The preservation of polar exploration vehicles of famous French explorer Paul-Emile Victor included a sequence at UNIVEM where they got prepared for the big yearly exhibition in Paris : \u201cRetromobile\u201d<\/p>\n
big vehicle is a \u201cmodern\u201d \u00ab\u00a0Hotchkiss\u00a0\u00bb HB40, the small one is a WWII Studebaker Weasel M29C (see \u201cAssociation vehicles\u201d)<\/p>\n
Paul-Emile Victor hears in 1947 that several hundreds Weasels form the U.S. army surplus are stored outdoors at the Fontainebleau ERGM (Escadron de R\u00e9serve Gendramerie Mobile).\u00a0 The hull plugs were not removed, they were full of water.\u00a0 Following an extensive overhaul some are used for the first expeditions in Greenland in 1948 and in Terre Adelie in 1949.\u00a0 About 50 Weasels will be used during a thirty year period.\u00a0 They demonstrated their effectiveness, thanks especially to their light weight (payload of 1000 pounds for a weight of 3800 pounds,\u00a0ground pressure<\/em>:\u00a0<\/em>1.9 psi)<\/p>\n Hotchkiss HB40 tabulated data:<\/p>\n Length : 4.20 m Empty weight: 3.600 Kg (8,000 pounds)<\/p>\n Loaded weight: 5.000 Kg (11,000 pounds)<\/p>\n Ground pressure: 125 g\/cm2<\/sup>, 1.8 psi (empty) 175 g\/cm2<\/sup>, 2.5 psi (loaded)<\/p>\n Gasoline engine, Hotchkiss \u00ab\u00a03501\u00a0\u00bb, 125 hp, 4 cylinders in line, 3.5 liters (213.5 cu in.) Off-road Carburator, with automatic correction for altitude.<\/p>\n Gear box Hotchkiss \u00ab\u00a0178\u00a0\u00bb, 4 synchronized speed, with power take-off. Transfer case \u00a0Hotchkiss, 2 speeds. Differentia gear Hotchkiss \u00ab\u00a0Cleveland\u00a0\u00bb, incorporating the braking and steering devices.<\/p>\n Tracks: magnesium wheels with rubber, tracks made of two, single-piece each, armed rubber bands, interchangeable track shoes of several types.<\/p>\n Suspension\u00a0: Neidhart type, with \u00a04 rubber blocks<\/p>\n Gasoline tank: 300 liters (80 gallons).\u00a0 Possible range\u00a0: 135 km<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t
\nWidth : 2.30 m
\nHeigth : 2.80 m
\nGround clearence : 0.32 m
\nCargo area : 5m\u00b2<\/p>\n