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The American Automobile Industry in World War Two

An American Auto Industry Heritage Tribute


By David D Jackson
Overview The U.S. Auto Industry at the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944 The U.S. Auto Industry and the B-29 Bomber U.S. Auto Industry
Army-Navy "E" Award Winners The Complete listing of All Army-Navy "E" Award Winners Sherman Tanks of the American Auto Industry Tank
Destroyers of the American Auto Industry M26 Pershing Tanks of the American Auto Industry M36 Tank Destroyers of the American Auto
Industry Serial Numbers for WWII Tanks built by the American Auto Industry WWII Surviving Landing Craft Photos

Automobile Manufacturers: American Bantam Car Company Checker Chrysler Crosley Ford General Motors Graham-Paige Hudson
Nash-Kelvinator Packard Motor Car Company Studebaker Willys-Overland

General Motors Divisions (Undergoing development): AC Spark Plug Aeroproducts Allison Brown-Lipe-Chapin Buick Cadillac Chevrolet
Cleveland Diesel Delco Appliance Delco Products Delco Radio Delco-Remy Detroit Diesel Detroit Transmission Electro-Motive Fisher
Body Frigidaire GM Proving Grounds GM of Canada GMC GMI Guide Lamp Harrison Radiator Hyatt Bearings Inland Moraine Products
New Departure Oldsmobile Packard Electric Pontiac Saginaw Malleable Iron Saginaw Steering Gear Southern California Division
Rochester Products United Motors Service Vauxhall Motors

Other World War Two Manufacturers: Allis-Chalmers American Locomotive American LaFrance Autocar B.F. Goodrich Baldwin Locomotive
Works Brockway Motor Company Caterpillar Chris-Craft Clark Equipment Company Cleveland Tractor Company Cummins Engine
Company Cushman Motor Works Diamond T Federal Motor Truck Firestone Tire and Rubber Company Harley-Davidson Higgins
Industries Indian Motorcycle International Harvester John Deere Mack Truck Marmon-Herrington Company Massey-Harris Pacific Car and
Foundry Reo Motor Car Company R.G. LeTourneau Seagrave Fire Apparatus Sterling Motor Truck Company Ward LaFrance Truck
Corporation White Motor Company

Updates and Additions Links

Anatomy of a GMC DUKW GMC at War


General Motors Truck and Coach Division of General Motors Corporation in
World War Two
Pontiac, MI
1911-Present
This page updated 4-21-2019.

At the beginning of World War Two, what later became the GMC Truck and Bus Division of General Motors, was part of the Yellow Truck and Coach
Manufacturing Company. Yellow Truck had originally formed in 1923 as a subsidiary of Yellow Cab and was originally named the Yellow Coach
Manufacturing Company. GM and Yellow Truck merged on July 8, 1925 with General Motors owning 60% by using the assets of GMC in the new holding
company. The new company was known as Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company. GM made the purchase in order to become involved with the
manufacture of buses. A purchase of 160 acres near Pontiac, MI led to the construction of the world's largest truck making plant which had 26 acres under
roof. Production began at the new plant in January 1928.

The General Motors truck operation that was contributed to the new holding company in 1925 had its roots in two independent Detroit truck manufacturers that
were purchased by WC Durant for his auto empire. Reliance Motor Company was purchased in 1908 and Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1909, resulting in
the General Motors Truck Company (GMC) in 1911.

In September 1943 General Motors purchased all of the assets of the Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company and created the General Motors Truck
and Bus Division which has evolved into the GMC of today. Today its product line is upscale SUVs and pickup trucks, as it shed the heavy duty truck and bus
business in the late 20th century.

The trucks that Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company early in the war were officially identified by the military as being built by that company even
though they were known by to the public as GMC, or to the GIs as "Jimmies." After 1943 they were identified as GMC products by the military. In this
webpage the name GMC will be used for all of the vehicles built at the Pontiac truck plant by the future GMC division.

Many persons refer to the not only the 2-1/2 ton 6x6 truck built by GMC, but International Harvester and Studebaker during WWII as "deuce and a halves." In
my research I have yet to find a WWII document that describes the trucks in this manner. It is my contention that this is a post WWII term, most likely
originating in the Vietnam War era.

