The GMC CCKW

I am Greg, a purspective GMC owner!

I have found a vehicle in France (next door to my parent inlaws!). Can you help me identify it please?

I know a little about various militeria - and know enough to know that you guys know more!

Chassis number: CCKW352 217516-B1

Would really apreciate your help - perhaps I could evn impress the current owner before I leave in next couple of days. He doesn't want to commit to selling because of sentimental reasons - but is not a weel man, and my father inlaw (his friend) is sure that he would be happier to know that it go to someone who would keep it and restore it to its former glory.

Thanks again,
Greg

Hello Greg and welcome to the forum. The vehicle identification stamp you give tells us a lot of information. The CCKW bit tells us that the vehicle is a 6 x6 configuration with a driven front axle. The 352 tells us that it is of the Short Wheelbase type, easy to recognise as behind the cockpit there will be space for two spare wheels. The B1 tells us that the body type originally fitted was a Cargo model, and also tells us that its fitted with a winch. The B1 designation also tells us that the axles are of the "Split" type rather than the "Banjo" type.

The chassis number of 217516 tells us that it is one of a batch (mixed 353 & 352) with chassis numbers between 213652 to 321077 placed in procurement contract 4 and built between March 1943 and February 1944

There are several excellent books available, and for picture content I would highly recommend : GMC un camion de legende by Jean-Michel Boniface ISBN No 2-7268-9323-6. it also happens to be in French !

I hope this will get you on the road to ownership. Please let us know how you get on.

Regards Karoshi
CCKW 352 B1

Thank you for that. All good info.
Is there any way of knowing when it arrrived into France and to whom it was issued? There doen't appear to be any American evidence, all cockpit plates are in French - can I assume it was never issued an American registration number/hood number?
Any way of tracing military history?
Great forum! I am really enjoying trawling through all the old posts, so much info to get the motivation going!
Regards
Greg

Well its going to take you a little more than a few posts on any forum to find the Nirvana you're looking for. The simple answer is no, there is no quick route to a vehicle history. You might strike lucky by sanding the layers of paint off one by one, or you may even find a clue or two on the French re-build plates. Sorry but the info you seek simply isnt available from records....its a l-o-n-g game of hide and seek.

They hide the information and you spend the rest of your life seeking it.

Strip the paint first, if you strike lucky with a serial number or a unit insignia you're in with a chance..............a very slim chance.

Good luck

Karoshi

Karoshi is right on with this...

They hide the information and you spend the rest of your life seeking it.

Pay particular attention when sanding to the outboard side of the front bumper and the rear bumperettes. Unit designations were usually painted in these areas.

Bill

Welcome to the site. You have entered the best site on WWII GMC's in the world.

Hi Greg:

By the tone of your query I get the impression that you might think that your truck went straight to the French forces from the factory... highly unlikely... the french data plates were probably put on in the 1950s during a rebuild. It is most likely that your truck served with US forces and was given to the French post war as part of MAP (Military Assistance Programme), a sub-set of the Marshall Plan (you can google these terms). If the truck was given to the French forces during the war it still would have come from US stocks and would have a USA registration somewhere. There are several reputable dealers that can sell you a set of english language data plates. There were several versions of the plates so do your research and get the correct ones. In this website is a wonderful and detailed history of the CCKW... it was the first thing I downloaded and printed when I became a member of this crazy fraternity... absolutely invaluable. Chat also with "Karoshi" as he is a member of a very big re-enactment group in the UK that have between them some 20 CCKWs. There are few headaches they haven't already experienced and dealt with. The old salts on this website sometimes forget (advancing age, gents? ) that we don't all have the level of knowledge they do... nonetheless, they are wonderful chaps and a great help to a newbie!

Our knowledgable friends are absolutely correct, sand the bumpers, rear bumperettes and the sides of the hood ("bonnet" to you UK types) to look for numbers. Use the registry in this website to see roughly where your truck was in the five year production run and it will give you an idea of what your USA registration number was.

Good luck!

Cheers, Mike

CCKW352 40236B1 'born' 27 May 1941 (+ or - a day or two!). 177,280 CCKWs made between yours and mine!

Welcome Greg, keep the questions coming its great to get more info with every answer