The American Automobile Industry in World War Two
An American Auto Industry Heritage Tribute by David D Jackson

 Overview      Lansing Michigan in World War Two   The U.S. Auto Industry at the Normandy Invasion, June 6, 1944    The U.S. Auto Industry and the B-29 Bomber   U.S. Auto Industry Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   The Complete listing of All Army-Navy "E" Award Winners   Sherman Tanks of the American Auto Industry   Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry    M26 Pershing Tanks of the American Auto Industry   M36 Tank Destroyers of the American Auto Industry   Serial Numbers for WWII Tanks built by the American Auto Industry   Surviving LCVP Landing Craft    WWII Landing Craft Hull Numbers   Airborne Extra-Light Jeep Photos  The American Auto Industry vs. the German V-1 in WWII   American Auto Industry-Built Anti-Aircraft Guns in WWII   VT Proximity Manufacturers of WWII   World War One Era Motor Vehicles   National Museum of Military Vehicles   Revisions   Links

 Automobile and Body Manufacturers:  American Bantam Car Company   Briggs Manufacturing Company   Checker Car Company   Chrysler Corporation   Crosley Corporation   Ford Motor Car Company   General Motors Corporation   Graham-Paige Motors Corporation   Hudson Motor Car Company   Murray Corporation of America   Nash-Kelvinator   Packard Motor Car Company      Studebaker    Willys-Overland Motors

General Motors Divisions:  AC Spark Plug   Aeroproducts   Allison   Brown-Lipe-Chapin   Buick   Cadillac   Chevrolet   Cleveland Diesel   Delco Appliance   Delco Products   Delco Radio   Delco-Remy   Detroit Diesel   Detroit Transmission   Electro-Motive   Fisher Body   Frigidaire   GM Proving Grounds   GM of Canada   GMC   GMI   Guide Lamp   Harrison Radiator   Hyatt Bearings   Inland   Moraine Products   New Departure   Oldsmobile   Packard Electric   Pontiac   Saginaw Malleable Iron   Saginaw Steering Gear   Southern California Division   Rochester Products   Ternstedt Manufacturing Division   United Motors Service   Vauxhall Motors

 Indiana Companies:  Bailey Products Corporation   Chrysler Kokomo Plant   Continental Steel Corporation  Converto Manufacturing    Cummins Engine Company   Diamond Chain and Manufacturing Company   Delta Electric Company   Durham Manufacturing Company   Farnsworth Television and Radio Corporation   General Electric Kokomo Plant   Haynes Stellite Company   Hercules Body Company   Horton Manufacturing Company   Howe Fire Apparatus   International Machine Tool Company   J.D. Adams Company   Kokomo Spring Company   Magnavox   Muncie Gear Works   Pierce Governor Company   Portland Forge and Foundry   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Kokomo Plant   Reliance Manufacturing Company-Washington Plant   Republic Aviation Corporation - Indiana Division   Ross Gear and Tool Company   S.F. Bowser & Co.   Sherrill Research Corporation   Sullivan Machinery Company   Tokheim Oil Tank and Pump Company   Ward-Stilson Company   Warner Gear   Wayne Pump Company   Wayne Works

Commercial Truck and Fire Apparatus Manufacturers:  American LaFrance   Autocar   Biederman Motors Corporation   Brockway Motor Company   Detroit General   Diamond T   Duplex Truck Company   Federal Motor Truck   Four Wheel Drive Auto Company(FWD)   International Harvester   John Bean   Mack Truck   Marmon-Herrington Company   Michigan Power Shovel Company   Oshkosh Motor Truck Corporation   Pacific Car and Foundry   "Quick-Way" Truck Shovel Company  Reo Motor Car Company  Seagrave Fire Apparatus   Sterling Motor Truck Company    Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation   White Motor Company

Aviation Companies:  Abrams Instrument Corporation    Frankfort Sailplane Company   Hughes Aircraft Company   Kellett Aviation Corporation   Laister-Kauffman Aircraft Corporation   Naval Aircraft Factory   P-V Engineering Forum, Inc.    Rudolf Wurlitzer Company-DeKalb Division  Schweizer Aircraft Corporation   Sikorsky Division of United Aircraft Corporation   St. Louis Aircraft Corporation   Timm Aircraft Corporation

