Vehicles of the UNIVEM Paris
“UNIVEM Paris Île de France”, UNIVEM* for short, is an association organized according to a specific French law that concerns non-profit organizations, known as “loi du 1er juillet 1901” (July 1st 1901 law). The objective of the association is to preserve the heritage composed of military vehicles produced during the past conflicts, especially World War II. The association owns a fleet of about 40 vehicles, most of them in running conditions : Jeeps, tanks, trucks of all sorts. Members’ vehicles come on top of that, making UNIVEM a living museum that keeps alive the memory of those who designed them, drove them and battled with them.
The GMC Gazoline
An emblematic light truck of the Second World War, 560,000 GMCs were produced, in all kinds of versions: cargo, petrol tanker, water tanker, technical body, artillery tractor, amphibious, etc. Its two tanks could load 750 gallons of petrol (2,840 litres).
Its two tanks could load 750 gallons of petrol (2,840 litres), while its two side racks could carry 26 5-gallon jerrycans (26 x 19 litres = 494 litres).
Distribution to users was by gravity. The specific
hoses and valves were located in the lockers at the end of the side
side racks. These tankers were all fitted with a chain hanging from the back, the last links of which dragged along the road to discharge static electricity.
Ward la france
“Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation was originally an American manufacturer of trucks and fire engines founded by Addison Ward LaFrance in 1916 in Elmira Heights, New York. Despite the name, Addison Ward LaFrance was American. Like most ‘LaFrance’s’, a fairly common name in the United States, he was almost certainly of French origin, but with a name that was difficult for Americans to pronounce: what was a nickname became a family name. The company has no direct connection with the equally famous ‘American LaFrance’, except that it was formed by a member of the same family. Ward LaFrance ceased operations in 1979.
The U.S. Army’s M1 heavy tow truck was built by Ward LaFrance as well as by the famous Kenworth firm (Kenworth 570).
The Ward LaFrance M1A1 is an evolution of the M1 model. The M1A1 has a motorised lifting system driven by the engine. Unlike the M1, it was equipped with a torpedo cab.
This Heavy-Wrecker, 10 Ton 6×6 will be assigned to recovery missions for heavy wheeled or armoured vehicles.
Around 5,000 M1A1s rolled off the assembly line.
