I got in to Chevrolet trucks, specially CMP's via two sources.
Tamiya's model kit of the Quad gun tractor and the Long Range Dessert Group Canadian AK Chevrolet.
The Second source was one of my dad friends bought a CMP C60L cab 13, (3tonner) a truck type that served with the commonwealth force during the war and then subsequently by the Danish army (and many other) from the early post war years up to the seventies and sold out in the late eighties. But with this Chevrolet we went to shows in locally but also to the big military vehicles shows in Uk, Normandy etc. which then really opened my eyes for these vehicles, and In all I must have ridden a couple of 1000 miles in that truck as a child.
The Danish army never used the early style Gun tractors like the Tamiya kit, cab 12, so I had to look aboard for one, I ended up finding a restoration project in Norway (yellow and red one), then a couple years later another, this time restored, came up for sale also in Norway so bought that as well and sold the other on.
I have since then been working on adding missing details, working together with other owners a cross the world.
These gun tractors where designed for towing a 25pdr field artillery gun, an ammunition limber trailer and carrying the gun crew. They where extensively used in all theaters of the WW2 by the commonwealth troops.
It is based on the CMP mechanicals, 216cui engine (with a 6 blade fan for extra cooling doing heavy towing and winching), four speed transmission, transfer box for 4x4 with high and low, and power takeoff for winch.
The CMP truck line, Ford and Chevrolet, was a brilliant idea which encompassed a number of different sizes, body configurations and chassis lengths. The largest 6x6 Chevrolets where fitted with the GMC 270 cui.
These Gun tractors, especially the early cab versions are not the most common vehicles and detail information is rather scares. So I have a lot of fun studying factory pictures and other surviving trucks. It has a number of standard civilian parts and then bespoke parts. The chassis and nose was made by Chevrolet, the bodies was made by various coach builders. Mine is from Canadian top & body corp. But others where Steel Dump bodies by Gar wood industries and Gotfredson limited. I have been having fun finding correct parts for it around the world eg New Zealand, Canada and Argentina. Some NOS and some from wrecks. But a number of other parts like footman loops, roof hatches and condenser can I have had to make my self, and I still have a number of different things to make for it.
A number of other manufactures (Morris Commercial, Guy, Karrier) made vehicles for the same role. When the CMP vehicles where updated to the more flat nose configuration, called Cab 13, the gun tractor bodies where also updated.
This is by the way the 3 different cab type use on CMP (Canadian Military Pattern) Cab 11, with only as small hatch on top for engine access and front windshield does not flip out. Cab 12, an upgrade on 11, with a proper bonnet and windshield opens, and improved engine access in the cab. Cab 13, a much improved design with much more room and better access.
on cab 11 and 12 the easiest difference between Ford and Chevy on the outside are louvers vs. round mesh ventilation, square vs. diamond mesh grill net and bush bar. Internally in the cab there is a difference on engine cover and dash lay out. on cab 13 its square vs. diamond mesh grill net and bush bar and a couple of other small details. outside and internally is again engine cover and dash.
Next project for me is to replace all the outer hatches on it. During the initial restoration these where just make using flat sheet with a reinforcement welded to it, due to the previous owner didn't have anything to copy. I have been fortunate to have seen a couple of original hatches and sources one to copy. The original hatch is a bit more complex for me to recreate, so I am still practicing and making tools for the job as my regular bender is not up to the task.