Other World War Two Manufacturers:  Air King Products   Allis-Chalmers   American Car and Foundry   American Locomotive   American Stove Company   Annapolis Yacht Yard   Andover Motors Company   Badger Meter Manufacturing Company   B.F. Goodrich   Baker War Industries   Baldwin Locomotive Works   Ben-Hur Mfg. Company   Blood Brothers Machine Company   Boyertown Auto Body Works   Briggs & Stratton   Burke Electric Company   Caterpillar   Cheney Bigelow Wire Works   Centrifugal Fusing   Chris-Craft   Clark Equipment Company   Cleaver-Brooks Company   Cleveland Tractor Company   Continental Motors   Cushman Motor Works   Crocker-Wheeler   Dail Steel Products   Detroit Wax Paper Company   Detrola   Engineering & Research Corporation   Farrand Optical Company   Federal Telephone and Radio Corp.   Firestone Tire and Rubber Company   Fruehauf Trailer Company   Fuller Manufacturing   Galvin Manufacturing   Gemmer Manufacturing Company   General Railway Signal Company   Gerstenslager Company   Gibson Guitar   Gibson Refrigerator Company   Goodyear   Hall-Scott   Hanson Clutch and Machinery Company   Harley-Davidson   Harris-Seybold-Potter   Herreshoff Manufacturing Company   Higgins Industries    Highway Trailer Corporation  Hill Diesel Company   Holland Hitch Company   Homelite Company   Horace E. Dodge Boat and Plane Corporation   Huffman Manufacturing   Indian Motorcycle   Ingersoll Steel and Disk   Iron Fireman Manufacturing Company   John Deere   Johnson Automatics Manufacturing Company   Kimberly-Clark   Kohler Company   Kold-Hold Company   Landers, Frary & Clark   Le Roi Company  Lima Locomotive Works   Lundberg Screw Products   MacKenzie Muffler Company   Massey-Harris   Matthews Company   McCord Radiator & Mfg. Company   Metal Mouldings Corporation   Miller Printing Machinery Company   Morse Instrument Company   Montpelier Manufacturing Company   Motor Products Corporation   Motor Wheel Corporation   National Cash Resgister Company   Novo Engine Company   O'Keefe & Merritt Company   Olofsson Tool and Die Company   Oneida Ltd   Otis Elevator   Owens Yacht   Pressed Steel Car Company   Pressed Steel Tank Company   Queen City Manufacturing Company   R.G. LeTourneau   Richardson Boat Company   R.L. Drake Company   St. Clair Rubber Company   Samson United Corporation   Schelm Brothers   Shakespeare Company   Sight Feed Generator Company   Simplex Manufacturing Company   Steel Products Engineering Company   St. Louis Car Company   Twin Disc Company   Victor Adding Machine Company   Vilter Manufacturing Company   Wells-Gardner   W.L. Maxson Corporation   W.W. Boes Company   Westfield Manufacturing Company   York-Hoover Body Company   York-Shipley, Inc.   Youngstown Steel Door Company  
   

 Anatomy of a GMC DUKW   GMC at War
General Motors Truck and Coach Division of General Motors Corporation During World War Two
Pontiac, MI
1911-Present

This page updated 2-8-2025.

At the beginning of World War Two, what later became the GMC Truck and Bus Division of General Motors, was part of the Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company.  Yellow Truck had originally formed in 1923 as a subsidiary of Yellow Cab and was originally named the Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company.  GM and Yellow Truck merged on July 8, 1925, with General Motors owning 60% by using the assets of GMC in the new holding company.  The new company was known as Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company.  GM made the purchase in order manufacture buses.  A purchase of 160 acres near Pontiac, MI led to the construction of the world's largest truck plant, with 26 acres under roof.  Production began at the new plant in January 1928. 

The General Motors truck operation that became part of the new holding company in 1925 had its roots in two independent Detroit truck manufacturers that were purchased by WC Durant for his auto empire.  Reliance Motor Company was purchased in 1908 and Rapid Motor Vehicle Company in 1909, resulting in the General Motors Truck Company (GMC) in 1911.

