The second life of GMC's
Trucks
After WW2 there was a tremendous lack of means of
transport in The Netherlands. Army surplus trucks hence played a very important
role in rebuilding the post-war economy of our country. Being known for our
cheese ('kaas') production, this first picture seems very appropriate (courtesy
of www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl ), probably owned by Mol firm from Avenhorn.
The Edah firm also transported their cheeses with a GMC (courtesy of Armand Bastin, Jan Kiens and Harry Schols).
A refrigirator truck of Vita with proud driver mr S. Schrijver. Nose and bonnet have been adjusted to accomodate the Deutz diesel engine (courtesy of Ries Schrijver).
GMC's were also active in the annual sugar beet
proceesing. These pictures show a CCKW and a AFKWX of family Al from Beverwijk
(courtesy of Gerard Al).
Too beatiful to be excluded from this website: another 'cab over engine' GMC AFKWX (courtesy
of Bert Klanderman).
From the personal archives of Peter de Groot three trucks
owned by Pol from Leeuwarden,
respectively the number plates BV-81-28, BV-28-71 and BD-54-BX.
Henk Bossinade lent met the next five pics of Pol-GMC's:
the BD-54-BX, the BE-05-07 (equipped with DAF diesel), the BE-12-92 (also with
DAF diesel) and, once with the old-time blue licence plate and once with the
modern yellow licence plate, the BV-81-28. The last two trucks differ
considerably from each other, so apparently documents and corresponding trucks
were creatively swopped.......
This policy becomes even more evident by
comparing these two BV-81-28's with the BV-81-28 on the very first picture from
Peter de Groot archives which cab carried a machine gun hole in its roof!
Whatever, Pol apparently used seven different GMC's, some converted to diesel.
Thanks to Henk Bossinade his administration we know that Pol has been
using these trucks until, at least, 1999.
An illustration on Pol's Happy New Year card of 2011 shows that at least one
other GMC has been active: number plate holder NB-17-45.
As a tribute to their efforts, Pol installed this GMC in front of their
office in Leeuwarden (courtesy of Keimpe Bleeker).
From their own website: Pol firm from Leeuwarden (https://polinfratechniek.nl/over-pol/)
Another few pictures from the personal archives of Peter de Groot's: milk
transport.
Beijersbergen from Wassenaar once used 9 GMC's for
transporting their building materials (courtesy of Peter Beijersbergen Sr (standing
in front of the truck on the second picture)).
GMC's were also use for livestock transport (courtesy of Toon van Dijk and Martin Vente).
Another two examples of livestock transport; left: one
owned by Linders in its final stage in 1956 (courtesy of Albert Linders); right:
a truck built by Martens and owned by Wijtmans from Hernen (courtesy of Ben van Nuland).
An unknown GMC; note the use of Chevrolet panels under the bonnet (courtesy
of Gerrit Langen).
Not all GMC's were used in their original state. In many
case one the tandem axles was removed. The first six pictures originate from the
archives of Peter de Groot, the fifth one is from Bert Klanderman and the sixth
one from Bart Jonker.
Left picture: vegetable transort by a GMC of Van Veldhoven
from Loosduinen
(courtesy of Armand Bastin, Jan Kiens and Harry Schols); right picture: cereal
straw transport by Kor from Blijham (courtesy of Marcel van der Sluis).
Guus Priem sent me these tow nice examples of truncated GMC's.
JaWiCo from Pijnacker started their firm in 1945 with GMC's,
as shown by the following four pictures (courtesyf of John van den Bosch;
http://home.hetnet.nl/~trucker/story.htm).
Groothuijse from Beek-Ubbergen started as so many others
with army surplus trucks. One of their GMC's had its rear axle removed (courtesy
of Theo Groothuijse,
http://groothuijse.net/gt/index.php?inhoudsnaam=home).
A GMC of the Dutch army Photo and Movie service, visiting
an event in Wageningen in 1963 (courtesy of ....?).
Pullens from Waalwijk used skips before they had been
invented (note the cable from the winch passing the roof of the cab) (courtesy
of Walter Pullens, sitting on the left fender, and Marcel van der Sluis.
