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FWD began in 1908 FWD began in 1908 when founders Otto Zachow and William Besserdich built a prototype 4x4 touring car. FWD went into overdrive and completed two prototype trucks: a one-and-a-half ton (later known as the Model G) and a three-ton, best known as the Model B.
Some of the first motor vehicles to be taken into service by the United States military were supplied by the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company. Some forty vehicles accompanied General Pershings' pursuit of the bandit Pancho Villa during the punitive expedition of 1916.
FWDs were shipped to France along side the American Expeditionary Force (AEF) in 1917, their value proven by the many thousands in service with the British. Able to navigate the very difficult road conditions FWDs were used to haul food, ammunition and field guns up to the front lines.
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The Nash Quad was first manufactured in 1914 by the Thomas B. Jeffrey Company, which was located in Kenosha, Wisconsin. It became quite popular during World War I and was used by the armed forces of not only the United States, but also Russia, France and Britain. One of the first motor vehicles to offer four-wheel drive, the Quad proved very suitable to the rough, unpaved roads of the time. In 1916, Jeffrey sold the production rights to the Nash company. Because of its popularity, it was produced in large numbers, including license production by Hudson, National, and Paige-Detroit. Exact numbers aren't known, but apparently over 11,000 were produced in 1918 alone. A British subsidiary was set up at Slough in 1921.
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The Matador originated from a 4-ton 4 x 4 truck designed by Charles Cleaver and produced by Hardy Motors and FWD in the early 1930. Hardy Motors was absorbed by AEC in 1932 and the development work continued. By 1937 a prototype was ready and the Matador 853 appeared in 1938.
In 1938 the War Office placed an order for 200 vehicles bodied for use as medium tractors, and the first prototype was delivered on January 9th 1939. The first production vehicle with diesel engine (O853) was delivered in November 1939.
Intended as a medium artillery tractor (MAT), it was mainly used to tow a 5.5" gun, filling the gap between the Morris Quad Field Artillery Tractor and Scammell Pioneer Heavy Artillery Tractor towing the 25 pdr and 7.2" gun respectively.
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Важным достижением "Торникрофта" в военной области считается создание инженером Сидни Дакком (Sydney Dack) в 1940 г. многоцелевого 3-тонного бескапотного грузовика "Ньюбиэн ТС" (Nubian) 4x4
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The Crossley FWD (Four Wheel Drive) truck was manufactured between 1940 and 1945 and the tractor from 1943 to 1945. The majority were supplied to the Royal Air Force.
The chassis was designed to meet the British War Office's Q-Type specification issued in 1935 for a 5 ton payload truck. Crossley's original proposal was for an all-independent suspension chassis with the 6.8 litre six cylinder 38/110 bus engine and a new 5 speed gearbox. Because of tight timescales, and at the War Office's request, the production version was simplified and reverted to proven drive components from the IGL range and the 5.2 litre 30/100 type engine. The tractor units were frequently used to tow the large "Queen Mary" trailers
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By the turn of the century Wilson (Vauxhall Motors) left the business and the remaining board directors became interested in the "horseless carriage" it was necessary to move out of London and a suitable site was acquired in Luton, Bedfordshire.
The Vauxhall car factory was taken over by General Motors in 1925. The factory was expanded and facilities for manufacturing trucks were made. The trucks made were named "Bedford" after the Bedfordshire County wherein the city of Luton and the factory were placed. The maker were quoted to be Vauxhall Motors LTD, Luton, Bedfordshire.
Meanwhile Bedford became a major supplier of military trucks and tanks and designed 4x4 called the QL.
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Founded in 1947 by Frank L Douglas, the company produced 4-wheel drive forestry tractors based initially on shortened and strengthened ex-WD AEC Matadors re-equipped with 9.6 litre AEC diesel engine, winch, land anchor, new cab & Trakgrip tyres. Later models were built up from parts sourced direct from AEC. Douglas continues to manufacture aircraft handling tractors, dockside & distribution tractors & other special products.
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В октябре 1931 г. был введен в строй новый завод в Дэгенхэме , приступивший к выпуску моделей, носивших собственную марку "Фордзон" (которую до того носили только колесные тракторы, выпускавшиеся с 1917 г. на американском заводе Henry Ford & Son. С 1935 г. завод в Дэгенхэме приступил к выпуску собственных грузовых машин с клиновидной облицовкой радиатора, за которую их прозвали "совками". Почти все детали к ним изготовлялись в Англии, хотя конструктивно автомобили почти не отличались от американских и немецких аналогов.
Во время второй мировой войны продукция британского "Форда" составила основу армейского парка легких и средних грузовиков Великобритании. Его военная программа включала полноприводные модели "WOT6" и "WOT8" .
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The Canadian Military Pattern (CMP) military truck made in large numbers in Canada during WWII specifications for use in the armies of the British Commonwealth allies. Standard designs were drawn up just before the beginning of the war. In 1937, the Ford Motor (Canada) and General Motors (Canada) were each invited by the Canadian Department of National Defence to produce a Canadianized prototype of a 15-hundredweight (or centum weight (abbreviated cwt) light infantry truck that had then been recently adopted by the British War Office. By 1938, Canadian military authorities had shifted their interest to heavier 4x4. By 1939 plans had been prepared for the mass production in Canada of a range of military vehicles based on fairly strict British specifications. These trucks were originally designated "Department of National Defence (DND) Pattern"; however the class of trucks was redesignated CMP.
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