In September 1943 General Motors purchased all of the assets of the Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company and created the General Motors Truck and Bus Division which has evolved into the GMC of today.  Today its product line is upscale SUVs and pickup trucks, as it shed the heavy duty truck and bus business in the late 20th century.

Early in World War Two, the trucks that Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company produced were officially identified by the military as being built by that company even though they were known by to the public as GMC, or to the GIs as "Jimmies."  After 1943, they were identified as GMC products by the military.  In this webpage, the name GMC will be used for all of the vehicles built at the Pontiac truck plant by the future GMC division.

Many persons refer not only the 2-1/2 ton 6x6 trucks built by GMC, but International Harvester and Studebaker during World War Two as "deuce and a halves."  In my research, I have yet to find a World War Two document that describes the trucks in this manner.  It is my contention that this is a post-World War Two term, most likely originating in the Vietnam War era.


The GMC Division of General Motors won the Army-Navy "E" for Excellence Award two times. 

GMC World War Two Products:  GMC had $2,017,518,000 in major contracts during World War Two.  There were 571,053 trucks produced with the GMC nameplate ranging in size from 1-1/2-ton to 10-ton in capacity during World War Two. 

Between 1940 and 1945 GMC built 546,020 2-1/2-ton 6x6 trucks including 21,147 of the amphibious DUKW.  Another 7,232 were cab-over-engine 2-1/2-ton 6x6 trucks with either 15-foot or 17-foot cargo beds.  The remaining 517,641 trucks were the CCKW-352 and CCKW-353 types.  GMC built 362,348, or 70% of these, at its Pontiac, MI plant.  Chevrolet built the other 155,293 at two of its assembly plants. 

There were 21,147 2-1/2 ton 6x6 amphibious trucks produced with the GMC nameplate on it.  GMC built 14,399, or 68% of these at its Pontiac, MI plant.  Chevrolet built the other 6,748 at its St. Louis assembly plant.

The rest of the various types of trucks, buses and trailers were all built in the GMC Pontiac, MI plant.  GMC also built 2,249 buses, 30 T18E2 Boarhound Armored Cars, and 6 trailers during 1940-1945.

GMC also buillt an unknown number of M18 Hellcat tank Destroyer hulls.  The Buick Motor Division built 2,507 M18s during World War Two.  Fisher Body is documented to have provided Buick with 1,511 hulls.  There is no documentation as to how many hulls GMC built, but there are photos of the GM division building them.  If GMC and Fisher Body built all of the hulls, GMC would have provided 996 for the war effort.

GMC World War Two Trucks Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.

Type GMC Model 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Cargo wo/w CC-302 39   8       47
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Communication K-18 CC-302 47 258 109       414
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Dump wo/w CC-302, ACX-353 16   3       19
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Panel Delivery AF-312 18           18
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Platform w/ Elevator CC-252     1       1
1-1/2-ton 4x2 Wrecker ACKWX-353 23           23
Total 1-1/2-ton 4x2   143 258 121       522
                 
Total 1-1/2-3 ton 4x4 Chassis ?     49       49
                 
2-1/2-ton 6x6 Amphibian DUKW-353     235 4508 11,316 5,088 21,147
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Bomb Services Chassis M27, M27B1 CCKW-353           627 627
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo wo/w CCKW-353 6,550 22,459 43,935 58,448 53,422 46,538 231,352
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo w/w CCKW-353 1,202 7,564 27,795 27,870 32,221 24,019 120,671
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo 15-Foot Body AFKWX-353     613 1,619     2,232
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo 17-Foot Body AFKWX-353         4,000 1,000 5,000
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo SWB wo/w CCKW-352 244 11,862 14,110 5,380     31,596
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Cargo SWB w/w CCKW-352   8,508 8,547 3,145 954 440 21,594
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis wo/w CCKW-353 36 124 15,535 18,145 11,279 1,641 46,760
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis w/w CCKW-353     237 3,321 2,674 4,184 10,416
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Chassis SWB wo/w CCKW-352   2   800     802
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Dump wo/w CCKW-353   1   1,300     1,301
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Dump w/w CCKW-353       10,905 23,639 12,500 47,044
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Stock Rack, 15-foot Body CCKW-353 27 93         120
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Tank 750 Gal. Gas (Complete Units) CCKW-353 114 183 750 642 2,282 162 4,133
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Tank 750 Gal. Water CCKW-353     60 887 215 46 1,208
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Van CCKW-353     1       1
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Battery Servicing CCKW-353     8       8
2-1/2 ton 6x6 Fuel Servicing CCKW-353     8       8
Total 2-1/2 ton 6x6   8,173 50,796 111,834 136,970 142,002 96,245 546,020
                 
