During WWII four
companies made most of the 1½ ton trucks for military service; International (M-3L-4)
made specifically for the Navy and Marines, Ford (GTB), Dodge (WC62) and Chevy (G506 also
known as the Chevy G7100). Of the
manufacturers, Chevy by far, supplied the most 1 ½ ton trucks during the war. For the Chevy, G506 refers to all 1940 – 1945
Chevy 1 ½ ton trucks although individual models
were further designated by their configuration (a dump is a G7106, cargo is a G7107, etc
).
Chevy labeled the trucks “Vehicles
of Victory” during the war in the many ads Chevy ran promoting their war effort. About 150,000 Chevy 1 ½ ton trucks were
manufactured with some going to the Army and Army Air Corps, but the largest share being
sent to allied forces, particularly Britain and Russia.
Unfortunately, this makes the trucks and parts harder to find here in the US,
although they do share much in common with their big brother, the venerable GMC 2 ½ ton
or “deuce and a half” (for more
information on 6 x 6's, click here) and
their civilian counterparts.
Our friends in Australia tell us that the Chevy trucks were known as
"Yankee Joes" in the land down under. Numerous trucks still exist
there although the left hand drive was outlawed in 1948 forcing the
vehicles to be converted to right hand drive. For more info on
Chevys in Australia, go
here
With 4wd, a 4-speed
non-synchromesh transmission and reliable 83hp, 235 cid engine, the trucks were used for
almost every task at hand. Common uses included towing artillery, firefighting, hauling
troops and supplies, and the multitude of tasks associated with engineering battalions.
The truck also came with special body configurations, for a variety of specialized tasks
such a fire fighting, bomb supply, and communications.
Driving and Servicing
The Chevy 1 ½ ton provides the
“big truck” look and feel without the size and weight of the deuce and a half
(aka GMC CCKW). If speed is your thing,
don’t look here. These trucks are as much tractor as truck, and have a top speed of
only around 48mph and the transmission is not
synchromeshed so each shift must be double-clutched. Fortuantely the tranny is
rugged and well built, and can endure practice and occasional grinding of the amateur.
With four-wheel-drive, turning radius is somewhat compromised as
well. They are tough however, and will endure
abuse and conditions that would stop most civilian trucks.
Parts are available if you are willing
to do the research. The Chevy 235 cid engine
was made up to 1962 and any will bolt in without modification. Starting in 1952 the 235 went from Babbitt
bearings to insert bearings to match the GM line, which had insert bearings back in the
‘40’s. Rarely have I seen these
trucks that didn’t need brake work. Most
brake parts are readily available, although the cost of parts can add up if you do all 4
wheels.
-
Configurations
|
| G7107 - Cargo
Truck |
112,879 produced |
7,545 lbs. |
| The most
common WWII era Chevy 4x4 body configuration is the cargo truck and it
accounted for nearly 70% of all configurations. The G7117 is the cargo truck with
winch. |
|
| 7106
Cargo Dump |
14,395
produced |
8,300
lbs. |
| The G7116
is the same model except with a winch. Most winch models add about 500 lbs to the
weight. |
|
| G-7133
Airfield Crash Truck or Class 135 Fire truck |
unknown |
9,000
lbs |
| The Army
version of the airfield crash truck/fire truck is the Chevy G-7100 which was built
in several versions. Early models
(Class 110) had a mid-mounted pump, later models with the pump in front of the grill and
last were a front mount pump that was more hydrant dependent. Many airfield crash trucks saw service after the
war in rural fire departments as brush trucks, with a few still remaining in service
today. For more information on these trucks, click on "Army Fire & Crash Trucks" |
|
| G-7105
Panel truck |
3,658
produced |
6,760 lbs |
| This is a
relatively rare Chevy truck. It was also known as the K-51 Panel Van by the Signal
Corps. It was used primarily for transport of radio equipment. The Model WA
ambulance is very similar. |
|
| G7173
Telephone maintenance truck |
4,328
produced |
10,215
lbs |
| This truck
has a different body than the auger trucks, but still had the tripod for raising
poles (note it is stored lengthwise on the driver's side). It was known as the K42
or K43 by the Signal Corps. |
|
| G7163
Auger Truck |
1,719
produced |
7,200 lbs |
| Also
used by the Signal Corps, this truck was known by them as the K44. Note the railroad
adaptation gear on the rear. |
|
| M6 |
7,857
Produced |
6,325 lbs |
| The bomb
service truck had a very short wheelbase and an open canvas topped cab. |
|
| G7127
Long Wheelbase |
391
produced |
8,965 |
| This truck
has a longer wheelbase (175") than the standard Chevy's. . |
|
| G7123
Cab-over-engine (COE) stake truck |
581
produced |
8570 lbs |
| The COE was used by the Signal Corps to transport communication equipment. It was known
to them as the K-54. It has a longer wheel base (175") than the other Chevy's,
but the same tires and engine. |
|
Preservation vs. Restoration
Historic military vehicle collectors
such as myself find working with these trucks to be a perfect marriage between love of
history and technology. These are trucks that
helped win a war and offer as much, if not more, pride in ownership than many would find
in a rare 1928 LaSalle. Unfortunately, many
of these trucks are sitting rusting away in brush rows and behind barns. They are more than just 60-year-old trucks, they
are an irreplaceable piece of American History that deserves to be preserved. Many well-intentioned owners will leave these
vehicles in the elements for years with plans of restoration. After a decade or more of this exposure, many are
only useful for parts, if that. The first
step in any restoration should be preservation.
That is, don’t let the vehicle disintegrate any further. Get some sort of cover over it and keep it up out
of the dirt. If you can’t (or
haven’t), consider getting it into the hands of someone who will care for it by
putting it up for sale or “adoption”. You
can find another when you are seriously ready to restore – searching is half the fun!
