CMP Trucks

Rob Groves sends these CMP's

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Good runner, low mileage.

The Ford and Chev' CMP (Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles) were produced between 1940 and 1945 by Ford and General Motors of Canada. They were produced to British Military Specifications and were produced in Canada largely because our production capability was not interupted by the War. The Ford and Chev' were essentially the same truck with the same cab (minor differences). The Fords had a flathead V8, the Chevs had a straight six. Rear ends were also different although interchangeable as were transmissions and transfer cases. They were made in a variety of models, a 8cwt, 15cwt, 30cwt, and a 60cwt (short and long wheelbase). Wheelbases were 101 1/4", 138" and 154".

Two styles were produced by both Ford and Chev'. The early version, 1940-1941 had a very narrow cab, wider front fenders, and suicide doors. The second version (Canadian designed) had a wider cab and had much easier access to the engine. Drivelines did not change however. Two-wheel drive versions were also produced but in limited numbers. A variety of bodies were produced by a different manufacturers for various purposes. Ford and GM of Canada produced around 800,000 military vehicles during WWII, most of which were CMPs. They were not manufactured for training purposes but for actual use. They were shipped and assembled all over the World and many are still in use today.
- Ian McColl, 5/98

The three on the Ford page are Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) trucks. There were two versions; the first introduced at about the beginning of the war in 1940, and the second introduced in 1942. First version trucks were almost direct copies of the British military trucks (the WD pattern) and came in two cab sizes sizes - the smaller CMP9 and the larger CMP11. They looked like the third picture on this page. There was also a CMP-12 which allowed outside engine access. This series of CMP trucks were very cramped and difficult to work on and with. The second versions are like the top two trucks on the page. They were also CMP, and again came in two cab sizes, the smaller CMP13 and the larger CMP15.

In both versions, these trucks were made by both GMC and Ford. Since the volume demanded outstripped the capacity of either, they pooled their resources to create the CMP. The GMC was probably the better truck for slow and steady hauling, but the Ford could go a bit faster and was better for convoying. The chassis, body, differentials and accessories were the same for both makes; only the engines and tranmissions differed - the Ford with its V-8 and impossible to downshift 4-speed, the Chevrolet with its inline six and 4-speed.

Again, in both cases, the models produced corresponded directly with the British 8-, 15-, and 30-cwt, along with 3-ton and field artillery tractors. So we had a CMP9 8cwt, CMP13 8cwt, etc. There were also some specialty bodies made for ambulances and communications.
- Bob McLennan [12/1998]

Go to the Ford Trucks, GM trucks and Military Vehicles pages