Total 2-1/2 ton 6x4 Cargo wo/w CCW-353   707 22,687 255     23,649
                 
2-1/2 ton 4x4 Tire Servicing ACK-353     5       5
2-1/2 ton 4x4 Tractor COE AFKX-502 81           81
Total 2-1/2 ton 4x4 COE   81   5       86
                 
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Canopy Express CC-453   1         1
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Cargo CC-453 109 9         118
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Dump CCX-453, ACX-453 110 19         129
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Stake and Platform CC-453 22 4 18       44
2-1/2 ton 4x2 Tractor ACX-503 8 2         10
Total 2-1/2 ton 4x2   249 35 18       302
                 
4-ton 4x4 Cargo AFKX-804 11           11
4-ton 4x4 Van AFKX-804   192 124       316
Total 4-ton 4x4   11 192 124       327
                 
5-ton 4x2 Dump AC-803 12           12
5-ton 4x2 Stake and Platform AC-805 6 1         7
Total 5-ton 4x2   18 1         19
                 
 Total 8-ton 6x4 Tractor ACK-853   11         11
Total 10-ton 4x2 COE ?   50         50
Total Tractor Truck - to be used with Semi-Trailer Tank ?     18       18
Truck Totals   8,675 52,050 134,856 137,225 142,002 96,245 571,053
                 
                 
Bus 25-29 Passenger ?   6 5       11
1-1/2-3 ton 4x4 Bus Body ? 276 974 938       2,188
Bus 37 Passenger 4x2 Integral Intra-City Type ?           40 40
Bus 32 Passenger 4x2 Integral Inter-City Type ?           10 10
Bus Totals   276 980 943     50 2,249
                 
Total Trailer 3-1/2-ton 2W 16 foot Stake and Platform ? 6           6

 

GMC World War Two Armored Cars Accepted by Detroit Ordnance, US Army
The information below comes from "Summary Report of Acceptances, Tank-Automotive Material, 1940-1945"
Published by Army Services Forces, Office, Chief of Ordnance-Detroit, Production Division, Requirements and Progress Branch January 21, 1946.
Type GMC Model 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 Total
Car Armored Heavy T18E2 ?     2 28     30

Author's Note and Disclaimer:  The Detroit Office of Ordnance of the U.S. Army was the primary purchasing entity for vehicles for the U.S. Army during WWII.  It also purchased vehicles for the USMC, US Navy, and for Lend-Lease.  However, there were other organizations that also purchased vehicles including the Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army Air Force, U.S. Army Signal Corps, Navy Bureau of Ordnance, Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, and foreign countries making direct purchases.

A note on Chevrolet CCKW and DUKW production:  Some authors state that GMC took over management of Chevrolet plants.  This is not true.  Chevrolet maintained control of both the Baltimore and St. Louis assembly plants that built GMC products.  Because Chevrolet was a subcontractor to GMC, the trucks had GMC data plates in them. 

At the end of the war, all CCKW production had shifted to Chevrolet St. Louis.  In 1944 and 1945, the daily run rate for CCKWs was larger at St. Louis than at the GMC plant in Pontiac, MI.  Therefore, while all of the nameplates on the CCKWs are GMC, if the truck was built in 1944 or 1945, there is a greater than 50% chance that it is the Chevrolet-built version.  All CCKWs built in St. Louis, with the exception of the last (1,000) units, had Chevrolet axles on them.