The GMC Division of General Motors won the Army-Navy "E" for Excellence Award two times.

GMC World War Two Production Statistics:


There were 571,053 trucks produced with the GMC nameplate on it ranging in size from 1-1/2-ton to 10-ton in capacity during World War Two.

Between 1940 and 1945 GMC built 546,020 2-1/2-ton 6x6 trucks including 21,147 of the amphibious DUKW. Another 7,232 were cab-over-engine 2-1/2-ton
6x6 trucks with either 15-foot or 17-foot cargo beds. The remaining 517,641 trucks were the CCKW-352 and CCKW-353 types.
GMC built 362,348, or 70% of these at its Pontiac, MI plant. Chevrolet built the other 155,293 at two of its assembly plants.

There were 21,147 2-1/2 ton 6x6 amphibious trucks produced with the GMC nameplate on it. GMC built 14,399, or 68% of these at its Pontiac, MI plant.
Chevrolet built the other 6,748 at its St. Louis assembly plant.

The rest of the various types of trucks, buses and trailers were all built in the GMC Pontiac, MI plant.

GMC also built 2,249 buses, 30 T18E2 Boarhound Armored Cars, and 6 trailers during 1940-1945.

GMC World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army


The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.
Type GMC Model 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Cargo wo/w CC-302 39 8 47
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Communication K-18 CC-302 47 258 109 414
CC-302, ACX-
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Dump wo/w 16 3 19
353
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Panel Delivery AF-312 18 18
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Platform w/ Elevator CC-252 1 1
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Wrecker ACKWX-353 23 23
Total 1-1/2-ton 4x2 143 258 121 522

Total 1-1/2-3 ton 4x4 Chassis ? 49 49

2-1/2-ton 6x6 Amphibian DUKW-353 235 4508 11,316 5,088 21,147


2-1/2 ton 6x6 Bomb Services Chassis
CCKW-353 627 627
M27, M27B1
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo wo/w CCKW-353 6,550 22,459 43,935 58,448 53,422 46,538 231,352
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo w/w CCKW-353 1,202 7,564 27,795 27,870 32,221 24,019 120,671
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo 15-Foot Body AFKWX-353 613 1,619 2,232
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo 17-Foot Body AFKWX-353 4,000 1,000 5,000
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo SWB wo/w CCKW-352 244 11,862 14,110 5,380 31,596
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo SWB w/w CCKW-352 8,508 8,547 3,145 954 440 21,594
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis wo/w CCKW-353 36 124 15,535 18,145 11,279 1,641 46,760
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis w/w CCKW-353 237 3,321 2,674 4,184 10,416
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis SWB wo/w CCKW-352 2 800 802
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Dump wo/w CCKW-353 1 1,300 1,301
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Dump w/w CCKW-353 10,905 23,639 12,500 47,044
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Stock Rack, 15-foot Body CCKW-353 27 93 120
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Tank 750 Gal. Gas
CCKW-353 114 183 750 642 2,282 162 4,133
(Complete Units)
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Tank 750 Gal. Water CCKW-353 60 887 215 46 1,208
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Van CCKW-353 1 1
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Battery Servicing CCKW-353 8 8
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Fuel Servicing CCKW-353 8 8
Total 2-1/2 ton 6x6 8,173 50,796 111,834 136,970 142,002 96,245 546,020

Total 2-1/2 ton 6x4 Cargo wo/w CCW-353 707 22,687 255 23,649

2-1/2 ton 4x4 Tire Servicing ACK-353 5 5


2-1/2 ton 4x4 Tractor COE AFKX-502 81 81
Total 2-1/2 ton 4x4 COE 81 5 86

2-1/2 ton 4x2 Canopy Express CC-453 1 1


2-1/2 ton 4x2 Cargo CC-453 109 9 118
CCX-453, ACX-
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Dump 110 19 129
453
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Stake and Platform CC-453 22 4 18 44
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Tractor ACX-503 8 2 10
Total 2-1/2 ton 4x2 249 35 18 302