Wassing from Tilburg having their tractor blessed by a
priest and his young assistant, just to be sure (courtesy of Marcel van der Sluis).
Left: a GMC tractor pulling a semi during carnival in Den Bosch
in 1950 (sourve: Fotopersbureau Het Zui den, brought to my attention by Duijndam);
right: a GMC tractor pulling a semi during carnival in Maastricht in 1949
(courtesy of Hub Rekko).
Although some firms decided to shorten GMC's, other firms
felt the opposite and had their trucks extended. The Mill firm from Gorinchem,
The Netherlands, managed to elongate the truck by 200 cm whilst extending the
wheel base by 89 cm. The transfer case was transposed by 89 cm too and the
larger distance between that case and the gear box was bridged by the former
transfer shift to the front axle. The original 6x6 thus became a 6x4 but,
combined with a compact Dutch cabin constructed by Van Eck from Lexmond, the
truck bed was as much as 215 cm longer (courtesy of Peter Albers).
The Belgian firm Stevens also carried out extensionscourtesy of Bart Jonker)
Inter-Limburg used extended GMC's as well (courtesy of
Armand Bastin, Jan Kiens and Harry Schols).
Another two examples of extended GMC's; left:
Twentol Deventer oil and lubricant traders;
right: Hauber iron traders (courtesy of Henk Jansen).
De Tijdgeest haulage in Utrecht used several GMC as shown
on these 1959 photographs (courtesy of Cees Reimus).
During the construction of a new suburb near Amsterdam,
this picture was taken in 1976 (courtesy of Eduard Hattuma).
The municipal public
transport company of Amsterdam (GVB) purchased 10 CCKWs in the spring of
1946. In 1947-48 five of them (truck numbers 56 to 60) were converted by
Geesink Weesp into two-axle trucks equipped with a liftable platform,, two
other into welding trucks. These five trucks served the GVB during twenty
years after which they were sent to a scrap yard (thank you Hans Stoovelaar
for the provided information). These pictures show platform Nr 59
twice (1947-1968, number plate ZZ-00-76; photographer Ben van M eerendonk),
her retired sister Nr 60 (1947-1975, number plate ZZ-00-89) and platform Nr 58.
The final picture shows a welding truck (Nr 61, 1949-1969, number plate RB-06-37)
(source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/henkg/7794519824/ ,
courtesy of photographer Henk Graalman .
From hte National Archive: liftable platform Number 60 of Public Transport Amsterdam, liscensed ZZ-00-89.
Public transport firm NZH also used a GMC-mounted liftable platform, the D22 (courtesy of Henk Jansen).
De Boer firm (left picture: working for Blauwband Express
charters; right: transporting for their own tent rent firm: in the back their
first brand new hangar tents from US surpluses) used GMC's too (courtesy of K.
de Boer).
Louis Ploemen from Meersen (courtesy of Hub Rekko (www.transportnostalgiezuid-limburg.nl
))
GMC's of Brand Breweries (coutesy of Hub Rekko (www.transportnostalgiezuid-limburg.nl
)).
Left: a GMC tractor pulling a (Italian?) timber semi;
right: a GMC tractor pulling a mover's semi of Simons from Breda
(courtesy of Armand Bastin, Jan Kiens and Harry Schols).
Left: Skip delivery by a GMC of Van der Stoel from Vijfhuizen (courtesy
of Gerard Veldhuijzen, Van der Stoel Milieu); right: a GMC truck of Van der Lingen
from De Lier
(courtesy of Leen van der Lingen).
GMC snow plough (brought under my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC owned by Lommerts from Delfzijl (source:
www.noordelijktransport.nl ).
GMC owned by Vermeer constructors (brought under my
attention by Henk Jansen).
Beutiful GMC truck once owned by Transneerlandia (courtesy of John Bosch and Henk Jansen).
Truncated GMC tractor (or yet a Chevy 1,5 t according to grille bars, but
then with incorrect lateral hood panels?) of Frederiks movers (courtesy
of Tonnie Evertse and Henk Jansen).
Two GMC de-icers of Arnhem council..