Time line for the CCKW: 
Mid 1941:  Part number 1608 cab (Chevrolet manufactured item) introduced with the mirror mounted to the cowl rather than on the door hinge, flat panel instrument cluster.
Mid 1941:  Part number 1609 cab (Chevrolet manufactured item) same as 1608 but with hatch for gunner.
August 1942 through the spring of 1943:  Part number 1619 soft top cabs introduced replacing the all steel cab part numbers 1608 and 1609.
October 1942:  Four spoke wooden rim steering wheel introduced.

Axles:  GMC used two types of axles for its trucks.  Originally a Timken-Detroit Axle Company split differential type was used.  However, Timken-Detroit, for various reasons, was not able to keep up with the demand.  Chevrolet front face differentials were substituted. 

A Notable Quote: 
For the United States, World War Two was the first completely mechanized war.  There were tanks, jeeps, tanks, armored cars, tank destroyers, halftracks, and trucks that were used by the U.S. military.  They came in all sizes from the 1/4 ton 4x4 Jeep to the 10 ton wrecker.  But there is one truck that comes to a person's mind when thinking of trucks from World War Two, and it is the GMC 2-1/2-ton 6X6.  It is the definitive truck of World War Two!

A quote from "The Great Crusade" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower:  "Incidentally, four other pieces of equipment that most senior officers came to regard as among the most vital to our success in Africa and Europe were the bulldozer, the jeep, the 2-1/2-ton truck, and the C-47 airplane."

For the United States Army in Africa and Europe, the 2-1/2-ton truck General Eisenhower refers to is the GMC CCKW.  The CCKW was exclusively used by the Army, as the Studebaker version went to Great Britain and Russia, and the International Harvester version was also sent overseas on Lend-Lease or were used by the U.S. Marines and Navy.   


This is what comes to mind when one thinks of the WWII truck.  The GMC 2-1/2 ton CCKW-353 6x6 truck noted by General Eisenhower in his book.  Author's photo.
  A GMC 2-1/2 ton 6x6, or "Jimmy", as they were known to the troops during World War Two, running the Red Ball Express and keeping the front line troops supplied with beans, bullets, and bandages!  This is a CCKW-353 long bed with a hard cab, indicating it was built no later than the spring of 1943.

The CCW:  C = 1941 design, C = Standard cab, W= Tandem rear wheels

The CCW was the same at the CCKW but was a 6x4, as the K in the CCKW designation denotes all-wheel drive.  23,649 were built between 1941 and 1943.


This GMC 1941-1942 CCW 6x4 was photographed at the AAF Tank Museum minus its outer back wheels. This particular example has a 210 CFM Roi Air Compressor mounted on the bed.  Author's photo.


The Museum has the CCW misidentified as a 1944 CCKW.  Starting in August 1942 through spring of 1943, the hardtops were replaced by soft top cabs. Also, GMC only ran the 6x4 CCW from late 1941 to late summer of 1942.  During this period, 23,501 were built and shipped overseas under Lend-Lease.   Author's photo. 


The GMC has a straight front axle with no differential, making it 6x4 and identifying it as a CCW.  The GMC version of the 6x4 went to China and the Studebaker 6x4 went to Russia.  Author's photo.

The CCKW:  C = 1941 design, C = Standard cab, K  = All wheel drive, W= Tandem rear wheels

The CCKW was built as either the CCKW-352 short bed and the CCKW-353 twelve foot long bed with a multitude of bed types.

CCKW-352:


This is a pre mid-1941 CCKW-352 short bed without a winch.  There is no bracket on the cowling for a mirror; and the spare tires and fuel tank are directly behind the cab.  One of the uses for the CCKW-352 was as a prime mover for artillery, and to carry the gun crew in the bed of the truck.  Author's photo.


This is a post mid-1943 CCKW-352 with a winch. Author's photo.

CCKW-353:


 This can be identified as a CCKW-353, as the fuel tank is underneath the bed.  Also of note is that the rear view mirrors are attached to the door hinge.  After mid-1941 GMC started mounting the rear view mirror to the cowl.  Therefore, this truck was built prior to the middle of 1941.  In this photo, the axle to the front wheel drive is visible.  This is the oldest GMC the author has found.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.