4-ton 4x4 Cargo AFKX-804 11 11


4-ton 4x4 Van AFKX-804 192 124 316
Total 4-ton 4x4 11 192 124 327
5-ton 4x2 Dump AC-803 12 12
5-ton 4x2 Stake and Platform AC-805 6 1 7
Total 5-ton 4x2 18 1 19

Total 8-ton 6x4 Tractor ACK-853 11 11


Total 10-ton 4x2 COE ? 50 50
Total Tractor Truck - to be used with
? 18 18
Semi-Trailer Tank
Truck Totals 8,675 52,050 134,856 137,225 142,002 96,245 571,053

Bus 25-29 Passenger ? 6 5 11


1-1/2-3 ton 4x4 Bus Body ? 276 974 938 2,188
Bus 37 Passenger 4x2 Integral Intra-City
? 40 40
Type
Bus 32 Passenger 4x2 Integral Inter-City
? 10 10
Type
Bus Totals 276 980 943 50 2,249

Total Trailer 3-1/2-ton 2W 16 foot Stake


? 6 6
and Platform

GMC World War Two Armored Cars Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.
Type GMC Model 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
Car Armored Heavy T18E2 ? 2 28 30

Author's Note and Disclaimer: The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during
WWII. It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease. However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles
including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign
countries making direct purchases.

A note on Chevrolet CCKW and DUKW production: Some authors state that GMC took over management of Chevrolet plants. This is not true. Chevrolet
maintained control of both the Baltimore and St. Louis assembly plants that built GMC products. Because Chevrolet was a subcontractor to GMC the trucks
had GMC data plates in them.

At the end of the war all CCKW production had shifted to Chevrolet St. Louis, and in 1944 and 1945 the daily run rate for CCKWs was larger at St. Louis than
at the GMC plant in Pontiac, MI. Therefore, while all of the nameplates on the CCKWs are GMC, if the truck was built in 1944 or 1945, there is a greater than
50% chance that it is the Chevy built version. All CCKWs built in St. Louis, with the exception of the last (1,000) units, had Chevrolet axles on them.

Time line for the CCKW:


Mid 1941: Part number 1608 cab (Chevrolet manufactured item) introduced with the mirror mounted to the cowl rather than on the door hinge, flat panel
instrument cluster
Mid 1941: Part number 1609 cab (Chevrolet manufactured item) same as 1608 but with hatch for gunner
August 1942 through the spring of 1943: Part number 1619 soft top cabs introduced replacing the all steel cab part numbers 1608 and 1609
October 1942: Four spoke wooden rim steering wheel introduced

Axles: GMC used two types of axles for its trucks. Originally a Timken split differential type was used. However, Timken, for various reasons was not able to
keep up with the demand. Chevrolet front face differentials were substituted.

A notable Quote:
WWII for the US was the first completely mechanized war. There were tanks, jeeps, tanks, armored cars, tank destroyers, halftracks, and trucks that were
used by the US military. They can in all sizes from the 1/4 ton 4x4 Jeep to the 10 ton wreckers. But there is one truck that comes to a person's mind when
thinking or thinking of a trucks from WWII, and it is the GMC 2-1/2-ton 6X6. It is the definitive truck of WWII!

A quote from "The Great Crusade" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower: "Incidentally, four other pieces of equipment that most senior officers came to regard
as among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2-1/2-ton truck and the C-47 airplane."

For the United States Army in Africa and Europe, the 2-1/2-ton truck General Eisenhower refers to is the GMC CCKW. The CCKW was exclusively used by
the Army as the Studebaker version went to Great Britain and Russia, and the International Harvester version were also sent overseas on Lend-Lease, or
were used by the US Marines.
This is what comes to mind when one thinks of the WWII truck. The GMC 2-1/2 ton CCKW-353 6x6 truck noted by General Eisenhower in his book. Author's
photo.

