared in the distance, and on approach it became clear that it was another abandoned CMP truck, this one was a Ford F30 with type 11 cab, the V8 engine still installed. We were amazed to find the dashboard practically intact, just as it was when it was last left here (the cylinder heads were removed, probably that was the fatal problem, common to the type in the convoy conditions). The truck also had the sand mat holders bolted on to the front fenders, a modification pioneered by the LRDG, but also adapted on SDF vehicles (other LRDG mods, such as the condenser tank, were absent).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See the link above and https://www.fjexpeditions.com/frameset/convoys.htm for more info and photos:

"In March 2022 we came upon two previously unreported wrecks long the convoy route between Selima Oasis and jebel Kamil. These are in a remarkably good state of preservation on account of being away from all presently traveled tracks. One is a CMP Chevrolet C60L with a model 12 cab, the principal workhorse of the convoys in 1942, the other is a Ford F30 with a model 11 cab."

[Bob Carriere]

Well let Kuno know that we are expecting a TRACKS 2023 book.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Bob.....I agree.....priceless! It's awesome to see all rare details still present after all these years......battery box, extinguisher holder with the clamp, grommet in the eye for the door "airco".......mouldings around the roof edge, even some of the tube for the cab vents remain.......awesome!

Thanks for posting Hanno!

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And on the Ford F30:

"....was another abandoned CMP truck, this one was a Ford F30 with type 11 cab, the V8 engine still installed. ... (the cylinder heads were removed, probably that was the fatal problem, common to the type in the convoy conditions).

To my eye, the Cylinder Heads still appear to be in place?

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

.....One is a CMP Chevrolet C60L with a model 12 cab,...

Which has a keyed Ignition Lock! Very unusual.

[Kuno]

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

Well let Kuno know that we are expecting a TRACKS 2023 book.

Good idea :-) Interest in TRACKS is not tooo high but motivation to continue with TRACKS 2023 is here.