This is a post mid-1941 CCKW-353 long bed GMC truck with no winch.  It can be identified by the spare tire and fuel tank (opposite side) that are under the cargo bed.  Because the mirror is mounted to the cowling, this is post mid-1941.  With the hardtop cab this CCKW was built before early 1943.  Author's photo.


This is a post mid-1943 CCKW-353 long bed GMC truck, as it has the soft top cab with a front winch.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


Author's photo.
This CCKW-353 had a gun ring added for defense against aircraft.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.  Note how small it looks compared to a modern army truck next to it.


This CCKW-353 is owned by the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


This has a four spoke steering wheel indicating it was built after October 1943.  Author's Photo.


It has a Chevrolet axle.  Author's Photo.

Modified or non-standard cargo bed CCKW:


The American Red Cross operated a number of GMC CCKW-353 as Clubmobiles.  From these vehicles the Red Cross volunteers distributed coffee and donuts to American servicemen and servicewomen.  This original Clubmobile is on display at the World War II American Experience in Gettysburg, PA.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025. 


Author's photo added 2-2-2025. 


Author's photo added 2-2-2025. 


Author's photo added 2-2-2025. 


Another unique CCKW on display at the World War II American Experience is this maintenance truck.  It is part of a larger display showing all types of equipment used in maintaining equipment.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 1-2-2025.

There are only about a dozen of these maintenance trucks still in existence.  Two of them are in Pennsylvania and are less than an hour's drive from each other.  The second in Pennsylvania is at the US Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, PA as shown below. 


The following photos are of a CCKW-353 in a diorama at the US Army Heritage Center in Carlisle, PA.  This particular vehicle was configured as a mechanic's workshop truck.  Author's photo.


A crane has been mounted to the front of the vehicle to pull engines that need to be replaced or rebuilt.  Author's photo.


The bed of the truck has a built-in workshop.  Author's photo.


 Author's photo.


This CCKW dump truck was photographed at the 2019 MVPA Convention in York, PA.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Many GMC chassis were built without the cargo bed and then sent to a third party for addition of something other than the standard cargo bed.  This particular post mid-1941 but pre 1942 was modified as General George S. Patton's living quarters truck.  Author's photo.


This GMC is on display at the Patton Museum at Fort Knox, KY.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


In the modification the spare tire has been moved to the rear.  Author's photo.

CCKW-353 Tankers:


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


All GMC trucks were powered by the GMC 270 cubic inch engine.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

GMC CCKW with Wrecker Set #7:


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

GMC Cargo-Dump:  A total of 37,803 cargo-dump trucks were built at both GMC Pontiac and Chevrolet St. Louis.  Some of the last of CCKW trucks built at St. Louis were this style.  All but 1,300 had winches.  When production started in April 1943, the conversion from hard cab to soft cab was also taking place.  The third open cab truck to come down the Pontiac line was the prototype cargo-dump.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


This particular truck has Chevrolet axles.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

GMC Airborne Cargo-Dump:  The Airborne CCKW-353 Cargo-Dump below was one of 1,210 built by GMC at its Pontiac plant.  It is distinguishable as being built in Pontiac because all of the airborne trucks had Timken axles and a winch.  The truck was separated into four pieces which were air transportable by C-47 to the battlefield where they could then be assembled by the maintenance crews.   Author's Photo.


This pristine GMC CCKW-353 cargo-dump is on display at the Indiana Military Museum in Vincennes, IN.  All airborne cargo-dumps were equipped with front winches and Timken-Detroit axles.  Author's photo. 


The airborne cargo-dump was only transportable by aircraft.  It could not be air dropped nor delivered to the battlefield in a glider.  Author's photo.


The Timken-Detroit split differential.  Author's photo.


Author's photo.


The frame was separated behind the cab with flanges for bolting the two sections together.  A special valve and coupling were provided to keep from introducing air into the brake lines upon re-assembly.  The two drive shafts were disconnected at the transfer case.   Author's photo.