A GMC 2-1/2 ton 6x6, or "Jimmy", as they were known to the troops during WWII, running the Red Ball Express and keeping the front line troops supplied
with beans, bullets and bandages! This is a CCKW-353 long bed with a hard cab, indicating it was built no later than the spring of 1943.

The CCW: C = 1941 design, C = Standard cab, W= Tandem rear wheels

The CCW was the same at the CCKW but was a 6x4, as the K in the CCKW designation denotes all wheel drive. 23,649 were built between 1941 and 1943.
This GMC 1941-1942 CCW 6x4 was photographed at the AAF Tank Museum minus its outer back wheels. This particular example has a 210 CFM Roi Air
Compressor mounted on the bed. Author's photo.

The Museum has the CCW misidentified as a 1944 CCKW. Starting in August 1942 through spring of 1943 the hardtops were been replaced by soft top cabs.
Also, GMC only ran the 6x4 CCW from late 1941 to late summer of 1942. During this period 23,501 were built and shipped overseas under Lend-Lease.
Author's photo.
The GMC has a straight axle with no differential making it 6x4 identifying it as a CCW. The GMC version of the 6x4 went to China and the Studebaker 6x4
went to Russia. Author's photo.

The CCKW: C = 1941 design, C = Standard cab, K = All wheel drive, W= Tandem rear wheels

The CCKW was built as either the CCKW-352 short bed and the CCKW-353 twelve foot long bed with a multitude of bed types.

CCKW-352:

A pre mid 1941 CCKW-352 short bed without a winch. There is no bracket on the cowling for a mirror and the spare tires and fuel tank are directly behind the
cab. One of the uses for the CCKW-352 was as a prime mover for artillery, and to carry the gun crew in the bed of the truck. Author's photo.
A post mid 1943 CCKW-352 with a winch. Author's photo.

CCKW-353:

This can be identified as a CCKW-353 as the fuel tank is underneath the bed. Also of note is that the rear view mirrors are attached to the door hinge. After
mid 1941 GMC started mounting the rear view mirror to the cowl. Therefore this truck was built previous to the middle of 1941. In this photo the axle to the
front wheel drive is visible. This is the oldest GMC the author has found. Author's photo.
Author's photo.

Author's photo.
This is a post mid 1941 CCKW-353 long bed GMC truck with no winch. It can be identified by the spare tire and fuel tank (opposite side) that are under the
cargo bed. Because the mirror is mounted to the cowling this is post mid 1941. With the hardtop cab this CCKW was built before early 1943. Author's photo.

This is a post mid 1943 CCKW-353 long bed GMC truck as it has the soft top cab with a front winch. Author's photo.
Author's photo.

Author's photo.
This CCKW-353 had a gun ring added for defense against aircraft. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo. Note how small it looks compared to a modern army truck next to it.
This CCKW-353 is owned by the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
This has a four spoke steering wheel indicating it was built after October 1943. Author's Photo.

It has a Chevrolet axle. Author's Photo.

Modified or non standard cargo bed CCKW:


The following photos are of a CCKW-353 in a diorama at the US Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, PA. This particular vehicle was configured as a mechanic's
workshop truck. Author's photo

A crane has been mounted to the front of the vehicle to pull engines that need to be replaced or rebuilt. Author's photo.
The bed of the truck has a built in workshop. Author's photo.

Author's photo.
Many GMC chassis were built without the cargo bed and then sent to a third party for addition of something other than the standard cargo bed. This particular
post mid 1941 but pre 1942 was modified as General George S. Patton's living quarters truck. Author's photo.

This GMC is on display at the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, KY. Author's photo.
Author's photo.

In the modification the spare tire has been moved to the rear. Author's photo.
CCKW-353 Tankers:

Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
All GMC trucks were powered by the GMC 270 cubic inch engine. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

GMC Bomb Trucks:

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
GMC Cargo-Dump: A total of 37,803 cargo-dump trucks were built at both GMC Pontiac and Chevrolet St. Louis, with some of the last of CCKW trucks built
at St. Louis being this style. All but 1,300 had winches. When production started in April 1943 the conversion from hard cab to soft cab was also taking place.
The third open cab truck to come down the Pontiac line was the prototype cargo-dump. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

This particular truck has Chevrolet axles. Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.

