French V3000S

[MVNUT]

hi

has anyone ever seen a war time pic of a French V3000S F198t?

they differ from other manufacturers. the cab is wider than the cowl at the hinge pillar.

most interested in any info.

thanks
tony nz

[s.pak]

Hi, Tony.
The Ford F198T is a french 3,5t truck, the first truck leaves from Ford at Poissy on March 26 1945.

not much of chances finding a photograph " during the war"

patrick

[MVNUT]

thanks for that.

what is a f598t?

cheers

[spannermann]

F 598 T = French built 1945 (post war, so probably a latter half of 1945 V3000)

There is one in Italy with exactly that code stamped on its FORD Poissy (S & O) data plate

spannermann

[MVNUT]

Hello Patrick and Spannerman.

Ive had a look around the web for what little info there is on Poissy. I found a small section on postwar production stating that the first F198 T left the factory on 26th March 1945 etc. However the sentence before that states that "manufacturing resumed with models from the war".
Another source states (simplifing the translation)- "from June 1940 Poissy management passed to the Germans and began to produce trucks of 3 to 3.5T capacity and received the prefix "F" for France. In 1941 they began using a new engine the 95hp 3.9L V8". It goes on to suggest FG198 may have been used and F198TG has been noted on a chassis plate.
The German code for the V3000s was G- Germany, 1-1941 9-3.9L V8, 8-wheelbase, T-truck. It seems to follow that a similar model produced in France would carry the same US Ford coding with the prefix F.

About S.A.F- "SA Francaise Matford continued until 1940 when the Stasbourg plant closed and a new one opened in Poissy and the company became Ford Societe Anonyme Fancaise (SAF).
General info, June and July 1940- "During this period Ford of France began producing 3ton trucks for the German military and was supplying parts to Ford of Belgium and Holland". "Dollfus convinced German authorities in Paris to grant him the authority to manage the French plants independently".
Another snippet of information- "However, because of difficulties at Ford of France, including an attempt at sabotage, in January 1943 the Speer ministry took the first step to include the French subsidiary in the "general Ford plan". This called for coordinating parts production and assembly of military trucks and Maultiers between Ford-Werke and Ford in France as well as Belgium and Holland.
also this translation- "The armed forces strove for rationalization and standardization. Starting from February 1943 in Poissy the building of their own truck was stopped to favour Cologne type."

In addition, Poissy was liberated in August 1944 and its labour employed to repair the factory, repair Seine bridges, repair tanks and built trucks for the French army. I wonder if they had time to design, approve, prototype and retool the cabin, bonnet, doors, fixtures and assemblies in seven months. Other european factories continued to produce the Cologne style cab (or very close to it) after the war so why would the French change?

So my question is, was the French cab produced during German control. Was it the type the French had intended to built before German control. Did they perhaps build it until 1943 and again after liberation? Or is it specifically a postwar cab.
Did they even build the G198T type before 1943 or just the French design vehicles up to then?

Examples remaining include the SBGs restored SAF F198T that had German gauges. German information plates on the dash and a tag for a French cargo deck manufacturer dated 1944. Another apparently has ord tan paint remaining and the Maultier in the Victory museum has a wide French cab. I have another picture of a very nice F198T truck restored in French army green that appeared at market garden in 2007. This has the “FordV8” logo at the back of the bonnet as seen in the brochures for the postwar model.
Another early low chassis number F198T has no air vents on the cowl, the RH guard has the cut outs for the cold weather kit and possibly clip holes around the air vents for the cold weather covers (the purpose of those to be confirmed)

Any further comments, photos or vehicle details and chassis numbers would be encouraged to see these v3000s trucks are restored correctly.

Im guessing the F598T was essentially a wartime spec truck with additional civvy trim and paint.

Cheers
mvnut

[volkswagen]

This is all very interesting, I have just bought a V3000s from Kevin Wheatcroft and I believe its French built, the interior data plate is in German but the Typpenschild has been obliterated will try to put up some photos.


Andy

[MVNUT]

Hi Guys,

would anyone have any info on the paint used by the French Army from 1944. Id like to paint my 1945 F198T the correct colour. the RAL colour swatches suggest the closest is NATO GREEN but the original paint up and under the dash is 70 years old and a bit hard to match.

we had the tan colour mixed several times to match our Kubelwagen resto until it was perfect. id like to avoid the hassle and get this paint mixed by code.

any help appreciated

cheers
Tony NZ

[smilerex3para]

http://rolfask.proboards.com/thread/267 ... 98t-v3000s

there is some evidence they were made during the war from french publications and a german dienstvorschirft for thye french built v3000s with a four speed gear box