One of these two de-icers or yet another one owned by Arhem council, allegedly used for towing stranded
trolley buses (thank you Henk Veenendaal / Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
Left: a great combination of Sonnenberg
from Deventer;
right: a GMC truck of Spronsen from Monster.
Left: an elongated GMC of Onderwater
firm; right: a GMC tractor of Egeraat movers.
Another three GMC's of Onderwater live animal transport from Zoeterwoude: one with an extended cab to
accomodate the market team, one in which probably a diesel engine had been installed in view of uncommon grill,
and one with a kind of box on top of the cab (thanks to Henk Jansen for brining it to my attention).
Left: a GMC of former national haulage firm
Van Gend & Loos; GMC and trailer of
ELKA transporters
(brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
Altro from Kampen, The Netherlands, delivered goods for Schokbeton
(courtesy of Peter de Groot).
Retired or spared AFKWX's of
Altro: good for canibalism (courtesy of Peter de Groot).
GMC fitted with Henschel Diesel for
forestry work.
Truncated GMC of Van Werken, Aalst, with its driver Jan Biesheuvel (courtesy of
Lia Schaap-Biesheuvel) brought to my attention by Henk Jansen.
GMC of Hovenga, Dokkum, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen.
Truncated GMC tractor of GTW
from Peter de Groot his archives, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen.
GMC of Van Bree firm hauling Red Cross goods (courtesy of mr Koenen).
Post-war adjusted pantechnicon GMC's of Van Dijk movers.
GMC, elongated by Deckers of Zoeterwoude, with movers trailer owned
by Van Leeuwen from Leiden (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC workshop body of Overdorp IJmuiden (source: https://www.facebook.com/NostalgieOverdorpIJmuiden).
GMC livestock transport (from the archives of Peter de Groot).
GMC (truncated) tractor with low bed trailer of Besemer firm, Ter Aar (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Derk de Klein from Emmen (courtesy of Jan de Klein).
GMC tranporting peat for fuel (courtesy of Klamer Bos, Gieten).
GMC of Sipma firm from Rolde (source:
www.sipma.nl ).
GMC truck with low bed trailer of Mens firm from Hillegom (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC tractor with semi of Kazemier firm from Aduard (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Van der Stek
firm from Puttershoek (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Zijderhand firm (courtesy
of Mr Flikweerd).
GMC, supplied with bolster truck tyres, belonging to Gelders Overslag Bedrijf (source: Geldersch Archief).
GMC's of tank transporter Van der Laan from Lekkerkerk (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Derksen firm, Arnhem (courtesy of Wimpers vd Kamp).
GMC with extended frame belonging to a
Dutch hering trader(brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC dedicated to milk transport,
owned by Klomp Zwolle.
A GMC of NWM firm equiped for spraying tarmac (from the archives of Peter de Groot).
A truncated GMC of Hoogvliet firm for livestock transport.
A truncated GMC of Zeelenberg firm for milk transport.
A GMC of Drenth firm hauling sugar beets.
A GMC of Portena firm.
GMC tractor semi-trailer for log transport (courtesy of Arie Pieters).
GMC concrete mixers of Cirkel brothers ('BCA') from Amersfoort.
Elongated GMC of Binnendijk firm from Rijnsburg (courtesy Adrie Ouwersloot).
GMC concrete mixer of unknown firm.
GMC refrigerator truck (picture from Jan Riethoven).
GMC with DAF trailer of unknown firm.
GMC with DAF trailer of Blauwe Molen firm.
GMC truck of Mol firm, Avenhorn.
Another GMC truck of Mol firm, Avenhorn.
A rare GMC refuse truck in Rotterdam (picture from Jan de Jong).
a truncated GMC tractor for livestock transport with a variable crew
by Flikkema from Spijk.
From water, via air to land per GMC support (courtesy of Henk Jansen).
Straw hauling per GMC (source: Marian Bertwerff via Henk Jansen).
GMC truck of Noorman firm (source: www.groningerkentekens.nl).
GMC with extended frame at work in the Wieringermeer polder (source: Cor Van de Velde via Henk Jansen).
Transport of milk canisters by St Jan (source: archives of Peter de Groot).
