Oliver Begom discovered his Canadian-built Ford F60T, of which only 3000 were manufactured during 1943-44, in 1999 stored in a garage in Bethune, Northern France, where it had languished since 1946. There was no trailer with it but the vehicle was complete and still wearing its original wartime markings. Since Oliver didn't have the wherewithal to purchase the vehicle, friends he was with pooled their cash and enough was raised to complete the deal and allow them to take the Ford away. It was in remarkably good condition although the engine required a little work. While repainting the truck Oliver has been careful to retain all the old markings which relate to the 5th Regiment Automobile, a unit formed after the Normandy landings from ex-members of the French Resistance. Apparently it operated a Red Ball Express-type supply route out of Normandy but little seems to be known about the operation. The trailer attached to the F60T is a relatively modern unit that has been modified to represent the wartime type. Interestingly, when first built, the F60T's semi-trailer was non-detachable and was connected via a large ball and socket arrangement.
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