• Steel Soldiers now has a few new forums, read more about it at: New Munitions Forums!

  • Microsoft MSN, Live, Hotmail, Outlook email users may not be receiving emails. We are working to resolve this issue. Please add support@steelsoldiers.com to your trusted contacts.

 

SUMB- The Unimog's very ugly French cousin!

saddamsnightmare

Well-known member
3,618
80
48
Location
Abilene, Texas
March 30th, 2013. :twisted: I am not sure how the French managed it, but they ended up with a vehicle even uglier then a Unimog S404.114! This link should take you to a short video, but the front end kinda looks like a Unimog S404.114 rear ended a Ford Louisville L series grille..... Some of these had Ford flathead V-8 gas engines with MPG's to only make an Arab sheik smile, but later some got rebuilt with diesels..... Equally ugly and probably near impossible to find parts for in the US! http://youtu.be/eK0aJxA6kZE Even Gimpy would probably NOT find this one attractive enough for his collection!:gimp2: Have a Good Holiday!See 10, 11 and 12 below for more French oddities!
 
Last edited:

panzerwillie

Active member
952
104
43
Location
miami florida
I had one of this for 2 years it was nice . had the flathead V8 and the 4SPD box the shift pattern was backwards first was where 3rd would be also the T/C had sore of a set up like a M52A2 they call it compensator but you could also lock in 4x4 , it would run 50-55MPH on the HWY i still have all the manuals , i rented my for the Movie BAD BOYS 2 you can see it at the end {suppost to be Cuba} pulling up at the beach they mounted a 50 BMG for the movie it would have been nicer with a diesel but it ran good
 

chgofiveo

New member
257
1
0
Location
Chicago IL
Junk!!

Come on now...France brought us some fine cars... Who can forget these works art! The Renault Medalion and Alliance


These cars had so little horsepower, they couldnt pull a greazy string out of a cats a$$!!
images.jpgimagesCA68BIOY.jpgimagesCALVKCBJ.jpg
 

M813rc

Well-known member
Steel Soldiers Supporter
4,047
2,676
113
Location
Near Austin, Texas
The French produce machinery that is either beautiful to look at, or dreadfully ugly. That applies to cars, military vehicles and aircraft.

For all it lacks in aesthetics, the SUMB is actually a very good truck. The French were one of the first military customers for the S404 Unimog (including a cool short wheelbase version with a wooden bed), but since it wasn't French, it had to be replaced eventually. Enter the SUMB.
They are fairly plentiful and cheap to acquire on the European market.

That Renault ambulance isn't exactly a beauty queen either, but also has a certain cool factor.

For a good looking French truck, look at the ACMAT VLRA. (Remember though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that I think the F-4 Phantom is a beautiful plane!)

Cheers
 
Last edited:

DieselBob

Active member
2,891
12
38
Location
Arnold Maryland
(Remember though, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and that I think the F-4 Phantom is a beautiful plane!)

Cheers
Man I loved those planes, large and in charge. When I was growing up in Annapolis the Blue Angels flew them and I couldn't wait for graduation at the Naval Academy and the demonstration they would put on. Man those planes at tree top level then hitting afterburner and going near vertical would really rattle the windows and china.
 

rchalmers3

Half a mile from the Broad River
Steel Soldiers Supporter
1,925
30
48
Location
Irmo, South Carolina
I dunno, Chrysler built some fugly cars during the late 50's and early 60's that rival the French offerings. Maybe we should start a thread about the uglist vehicle?

Rick
 

scopionf89

New member
80
1
0
Location
Lacey WA
I don't know how heavy that thing is but a m35a2 could kick its but. I have gone up way steeper hills on looser stuff and my truck did not even flinch compared to the struggle that thing is having.
 

saddamsnightmare

Well-known member
3,618
80
48
Location
Abilene, Texas
May 29th, 2013.ScopionF89: I suspect you mean the 6X6 stuck in the mud hole in post No. 11 above? I doubt in any of our M35A2's would do much better, as he is trying to push the bank on that turn, and even our trucks will not push a bank like that deep in the mud hole. A Unimog, maybe, a deuce or five ton, not likely with stock open end axles.....:???:Note the monster in the header for no. 12 above, a Berliet 700CH, a monster by anybody's measure.... From the insignia on the grilles I would suspect that they were originally a locomotive builder(???), any of our French members have any information on the company itself and/or the 700CH model trucks?
 
Last edited:

scopionf89

New member
80
1
0
Location
Lacey WA
I gess the video that I was trying to reply disapeared affter I made my first post. The video I saw was of a french truck trying to climb up a hill that was covered with loose dirt and it was strugling. Mud is mud I would agree that the mudhole you menchioned would be difficult for any thing that was not tracked.
 

saddamsnightmare

Well-known member
3,618
80
48
Location
Abilene, Texas
June 1st, 2013.That's post No. 10, the video's still on there. I notice the tire lugs are full of mud, so he's pretty much climbing with smooth tires. The tread seems to be similar to what we use on the M35A3's today..... The SUMB seems to do that hill a little better, but if its like it's progenitor the Unimog, it will have locking differentials also. Our M35A's did not use locking differentials and they are notoriously bad about slipping and getting stuck, which is why every unit seems to have a winch equipped M35A2 in the lot (or M35A3).:???: Apparently the Berliet Gazelle is the prototype of the more angular 6X6 stick in the mudhole, so very likely it was a French Army vehicle also (note the semi gloss OD or military green paint)....
 
Last edited:

busbart

Member
86
1
8
Location
france
June 1st, 2013.That's post No. 10, the video's still on there. I notice the tire lugs are full of mud, so he's pretty much climbing with smooth tires. The tread seems to be similar to what we use on the M35A3's today......
That is pretty logic, almost all of the U.S. defence vehicles drives MICHELIN tires these day's, and guess who's manufacturing them?!?:whistle::whistle:
 
Top
AdBlock Detected

We get it, advertisements are annoying!

Sure, ad-blocking software does a great job at blocking ads, but it also blocks useful features of our website like our supporting vendors. Their ads help keep Steel Soldiers going. Please consider disabling your ad blockers for the site. Thanks!

I've Disabled AdBlock
No Thanks