GMC truck and trailer of De Waal and Heijstek firm.
An extended GMC of Vrolijk from The Hague.
Another truncated GMC for milk canisters transport (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC carbage truck (thanks to Henk Jansen for drawing my attention to this picture).
A truncated GMC tractor for livestock transport (thanks to Henk Jansen for drawing my attention to this picture).
GMC truck of Hessel van der Ley, tranporting potatoes (thanks to Henk Jansen for drawing my attention to this picture).
A GMC equipped with so-called Dutch cab, probably manufactured
by Van Eck, in view of the chrome striping on door (courtey of Henk Jansen).
Vegetable crates per truck and trailer, Bremer firm from Burum (source: Harry Danhof).
Bricks per truck and trailer, unknown firm (courtesy of Henk Jansen).
Rare 'short' GMC CCKW 352 tractor, the
Nr 15 of the Van Twist firm from Dordrecht,
equipped with Perkins Diesel engine, towing various semi's among which low bed trailers and an ex-army Fiche 75
trailer (Fruehauf?) (courtesy of Jan van Pelt).
.
.
.
GMC equipped with Meiler skip.
GMC movers truck of Strang firm from Vught.
Truncated GMC truck (courtesy of Arie de Geus).
GMC equiped for spraying bitumen (courtesy of Don McLean, New Zealand).
GMC (CCKW 352) with a remarkable boiler installation (courtesy of Don McLean, New Zealand).
GMC Kramer firm at work in one of the rare Dutch oil fields in Schoonebeek (courtesy of Arjan Kolkman via Henk Jansen).
Heavy haulage per GMC in New Zealand (courtesy of Don McLean).
Trucks of D. van Baarsen from Halfweg (source: www.dvanbaarsen.nl).
Shortened frame, elongated cab: Maessen movers.
One axle less but six seats more? (courtesy of Henk Jansen).
A very appropriate picture from the 50s: GMC truck delivering bricks around Zadkine's statue 'Destroyed City'
established in 1953 in memory of the bombardment of Rotterdam in 1940.
A GMC of Verwoerd Timber from Culemborg.
A GMC tractor transporting wool (source: Rob Born).
A GMC of the Mertens firm with its proud drivers (thanks to Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
A GMC-based coach built by Magirus from Ulm (thanks to Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
A GMC tractor of Van der Scheur from Zutphen, pulling a streetcar (thanks to Henk Jansen fo bringing it to my attention).
A GMC truck of Egas firm with unknown cargo (thanks, Henk Jansen, for bringing it to my attention).
Emptying trucks by hand at the sugar
beets refinery in Roosendaal (thanks, Henk Jansen, for bringing this to my attention).
Loggers at work in Australia.
Logger firm Croft at work in New Zealand (thanks, Henk Jansen, for bringing it to my attention).
GMC truck of Lafeber firm from Gouda (thanks, Henk Jansen, for bringing it to my attention).
Another GMC truck of Lafeber firm from Gouda (thanks, Henk Jansen, for bringing it to my attention).
Truncated GMC of Peeters firm, timber transport,
from Loosduinen (thank you Henk Jansen, for bringing it to my attention).
An impressive combination of the
Schijnemakers firm (thanks Henk Jansen for bringing to my attention).
A CCKW352 tractor of the IJsvries firm from IJmuiden.
Pole driving equipment transported by
Konig firm.
Semi-trailers of movers firm Van Twist.
Fuel tank transported by De Vos and Koedijk, Rotterdam.
Sewage pumper of Nijmegen council, 1959.
Pantechnicon built by Heiwo.
Transport of milk vessels per GMC.
Snow plough in Varmahlid, Iceland.
Drinks delivery in Amsterdam.
Truncated GMC tractor of Reijers Seed Trade.
Truck Number 5 of Den Hartogh from Hillegom.
Exceptional transport by unknown firm, Rotterdam 1950.
More exceptional transport
by Van Holst en Baars, 1948 carried out with a CCKW 352.
GMC of Bokma firm from Oosterwolde, probably converted to diesel, in view of modified grille.
