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Hey Roy

This ones for you...

Where's the location? Fulda? Got any more? I want more

Is that a gub'mint issue Plymouth or Dodge Duster/Valiant/whatever "compact" I see in that motorpool?

I was thinking a Chevy Nova but it may be a Duster. Either way it looks like a 2 door and I don't remember ever seeing any g'ment 2 doors

Looks like a Duster to me but not the M42 variety

- Doug_Kibbey

Is that a gub'mint issue Plymouth or Dodge Duster/Valiant/whatever "compact" I see in that motorpool?

Dodge Dart or Plymouth Duster. They shared that body style from the 1971 to 1976 model years.

- Dontos

Hey Roy

This ones for you...

It's always good to see another photo of the worlds greatest recon vehicle.
Thanks Don!

Sgt, Scouts Out!

- Roy_A_Lingle

- Dontos

Hey Roy

This ones for you...



chug

It's always dood to see another photo of the worlds greatest recon vehicle. roll
Thanks Don! jump jump jump jump

Sgt, Scouts Out! )

You mean an early 70's Duster???

How many Dusters would fit in a C-130?

(And no, i am not going to suggest anyone try to cross a river in one.)

This brings to mind a serious question: Is there, somewhere, a comprehensive list of "civilian, off the shelf" automobiles (sedans and two-doors) that saw service in military colors...particularly Army? I don't mean just the WWII Cads, Chev's and Fords, but in later years that were not "spec'ed" but basically civilian vehicles "put in uniform"?

Example...at the Armor Board, apart from the "five quarter" ton Jeep ambulance van, we also had a mid-sixties Pontiac ambulance conversion with a 389 HiPo engine (that complained bitterly on MOGAS, but that's what we had for fuel). This was pretty clearly a standard ambulance/hearse type conversion like civvies would have, but it was OD green with all the markings...(and a hoot to drive, when on duty).

How about other "atypical" cars in military service since the '60's...anything like that documented?

Doug,

Crismon's "U.S. Military Wheeled Vehicles" and the update volume "Modern US Military Vehicles" give a decent overview, you won't find all types, but most of them, including the lemons like the AMC matador and IIRC the Pinto. There was also a book on police vehicles that included some types, but I can't remember which one it was- one of the books lost in my home office fire some years ago and not replaced so far.

Cheers,

Jens O.

- Doug_Kibbey

This brings to mind a serious question: Is there, somewhere, a comprehensive list of "civilian, off the shelf" automobiles (sedans and two-doors) that saw service in military colors...particularly Army? I don't mean just the WWII Cads, Chev's and Fords, but in later years that were not "spec'ed" but basically civilian vehicles "put in uniform"?

Example...at the Armor Board, apart from the "five quarter" ton Jeep ambulance van, we also had a mid-sixties Pontiac ambulance conversion with a 389 HiPo engine (that complained bitterly on MOGAS, but that's what we had for fuel). This was pretty clearly a standard ambulance/hearse type conversion like civvies would have, but it was OD green with all the markings...(and a hoot to drive, when on duty).

How about other "atypical" cars in military service since the '60's...anything like that documented?

I imagine almost any production sedan/station wagon/pickup truck was seen especially if the manufactureer was having sales problems. If they had a bunch in inventory they would be bought at lowend contract prices to clear the lot and keep the assembly lines working.

One of the most unique I heard of and saw pictures of were the Micky Thompson tuned El Camino SS396 pickup trucks that the Air Force bought to use as chase trucks for U-2s. They would sit at End of Runway and as the U-2 approached race down the runway and a GI in the pickup bed would grab the wingtip and put the pogostick outrigger wheel in place.

They were painted rugular Air Force Blue but had gold script on the fenor in front of the door saying 'Dyno Tuned by Micky Thompson'

I just remembered in the late 70's the Air Force tried an experiment to downsize their fleet of Flight Line Pickup trucks. At Langley each Aircraft Maintenance Unit got 2 Chevy LUVs ( a small pickup built by Isuzu I think) To make matters worse instead of the Standard Dark Air Force Blue they were the prettyist light baby blue you can imagine. (Baby Trucks painted Baby Blue was one of the nicer coments). The trucks were a disaster. they couldn't be used to pull AGE (generators, Air Conditioners, etc) They couldn't haul more than one large tool box, and then you couldn't fit a 3 man load crew or enfgine crew in the truck. It got worse in winter. You couldn't have a field Jacket or Parka on and close the drivers door (at least if you had anything in your jacket pockets) They soon went back to full size Chevy & International pickups.

There was a beautiful 1966 Rambler station Wagon that sat at the foot of the tower at Langley. It had several Aviation band radios and a yellow gumball light on top added in it but it was in perfect shape inside and out. It would move every day when the Airfield Officer would run the length of the Runway It was the oldest Government vehicle I remember on base (This was 1980) The 1967 Geep Ambulances had been disposed of the year before.

- bsmart

One of the most unique I heard of and saw pictures of were the Micky Thompson tuned El Camino SS396 pickup trucks that the Air Force bought to use as chase trucks for U-2s. They would sit at End of Runway and as the U-2 approached race down the runway and a GI in the pickup bed would grab the wingtip and put the pogostick outrigger wheel in place.

Bob,
I believe they still use Camaro IROC Z's to chase them down the runway on landing to advise the pilot his distance above the tarmac....those U-2's being difficult to get back on the ground and all. Another U-2 rated pilot speaks with the U-2 driver via radio for the "touchdown" run.

Here at China Lake they run what ever GSA has a contract for...the first time I was here in the early 90's all the staff ran around in Plymouth K-cars <the Skipper had a Chrysler K...a Lebaron (gags)> All the light duty trucks were Dodge. The base Cops had Chevy Barettas (which couldn't get outta their own way!)

Now the base CO drives a Police special Tahoe, the rest of the Cops drive Navigators, the Contractors drive what ever their company buys 'em (like a $45,000 Dodge Cummins Dually with all the bells 'n whistles....to haul a custom trailer with their secret gizmo inside around)
The base taxi's are GMC or Chevy 1 ton pass vans, Public works drives what ever castoffs they can get or hasn't been beat to death yet (Fords, Chevys and a few ancient Dodges)

EOD has modified Chevy K series with big tires and lifts....

Hi Folks!

About mid summer of 1970, I was in Berlin and saw a couple of Ford Galaxy 500s. They had mud grip tires, I though they might be jacked up just a little for more ground clearance, painted FLAT OD and the only thing that shined was the glass. The engines sounded like something out of a race car. They belonged to the US Army version of the SMLM group that ran around inside West Germany. Our guys did the same thing inside East Germany with those Galaxy 500s.

Spot report!
Sgt, Scouts Out!

SMLM - Soviet Military Liaison Mission