Vietnam era civilian vehicles

[Bushbaby]

Hi,

I would like some ideas regarding civilian vehicles for Vietnam war scenarios. What did people drive in Saigon and in the countryside? (apart from water buffalo carts and rikshaws)

[Arlequín]

Citroen 2CV, Volkswagen Beetle, VW Microbus, old Peugeots, Citroens & Renaults from 1930s to 60s, Fiat Multipla, 1100, 1300 & 1500, even the odd 'Spyder', Lambretta Lambros and the Vespa equivalent (Scooters with a cab and a passenger cab or cargo bed. Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki motorbikes, various mopeds... pretty much anything and everything.

If you do an image search for "Saigon" with the year of your choice, I'm sure you won't be disappointed. 

[CarlLeyland]

Scooters, the streets would have been full of mopeds and scooters...

[Bushbaby]

Mille grazie!

I could have done a photo search, but my lack of car knowledge would have left me as clueless as before.

[Arlequín]

No car knowledge here either, but I'm now old enough to be 'history' in person; research is often just 'thinking back'. 

[carlos marighela]

To which you can add a smaller but still significant number of contemporary and slightly older US sedan types, utilities and trucks.

[carlos marighela]

BTW, If you want to do this on the cheap then Welly, a Chinese diecast company, make 1/56 ish scale 2CVs, VWs and a 1950s era pick up truck. They were sold locally by Kmart as a home brand. The Disney/Pixar Cars toys have a few more useful items that just require the anthropomorphic faces painted out, including a VW van.

[AKULA]

Hmmm....I must make a tuk-tuk

[Bushbaby]

Thank you.

I have been looking for images or info on Republic of Vietnam National Police-patrol cars, but without success. Anyone know anything?

AKULA:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Modellauto-1-43-James-Bond-007-Tuk-Tuk-Octopussy-/361428277454?hash=item5426cdd8ce:g:l3cAAOSwEgVWRQbt

[Arlequín]

As far as I know the CSQG/QC, or 'White Mice', used Jeeps, Dodge WCs and V-100 Commandos, I don't believe they had cars after the late '50s...

Have a look here: http://www.vnafmamn.com/ARVN_MilitaryPolice.html

[Bushbaby]

Great! Already have some of those

[Poiter50]

Might have to get some of those Kommando HQ Indonesians after all to use as ARVN MPs.

As far as I know the CSQG/QC, or 'White Mice', used Jeeps, Dodge WCs and V-100 Commandos, I don't believe they had cars after the late '50s...

Have a look here: http://www.vnafmamn.com/ARVN_MilitaryPolice.html

[carlos marighela]

Technically speaking those Dodge WCs are more likely to have been M-37s  than the original versions but near enough. I suspect that the M 715 pickup was another likely candidate, certainly the US used them in Vietnam.

[NurgleHH]

Hmmm....I must make a tuk-tuk

YES!!!!!

[Arlequín]

Technically speaking those Dodge WCs are more likely to have been M-37s 

Yep good catch, M-37 just would not pop into my head this morning.