The cargo bed also came in two pieces and bolted together.  In theory a team of five experienced mechanics could assemble the truck two hours after it was unloaded from the two C-47s needed to transport it.  The front section with the cab came on one C-47 and had the front half of the bed, running board, fenders, bows, tarpaulin windshield and tools were loaded in the front cab.  The front section came with a dolly attached to the rear for ease of movement before being assembled.  The second C-47 would arrive with the rear half of the chassis. The rear half of the bed, spare tires, fuel tank, muffler, body racks and frame splicing were loaded in the aircraft behind the rear frame.  It took less than an hour to unload both sections from their aircraft.  Author's photo.

The AFKWX:  A = 1939 design, F = Forward cab, K = All wheel drive, W = Tandem rear wheels, X = Extended bed

GMC built 7,232 of the AFKWX which was a cab over engine design with a longer cargo bed for transporting bulky loads.  It had the same wheelbase as the CCKW-353 and had a 15 or 17 foot bed which was three or five feet longer than the 353 series truck.  Being of an older design it did not have a tilt cab which made working on the engine a challenge.  The GMC 270 engine had an updraft carburetor rather than a downdraft as was on the CCKW 270 engine.


Author's Photo.


The cargo bed is fifteen feet long and was designed to carry bulky loads.  Author's Photo.


This example of a GMC AFKWX-353 is on outside display at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


There is not much left of the data plate but it does show that this is a AFKWX-353 and is apparently serial number 9501.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


I first saw this truck in 2014 at the now closed National Military History Center in Auburn, IN.  This museum closed in 2021 after gradually selling off its vehicles and artifacts.   Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.

AFKX-352 4x4 GMT 1.5-Ton Machine Shop:  During 1940-1942 GMC built 1,943 AFKX-352 Cab over Engine 4x4 vans for use by the U.S. Army as maintenance vehicles.  I have found three of these trucks to date.  The first example shown below which is located at the Liberty Aviation Museum in Port Clinton, OH was used by the Army Ordnance Department for the repair of weapons in the field. 


Note that the front end is similar to the AFKWX in the photos above, except that this has the older steel roof, rather than the later soft canvas cab.  Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


The AFKX-352 4x4 is located in the boathouse section of the museum, where Vosper PT boat 728 is being restored.  The truck is located there waiting to be restored.  However, one of the advantages of not being restored is that the construction of the machine shop is evident.  On this side the glass windows at the top can be slid down the tracks for ventilation.  Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


All of the equipment is gone out of the inside, and it is being used for storage.  Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


On this side the windows are covered by expanded metal coverings, which pivot on hinges below the windows.  Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


W-00827 was built in 1940 as one of 276 built under GMC contract number 7413.  Author's photo added 4-21-2019.


This example of a GMC AFKX-352 is awaiting restoration at the National Museum of Military Vehicles in Dubois, WY.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


The data plate shows this vehicle was delivered on 8-26-41 and is serial number 1904.  Author's photo added 2-2-2025.


The Wheels of Liberation in Gettysburg, PA has in its collection a GMC AFKX-352 that was a spare parts truck.  Author's photo added 2-8-2025.


 Author's photo added 2-8-2025.


 Author's photo added 2-8-2025.


This vehicle was delivered on 5-16-1942 with serial number 2718.  Author's photo added 2-8-2025.


 Author's photo added 2-8-2025.


 Author's photo added 2-8-2025.

GMC Switch Engines:


This CCKW was used in England as a switch engine working inside of a warehouse to avoid fire hazard.


 This AFKWX was used as a switch engine in Ashchurch, England during the war.

DUKW:  D = 1942 design, U = Utility (Amphibious), K = All wheel drive, W = Tandem rear wheels

The first use of the GMC DUKW amphibious truck was the invasion of Sicily in July and August 1943.

A quote from "The Great Crusade" by General Dwight D. Eisenhower in reference to the Sicily invasion:  "This change resulted from the unforeseen availability of a considerable number of LST's and the quantity production of the "duck", an amphibious  vehicle that proved to be one of the most valuable pieces of equipment produced by the United States during the war."


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.



This GMC DUKW is on display at the USS Edson in Bay City, MI.  One in four DUKWs were built with the crane to facilitate unloading other DUKWs during World War Two.  Assuming this vehicle was built in Pontiac, it is only 95 miles from where it was assembled.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.
Author's Photo.