GMC Airborne Cargo-Dump: The Airborne CCKW-353 Cargo-Dump below was one of 1,210 built by GMC at its Pontiac plant. It is distinguishable as being
built in Pontiac because all of the airborne trucks had Timken axles and a winch. The truck was separated into four pieces which were air transportable by
C-47 to the battlefield where they could then be assembled by the maintenance crews. Author's Photo.
This pristine GMC CCKW-353 cargo-dump is on display at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN. All airborne cargo-dumps were equipped with front
winches and Timken axles. Author's photo.

The airborne cargo-dump was only transportable by aircraft. It could not be air dropped or delivered to the battlefield in a glider. Author's photo.
The Timken split differential. Author's photo.

Author's photo.
The frame was separated behind the cab with flanges for bolting the two sections together. A special valve and coupling were provided to keep from
introducing air into the brake lines upon re-assembly. The two drive shafts were disconnected at the transfer case. Author's photo.

The cargo bed also came in two pieces and bolted together. In theory a team of five experienced mechanics could assemble the truck two hours after it was
unloaded from the two C-47s needed to transport it. The front section with the cab came on one C-47 and had the front half of the bed, running board,
fenders, bows, tarpaulin windshield and tools were loaded in the front cab. The front section came with a dolly attached to the rear for ease of movement
before being assembled. The second C-47 would arrive with the rear half of the chassis. The rear half of the bed, spare tires, fuel tank, muffler, body racks
and frame splicing were loaded in the aircraft behind the rear frame. It took less than an hour to unload both sections from their aircraft. Author's photo.

The AFKWX: A = 1939 design, F = Forward cab, K = All wheel drive, W = Tandem rear wheels, X = Extended bed

GMC built 7,232 of the AFKWX which was a cab over engine design which longer cargo bed for transporting bulky loads. It had the same wheel base as the
CCKW-353, and had a 15 or 17 foot bed which was three or five feet longer than the 353 series truck. Being of an older design it did not have a tilt cab which
made working on the engine a challenge. The GMC 270 engine had a updraft carburetor rather than a downdraft as was on the CCKW 270 engine.
Author's Photo.

The cargo bed is fifteen feet long and was designed to carry bulky loads. Author's Photo.

AFKX-804 4x4 Van: During 1941-1942 GMC built 316 of AFKX-804 Cab over Engine 4x4 vans for use by the U.S. Army for use as maintenance vehicles.
The example shown below at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, OH was used by the Army Ordnance Department for the repair of weapons in the
field. This is an extremely rare, and maybe the only example left of this type, considering how few were built.
Note that the front end is similar to the AFKWX in the photos above, except that this has the older steel roof, rather than the later soft canvas cab. Author's
photo added 4-21-2019.

Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


The AFKX-804 4x4 is located in the boat house section of the museum, where Vosper PT boat 728 is being restored. The truck is located there waiting to be
restored. However, one of the advantages of not being restored, is that the construction of the machine shop is evident. On this side the glass windows at the
top can be slid down the tracks for ventilation. Author's photo added 4-21-2019.

All of the equipment is gone out of the inside, and it is being used for storage. Author's photo added 4-21-2019.
On this side the windows are covered by expanded metal coverings, which pivot on hinges below the windows. Author's photo added 4-21-2019.

Author's photo added 4-21-2019.

GMC Switch Engines:


This CCKW was used in England as switch engine working inside a warehouse to avoid fire hazard.

This AFKWX was used as a switch engine in Ashchurch, England during the war.

DUKW: D = 1942 design, U = Utility (Amphibious), K = All wheel drive, W = Tandem rear wheels

The first use of the GMC DUKW amphibious truck was the invasion of Sicily in July and August 1943.

