C8A discovery

C8A discovery's story

HUP (C8A-pers 2)

Finally after being used so many years as wrecker, this Heavy Personal Utility (HUP) build on November 22, 1944, has been saved to be restored.

This C8A and the ambulance HUA, his cousin, have been discovered in Belgium in a wreckyard in the early January 1999.

I remember having a phone call on a late friday from Alain van de Werve, a friend of mine, also a CMP's collector. He told me about two C8A he spotted in a wreckyard. I didn't believe my ears. I asked him to repeat what he told me. It was like hearing about an UFO story.. I always wanted to own a C8A but never thought that someday I could get one. They are so scarce, and when one is for sale, price is far away from I can afford.

Price asked by yard's owner was so fair that immediately decided to buy both of them. . I was very nervous this night. Finally a dream came true !!

The day after, at 8.30 am, I was already at this place. Thirty minutes after, a deal was concluded. an I became the proud owner of two wrecks but so beloved C8A.

My worries weren't ended. I didn't have place to gather them and the wreckyard owner wanted me to take them away immediately. It was a dilemna. I needed urgently a place. By chance, I found a storage for sale in the area. Big enough to put several CMP's. Another dream came true again : Having my own place.

Now the HUP is already in safe place in my storage (june 1999). The HUA is still in the wreckyard, surrounded by hundreds of tires. I pray to get it out there very quickly. I can't sleep quietly yet.

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