What type of truck is this?

[jmark]

Can anybody identify the make and model of this truck? (Bill )

Thanks!
Jason

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[Larrister]

Hi Jason Your truck is a French Matford F917WS. Cheers Larry

[Bill Murray]

Hi Jason.

It is an ex French Matford. Could be either an F817 or an F917, the major differences being payload based on the strength of the springs and tyre size. I think it is the heavier 917, a 5-6 ton machine.

Thanks, Larry. Snooze, you lose.
Bill

[jmark]

Thanks for the quick and helpful responses, guys!

All the best,
Jason

[jmark]

Ok, let's see if you're as good at identifying a truck's innards! This is probably impossible to determine but does this engine belong to the truck behind? And what is the make and model of the truck?

I'll really owe anyone that can answer this!
Jason

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[Simon O.]

Can anybody identify the make and model of this truck? (Bill )

Thanks!
Jason

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I know you know jason but for those that may be wondering the divisonal insignia is that of the 100 Jäger Division

[Bill Murray]

A rather wild guess, Jason but I may be correct if the photos you are posting are part of a series from the same unit.

I believe your last vehicle may be a Unic P 107 ex French half track.

Four reasons.
1. The design of the front wheel is typically French and specifically to that vehicle.

2. The style of the windscreen with the split on the bottom and the bar in the middle matches several photos I have of Unic vehicles of this type.

3. As well the knurled knob at the top part of the windscreen that allows the windscreen to be loosened and cranked upwards is typical of the Unic.

4. The front wing that we can see part of seems to be very close to the Unic design.

Two things that might help.
Is this from a series of photos that may portray a German unit equipped with French vehicles, a very common occurence after June 1940?

Is there someone better at photoshop than I am that can bring up the word on the side of the motor block or the writing on the sign on the wall to the right of the vehicle?

Bill

[jmark]

A rather wild guess, Jason but I may be correct if the photos you are posting are part of a series from the same unit.

I believe your last vehicle may be a Unic P 107 ex French half track.

...

Two things that might help.
Is this from a series of photos that may portray a German unit equipped with French vehicles, a very common occurence after June 1940?

Is there someone better at photoshop than I am that can bring up the word on the side of the motor block or the writing on the sign on the wall to the right of the vehicle?

Bill

Bill, you're a genius! As soon as I read your mention of the Unic half-track, I remembered several photos of a weird half-track earlier in the photo album. And you were spot on! Attached below is one of the photos clearly showing some of the features you mentioned. Could the engine belong to that vehicle?

This photo album shows an independent repair company that specialised in repairing, overhauling and rebranding French and British vehicles for the Wehrmacht. The photo of the mechanics, however, was taken in Kharkov in mid-1942, so it seems they were still repairing French vehicles deep in Russia! Under magnification, the word on the engine block cannot be read but the sign on the wall can: it is only a German sign warning against "Diebstahl" (stealing).

Thanks a million, Bill!
Jason

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[Bill Murray]

Hi Jason:

Certainly no genius here, but thanks for the kind words.

Over more years than I care to count, I have tried to "mark" certain ID tips or clues that help me to at least narrow down what a certain vehicle may or may not be.

For those of you who will take up the flag in the future, (I am approaching 70 years of age), the "devil is in the details" is often the most accurate way of solving some of these vehicle ID puzzles.

Not to write a book here, but the placement of the steering wheel (On the right or the left), the placement of the door handles, the shape of the front or rear wings, the type and/or size of the tyre equipment and a host of other small details can often lead one to properly ID a given vehicle.

In the case at hand, I am glad that Larry and I have been able to help you out with good success with your two questions.

Please challenge us again, often.

Bill