GMC vrachtwagen
The GMC (General Motors Company) model CCKW can rightly be called the workhorse of the American army. This 2.5 tonner was used in many variations - from dentist to radio car - but mainly for the transport of troops and supplies. Reliable, simple and fast, about 600,000 were produced. She experienced one of her highlights during the deployment with the Red Ball Express and was indispensable for the rapid advance of the Allies in France.
By the way, do you know what that type of CCKW stands for? The first C stands for the year in which the model was developed. If you know that at GMC the A stands for 1939, then you also understand that C stands for 1941 (2 letters further = 2 years later).
The second C refers to the cab, which is considered conventional (= traditional). In this normal cabin, the driver sits behind the engine. This is different from other designs, where the driver sits above the engine. We often call the latter COE, which stands for Cab Over Engine.
Then the K... at GMC that K meant all wheel drive. And the W refers to the double rear axle. And so they were both driven.
The US Army gave this vehicle the type name G-508. Each vehicle model had its own designation - although there were often several variants within each model - so the GMC CCKW was G-508. And the jeep, to bring that in as well, was the G-503.
