It is amazing to think that it took Meccano France until 1968 to issue a model of the GMC truck, the best and almost only truck in the French army in the early post war period. Many of us drove it and passed their heavy vehicle licence on it.

Four models were made using the same chassis / cab :

808 G.M.C. wrecker. Issued 1972.
809 G.M.C. covered wagon. Issued 1970.
823 G.M.C. air force petrol tanker. Issued 1968.
881 G.M.C. Pinder with cage trailer and animals. Issued 1968.

The chassis was nicely detailed as a plastic part was added to he main diecast chassis. This part included the transmission shafts and the marking which was either :
• Super Dinky Production Meccano France
later
• Dinky Toys Production Meccano Triang

All four models were provided with a winch behind the front bumper, 10 wheels with threaded tyres and removable cab tilt.

Contrary to what has been writen in Roulet's 1982 book the windscreen is not foldable.

WRECKER

It was finished either in sand colour or army green, the rear bed and winch are plastic, the winch can be operated, there is no tailboard.

COVERED WAGON

Almost the same as the wrecker, but with a semi rigid plastic tilt and an opening tailboard. Always finished in army green, it was provided with a sheet of transfers. This is the only of the G.M.C.'s provided with a driver which was not made by Meccano s.a. but subcontracted to Fonderies Roger who made several of the French Dinky Toys figures as well as the ref. 49D Esso service station.

PETROL TANKER

The flatbed has been replaced by a plastic tank which can be filled with water. If you have one of these, DO NOT try to open the man holes, the clips would break. The transfer on the tank is the badge of the S.E.A. the Service des Essences des Armées. Always finished in army green.

G.M.C. PINDER

A very much sought for model with unfortunately too much plastic. The elaborate trailer has opening shutters on each side, removable roof and is provided with lion, tiger and black panther.
The truck can be found with or without a hole in the seat to attach the driver.
A very rare variation or rather manufacturing error of the trailer is that it can have been factory assembled with the end doors on the wrong side.
The prototype trailer used by Pinder had twin wheels on both axles.

A lot more info and pictures on the Dinky Toys Encyclopaedia.