Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 1

Plastic model kit of a Ward LaFrance M1000 Heavy Wrecker, Series 1

• Scale 1:35
• 594+ parts
• Clear and photo-etched parts included
• Includes 3D-printed parts
• 2 marking options
• Scale ropes and chains
• Unbuilt/unpainted
• Paint and glue not included

Thunder Model has released the entire series of the Ward LaFrance off-road vehicle, which you can find in our shop, as long as we have it in stock: THM35009 Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 1 THM35010 Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 2 THM35011 Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 3 THM35012 Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1000 Series 4 THM35014 Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1 Series 5-M1A1 THM35014B Heavy Wrecker Ward LaFrance M1 Series 5-M1A1 BONUS

The Ward LaFrance Truck Corporation was an American manufacturer of trucks and firefighting equipment founded in 1916 by Addison Ward LaFrance in Elmira Heights, New York. The company ceased operations in 1979.

During World War II, Ward LaFrance supplied over 5,000 commercial vehicles for the war effort. This M1 10-ton, 6x6, heavy-duty truck, powered by a 6-cylinder Continental engine, was built by both Ward LaFrance and Kenworth between 1941 and 1945 with minor design differences. The first type, the M1, standardized in July 1941, featured a civilian sheet metal cab. The later version, the M1A1, produced from 1943 onward, featured an open cab with a folding canvas top.

The M1 was produced in five different models (Series 1, Series 2, Series 3, Series 4, and Series 5). The first Series 1 truck was introduced in 1941, and a total of 69 Series 1 trucks were produced. The design of the Series 1 trucks was simpler than that of subsequent series. The front winch was driven by the gearbox, while the rear winch was missing. Instead, they had a small pulley attached to the body and a hand-operated crane boom. The spare wheels were mounted transversely behind the cab. They were painted olive drab and originally had 11.25-20 tires.