GMC transporting bags (picture of Rob Born, brought to my attention byHenk Jansen)
GMC with oil drill rig (picture of Arjan Kooyman, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen)
GMC used for winching gliders (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen)
GMC truck of unknown firm (picture of
Louis van Telgen, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen)
Elongated GMC truck of Vrolijk firm (from Louis van Telgen, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen)
Milk transport per GMC (from Ron Visser, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen)
Tractor of untraced firm carrying a lathe (?) (courtesy of Henk Jansen)
Truck of Van Gend and Loos firm (source: Utrec hts Arch ief)
GMC of Grooten firm from Weerdinge stuffed with turf.
GMC tractor of the Graafstroom from Bleskensgraaf (archive of J. Velda, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
Lined-up GMC-mixers owned by Certified Concrete in New Zealand (archive of Ad Gevers).
Loading sugarbeets somewhere in France (from archives of Ad Gevers).
GMC tank truck somewhere in France (from archives of Ad Gevers).
GMC with trailer of Van Viersen firm from Haulerwijk (from the achive of Van Viersen, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC's in New Zealand with yarder equipment to whinch logs to hill top.
GMC for livestock transport of Bruinsma firm (from the archive of Joh. Betten, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
Truncated GMC of Kool firm, chartered by Vulto firm (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Van Twist broken down in Hilversum (Archive Gooi- en Vechtstreek (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of Kempkers firm, Eelde (Archive of Peter de Groot, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC of unknown firm (Archive of R.W. Hoekstra, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC with a load of tree stems (archives of Arie Pieters, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC van Woltman, Gieten (archives of Jan van Pelt, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC van Goosens, Roosendaal (archives of Jan van Pelt, brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC carrying an enormous stem in New Zealand (brought to my attention by Henk Jansen).
GMC truck of Beekwilder, movers from Den Bosch, in a parade (collection Paul van Hulten).
GMC truck of Bongers, movers from Wageningen (collection Hans Holleman).
GMC tractor with elongated cab, popular among movers and livestock transporters.
GMC truck adjusted for public transport by Piet
Reedijk firm (archive of Teunis de Seuter).
GMC truck transporting BP-gasoline.
Truncated GMC transporting milk, Houweling firm, Rotterdam.
Truncated GMC tractor with tank trailer and
proud father.
Fire wood company Boumans from Brunssum.
Maessen Movers, Eindhoven.
Onto the ferry GMC tractor of De Boer followed by a White/Corbitt/Brockway, DAF, International Harvester M426.
GMC of Orex soil surveillance (source: www.goudageo.com, thank you Arie Pieters / Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
GMC BP tanker (thank you Rene Kooy / Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
GMC with home made sleeping cab (thank you Bert Klanderman / Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
GMC assisting in soil surveillance (courtesy of Henk Veenendaal / Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
GMC of Hordijk bros with drivers Arie and Cors Vermaas (thanks Henk Jansen for notifying me).
Elongated GMC van of Rommenhoeller Carbon dioxide (thank you Henk Jansen for bringing it to my attention).
GMC CCKW and GMC AFKWX in one frame at SBS dock in Rotterdam.
Refuse truck from Rotterdam council.
Breakdown lorry for the recovery of busses in
Budapest, 1960.
Truncated GMC-tractor of Quartel firm.
Truch of Kolfschoten firm
Danish tractor, note marvelously elongated cab, based on spare doors.
GMC tractor pulling a lowbed semi with
International Harvester bulldozer (courtesy of Paul van Hulten).
GMC of Vosmeijer movers, Deventer.
Great pantechnicon of Batenburg and Folmer movers.
Another pantechnicon, owned by Cas den Otter.
GMC tractor with low bed trailer belonging to 'BW' firm.
Loading logs, presumably New Sealand (library Ad Gevers).
GMC with trailer in Haarlem, 1948.
GMC tractor with low bed semi (archives of Ad Gevers).
GMC van Schiltmans, Tiel, transporting vegetables.
Loading sugar beets via conveyer belt (archives Ad Gevers).
GMC mounted drill.
GMC equipped with Henschel Diesel converted to
locomotive.
GMC of Sijbesma firm.