A quote from "The Great Crusade" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower in reference to the Sicily invasion: "This change resulted from the unforeseen availability
of a considerable number of LST's and the quantity production of the "duck", an amphibious vehicle that proved to be one of the most valuable pieces of
equipment produced by the United States during the war."
Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
This GMC DUKW is on display at the USS Edson in Bay City, MI. One in four DUKWs were built with the crane to facilitate the unloading other DUKWs during
WWII. Assuming this vehicle was built in Pontiac, it is only 95 miles from where it was assembled. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

DUKWs under construction at the GMC Pontiac plant.


The GMC DUKW was versatile. Here two of them joined together move a Lockheed P-38 across a body of water.

Not only was the DUKW used from ship to shore on ocean beaches, but it moved inland in Europe to bring supplies and troops across the many rivers that
need be crossed.
Shown in this period factory photo are GMC 6 cylinder 125 hp engines that went into all of the GMC 2-1/2 ton trucks. The engine was also used in the
Chevrolet built T17E1 Staghound armored car and the GMC built T18E2 Boarhound armored car.

Both the Staghound and Boarhound used two of the GMC engines to power the armored cars.
GMC built 30 T18E2 Boarhound armored cars for the British. The original order was for 2,500 but that did not transpire.

Eight GMC built Boarhounds ended up in combat with the British in North Africa. Today only one Boarhound still exists at the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK.

The GMC Rear Wheel Drive System:

This derelict CCKW-353 at the Fort Economy Museum in Hallsville, OH allows one to look at the drive train for GMC trucks built during WWII. With the mirror
mounted to the door this vehicle was built before mid 1941. Author's Photo.
It can be identified as a CCKW-353 long bed version because the fuel tank mounting bracket is on the side of the frame. Author's Photo.

There are two drive shafts coming off the transfer case. Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

One drive shaft drives the first axle while the other one continues to the rear axle. Author's Photo.
The axles and differentials were produced by Chevrolet for the truck. Author's Photo.

Author's Photo.

The Chevrolet-GMC Connection: Chevrolet was a significant supplier to GMC during World War Two along with building a considerable amount of CCKW
and DUKWs at its St. Louis Plant.

Chevrolet supplied all of the closed cabs for the GMC until the changeover to the soft tops in 1942-43. If one looks at a Chevrolet or GMC truck with a closed
cab from the front it can be difficult to determine which manufacturer made the vehicle.
This GMC can be identified as a GMC because of the rear dual axles. Chevrolet only had one rear axle on its 1-1/2 ton trucks. On the GMC there are more
side vents than the Chevy below. Looking head-on it it difficult if not impossible to distinguish between the two. Author's Photo.

A Chevrolet 1-1/2 ton. Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

Derelicts: Unfortunately there are more than a few GMC trucks that have been left outside to suffer the ravages of the weather.

A CCKW-353 at the Halls, TN Veterans' Museum. The Museum has some very nice restored vehicles on the inside of museum. Hopefully this is next on its
restoration project list. Photo courtesy of David Jackson, Jr..
This photo was taken by the author at a later date than the previous photo during the 2015 Halls' Airshow to show the size difference between the WWII
CCKW truck and the current M1078 Light Medium Tactical Truck. Both are rated at 2-1/2 tons.

This CCKW-353 is on display outside the 100th Bomb Group Restaurant just north of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport. This truck has Timken
differentials and axles. Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

This CCKW tanker truck is at the Fort Economy Museum in Hallsville, OH. Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.

Note the separate mirror bracket making this a post mid 1941 CCKW. Author's Photo.

Post WWII:
After WWII GMC introduced M135 as its follow on vehicle to provide a more up to date vehicle with the newest technology for the US military. They were
produced from 1951 through 1955 before being replaced by the REO designed M35 series. This somewhat dilapidated M135 is on display at Camp Atterbury,
IN. The truck was originally supplied with a winch as the data plate shown below indicates. Author's Photo.

The M135 have several innovations over the previous CCKW series which included a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, 24 volt electrical system, single
large tires and a sealed waterproof ignition. There were other GMC trucks in the series with other designations. Only the M135 had the single large tires.
Author's Photo.
The M135 was delivered in July 1952 and has serial number 9758. The first M135 came off the assembly line on September 13, 1951. A total of 62,380
M135s were built by GMC. Author's Photo.

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