U.S.A. W-454317 IS 78 THIS YEAR

[shelfboy1]

mine is 71 still runs good works hard not the prettiest but still parades and drives me to town .

[Joe Gopan]

Time marches on, the CCKW is still young at heart with many excellent examples owned by fellow collectors.
David Doyle's excellent new book "The GMC CCKW Truck in U.S. Service" brings them back to life as if it were yesterday.

[Joe Gopan]

The CCKW entered production as the CCKWX 353 exactly 73 years ago this month in October 1940. No one caught the 74 in the caption, sorry 'bout that.
There's nothing like having a seat in the CCKW on a warm fall afternoon and reflecting on its' WWII and post war service with the latest CCKW book by David Doyle.

[Joe Gopan]

How many of you can remember seeing the CCKW being driven by soldiers or airmen during the 40's-50's?

[johne504]

I was just admiring your truck. I just bought one like it, no winch. I noticed yours has a wooden steering wheel. Is this original in 1941, as mine has a plastic one.. I have several ww2 gmc's with wooden steering wheels, but they are post 1941.. I really love the short wheelbase cckw's. I personally have never ran across one until I bought the one I have recently. I'm impressed on how much sharper the 352''s turn than the 353's.

[Joe Gopan]

The near new condition Wood Steering wheel on my SWB is the result of a trade with Mark Norman, the gentleman that restored and donated two beautiful CCKW's to the National WWII Museum. I had a stock of NOS Hard Rubber Steering Wheels and traded him my last NOS as it was going to a very good cause.

[didier a.]

There are several other clues as to the year, the USA 454317 Stamped on the RH Winch Extension, the 38278 Chassis Number, the May 1941 delivery on the data plate, the symmetrical early grill, and 1st Series features of the chassis kinda nailed it down.

Chassis Number 38278 with cab model 1608 it is possible ?
It's the cab model 1574 that is correct for this GMC, no ?

[Joe Gopan]

Yes, the 1st Series CCKW's had the 1574 Cab installed, 1st Series Chassis Numbers were thru 41188. My particular truck had been thru a rebuild and had the brake system upgraded to the Hydrovac booster, also a 1619 Open Cab was installed. Many of the Euro return SWB CCKW's are 1st Series with Open Cabs. Kevin Kronlund gave me a complete 1574 Cab that was with correct dash but with round instrument plate., I did not want to get into changing the speedometer drive gears and installing electric instruments set up for the positive ground as the engine was a late deep sump type set up fpr mechanical instrunents. The dash panel presently in it is from a late Chev 4X4, I am happy with the changes as it is a safer and more reliable truck due to the Hydrovac and later components. It has given me 30 trouble free years and is in GI Issue condition with all GM parts and accessories.
One has to realize that many of the Euro CCKW returns went thru US Army depot rebuilds before being delivered to foreign governments, many of the rebuilds have the latest engine and brake upgrades, and do not have their original cabs and cargo bodies. They can be changed back, but the older hydrovacs may not be as safe, and the earlier superseded parts that were discarded over the years are no longer available NOS or very difficult to find in used serviceable condition. Sometimes it is best to add a few NOS cosmetics plus a under hood items and enjoy the CCKW experience as they all drive the same. Some of the items on my CCKW have taken 25 years to find and no matter how small the part, it is still exciting.

[Joe Gopan]

It is not always practical to return an early CCKW back to stock, especially if it has had a Depot overhaul in the US and the same done while in European service. A lot of early parts and systems were up graded and the earlier parts disposed of.

CCKWX entered Series Production 74 years ago this coming October. Some of the younger WWII MV collectors will be driving 100 year old MV's in a few years. My CCKW has a stock of anticipated spares that should keep it going thru 100 and beyond. Many of my WWII mentors that shared WWII MV experience with me are over 100 and now enjoying MV's in eternity where there are no flat tires and the gas tanks are always full.

[Joe Gopan]

First CCKWX's came off the production line 75 years ago this month.

[Joe Gopan]

Those of you with 1941 dated CCKW and CCKWX Jimmys have trucks that are Pearl Harbor era veterans. These WWII MV's are getting up there, 75 years is ancient and there are still quite a few Jimmys plus other WWII MV's that hardly show their age. Take a moment on December 7 to remember the soldiers from the Greatest Generation who drove and maintained these great trucks.

[Joe Gopan]

I love that OD paint, and that crisp GMC exhaust sound don't you?
She's 75 this month, still runs like the Army expected and is able to pass WWII Motorstables Inspection.

I picked this CCKW out from a surplus batch the Danish Army released in 1983 and bought it thru my longtime friend Seymore Sinett, owner of Supreme Surplus in Metuchen NJ. It left Denmark on Thanksgiving Day 1983 via SS POLASKI and arrived at Newark NJ 10 days later. The cost of the truck was $1200.00 and shipping was $1300.00. (Or Vise Versa) It is restored as a memento to all WWII Veterans and to those Army Instructors who mentored and had the patience over the past 70 years to share with me what WWII trucks and transportation was all about.
U.S.A. W-454317 is maintained strictly by the Army TM's using original parts and the good training provided by the US Army and WWII veteran instructors. There's nothing like spending a few moments now and then to get your GI Coveralls on, grab a handful of your favorite "Snap-On Tools and Army Issue Test Sets in order to check it's heart beat.
Memorial Day Parade is around the corner which means all fluids will be checked and the tires and braking system will get a close inspection. Local parade rules require proof of insurance and that vintage vehicles be restored to original safe operating condition. It has the 3rd Series upgrade with a NOS Hydrovac.
The CCKW will also get a good bath and glass will get some Windex so that it will be standing tall.
454317 has performed flawlessly in over 30 years of parades, the applause and "thumbs up" from the parade goers says it all.
A ride in a restored WWII CCKW is a ride in a time machine for me, all aches and pains seem to go away for a while as old age disappears and the young soldier you once were returns. (Same goes for my Jeeps, too.)

[Joe Gopan]

That WWII GI MP Night Stick on the seat is also my "Tire Buddy".

[Joe Gopan]

It's 76 and climbing. May was a good month back in 41.
I try to remember the dozens of local 152 Field Artillery members that I personally knew who were Federalized back in the spring of 1941 and the early EM stationed at Dow Field during that period. I knew several GI's who were the first to be stationed at DOW while it was under construction. My CCKW is a "time machine" when it comes to bringing vivid memories of WWII and the veterans.

[Joe Gopan]

Me and my CCKW have been together almost 36 years. The CCKW will be 78 in May. Seems tho it was just yesterday when I bought it from Supreme Surplus. Who ever thought back in 41 that these would still be on the road nearly 80 years later?
Supreme Surplus was one of the first surplus dealers to return WWII Trucks and parts from overseas, all the original dealers are gone now, but not forgotten.