DUKWs under construction at the GMC Pontiac plant.


The GMC DUKW was versatile.  Here two of them joined together move a Lockheed P-38 across a body of water. 


Not only was the DUKW used from ship to shore on ocean beaches, but it moved inland in Europe to bring supplies and troops across the many rivers that need be crossed. 


 GMC 6 cylinder 125 hp engines that went into all of the GMC 2-1/2 ton trucks are shown in this factory photo of the era.  The engine was also used in the Chevrolet-built T17E1 Staghound armored car and the GMC-built T18E2 Boarhound armored car.


Both the Staghound and Boarhound used two of the GMC engines to power the armored cars.


GMC built 30 T18E2 Boarhound armored cars for the British.  The original order was for 2,500 but that did not transpire. 


Eight GMC-built Boarhounds ended up in combat with the British in North Africa.  Today only one Boarhound still exists at the Tank Museum in Bovington, UK.
 

The GMC Rear Wheel Drive System:


This derelict CCKW-353 at the Fort Economy Museum in Hallsville, OH allows one to look at the drive train for GMC trucks built during World War Two.  With the mirror mounted to the door, this vehicle was built before mid-1941.  Author's Photo.


It can be identified as a CCKW-353 long bed version because the fuel tank mounting bracket is on the side of the frame.  Author's Photo.


There are two drive shafts coming off the transfer case.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.


One drive shaft drives the first axle while the other one continues to the rear axle.  Author's Photo.


The axles and differentials for the truck were produced by Chevrolet.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

The Chevrolet-GMC Connection:  Chevrolet was a significant supplier to GMC during World War Two, along with building a considerable amount of CCKWs and DUKWs at its St. Louis Plant.

Chevrolet supplied all of the closed cabs for the GMC until the changeover to the soft tops in 1942-43.  If one looks at a Chevrolet or GMC truck with a closed cab from the front, it can be difficult to determine which manufacturer made the vehicle.


This GMC can be identified as a GMC because of the rear dual axles.  Chevrolet only had one rear axle on its 1-1/2 ton trucks.  On the GMC, there are more side vents than the Chevy below.  Looking head-on, it is difficult if not impossible to distinguish between the two.  Author's Photo.


A Chevrolet 1-1/2 ton.  Author's Photo.


Author's Photo.

Derelicts:   Unfortunately, there are more than a few GMC trucks that have been left outside to suffer the ravages of the weather.

 

A CCKW-353 at the Halls, TN Veterans Museum.  The Museum has some very nicely restored vehicles on the inside of the museum.  Hopefully this is next on its restoration project list.  Photo courtesy of David Jackson, Jr.


This photo was taken by the author at a later date than the previous photo during the 2015 Halls Airshow to show the size difference between the World War Two CCKW truck and the current M1078 Light Medium Tactical Truck.  Both are rated at 2-1/2 tons.

 This CCKW-353 is on display outside at the 100th Bomb Group Restaurant just north of the Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.  This truck has Timken differentials and axles.  Author's Photo.


 Author's Photo.


This CCKW tanker truck is at the Fort Economy Museum in Hallsville, OH.   Author's Photo.


 Author's Photo.


Note the separate mirror bracket making this a post mid-1941 CCKW.  Author's Photo.

Post World War Two:


After World War Two GMC introduced M135 as its follow on vehicle to provide a more up to date vehicle with the newest technology for the US military.  They were produced from 1951 through 1955 before being replaced by the REO designed M35 series.  This somewhat dilapidated M135 is on display at Camp Atterbury, IN. The truck was originally supplied with a winch as the data plate shown below indicates.  Author's Photo.


 The M135 had several innovations over the previous CCKW series which included a Hydra-Matic automatic transmission, 24 volt electrical system, single large tires, and a sealed waterproof ignition.  There were other GMC trucks in the series with other designations.  Only the M135 had the single large tires.   Author's Photo.


 The M135 was delivered in July 1952 and has serial number 9758.  The first M135 came off the assembly line on September 13, 1951.  A total of 62,380 M135s were built by GMC.  Author's Photo.

 

 

 

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