[MV] Big Fords M34s and combat rims

DDoyle9570@aol.com
Sat, 24 Jul 1999 08:43:02 EDT

Brian,
Although not strictly an MV, Ford had some big twin engine trucks during the
war to haul major components of aircraft over long distances between
factories. Big article about them here while back in Wheels and Tracks. I
suspect that GP, GPA, GAA armored car and bomber production had Ford
occupied.
What kind of deuces had the combat rims? I have seen pics of M34/35 and M135
and 5 tons with "combat" looking rims, all being early
producton/pre-production trucks in US service. I am assuming you are using
as a spotting feature the "bolt on lock ring" vs "snap on lock ring".

With respect to the M34 issue. I have few facts, but some thoughts. In the
GMC family there is M135, M211 and XM211. I understand that some XM211's
started life as M135 and were modified to XM211 configuration. I have seen
some with rather crude data plates that to me lends credence to this thought.

Since the M34/35 family has had a much longer service life, perhaps it is
possible that more of them were "converted", although I have never seen
reference to a widespread XM34/35 series similar to what one finds in XM211.
Also, this whole thing is skewed by there being so many more M34/35 type
trucks than M135/211 trucks around today.
Plus the only references I have ever seen are to M34, no M34A1 or M34A2, so
apparently this went out with the gas engine models, and unlike some M35's,
no M34s were authorized for re-engining with the multifuel power plant.
There is a good pic of a restored M34 on the web, I think it is on green six.
Since I have been going down to Memphis Equipment on an at least once a week
basis for many years now, (and they have an ever changing inventory of
hundreds of trucks) I have not seen the first M34, although I have seen
several Class 530 pumpers and some pole setting and telephone maintence
trucks built on the M44 (sinlge wheel) chassis.

Sorry, not a definative, fact based answer.
David Doyle

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