Saviem:
I have been just informed that the Pasta is not ready as yet…and if I’m hungry the wait will be worthwhile…So Kevmac, a few words about that Simca-Unic- Marmon-Bocquet that you have photographed, and its 6999 bretheren…some even had mini Poclain excavators mounted on their little, but very able 4x4 backs…normally capable of carrying 12 men, plus driver, or 1500kg payload…and some were air portable as well.
That little lorry, with its side valve "Flat Head " Ford V8 petrol engine sitting under a neat Genéve metal cab, with a pure USA Marmon 4x4 drive system, 24 volt electrics by Paris-Rhone, and a cross country ability that even today would hold its own with a Mercedes Unimog!..really encapsulated the integration of the French lorry building industry.
Post WW2 the manufacturers were grouped into co-operatives to produce vehicles of certain weight catergories in order to streamline production for the National need, and to eliminate overlap of model types. Simca found themselves allied to Laffly, and Unic.
Ford of America had allowed a collaborative deal for production of its FlatHead V8 with Groupe Mathis, who traded as Matford, and produced a V8 powered motor car the Vedette, using the Ford serie 60 V8 239, or 255 cubic inch engine.
1954ish Ford/Matford merged with Simca, (and retained a 15 % equity share up until 1958.
1960 Simca was acquired by Chrysler, and Henri Pigozzi, (a close friend and family collaborator with the Agnelli family, owners of Fiat OM in Italy), became both head, and financial backer.
Unic, the third largest French lorry builder had come into the control of the Pigozzi family following the death in 1947 of Baron Henri de Rothschild, (go and have a look at the family pile gates in Waddesdon), followed by the death of Henri Dubois, which left Reni Copain holding the , (meagre) ■■■■■ strings…but he new Pogozzi well from the days of the GFA, (Unic-Simca-Laffly, grouping), and new he had the financial clout, (via the Agnelli`s), to take Unic forward, in a market where the newly formed Saviem, (Renault, Latil, Somua, and Berliet) were making the pace.
But the 1958 Ford, (Simca) Cargo began to sell well, as did the revised, (and truly so beautiful),and handsome Unic heavies…Unic Services began to distribute Italies OM lories into France as well.
1964 the first Simca-Unic-Marmon-Bocquet trucks were delivered to the French Military, and exceeded all expectations in terms of performance, (except in fuel economy)!
1966 Unic became a totally Fiat owned operation, (and the Vedette V8 car was produced by Chrysler in Brazil…with its Ford designed, Chrysler built engine)!
1973 production of Unic lorries was moved from Puteaux, (close to the original Saurer/Unic works at Suresnes), to Trappes, and market share was building but no one could anticipate the crisis ahead…
The SUMB 4x4 had reached the end of its military life, 1964/1974…several hundred had been re-powered with the 3.8 litre Turbo Renault engine from the TRM2000, complete with its 5 speed, hi/lo, transmission. This version was rated far higher in terms of ability/driveability, than the Saviem/Renault TP3 that followed on…
Saviem/Renault■■? …How so?
When the French Military began to seek a successor to the SUMB, they chose to only invite Berliet, and Saviem/ Renault to tender…This drove Agnelli into a fury, (and perhaps with great justification), for had not Fiat invested heavily in its French operation? Was not Fiat, (along with Volvo), a suitor to take over the largest, (but financially very poorly), French lorry manufacturer, Berliet…and was not Unic, both profitable, and number 3 in total market sales in France?
But the Tender went ahead, for a total 15000 units!..then to really push home the needle, it became public that the French Military did not wish “their 4 tonne payload lorries to be powered by Italian engines…even if the lorries were made in France!!!”
Couple that with the French Government driving a collaboration/merger between Saviem and Berliet, (despite the colossal cost, and confusion that followed, rather than let Agnelli`s Fiat become the owner of the bulk of French lorry building…Unic, and Berliet!..(Pray, take a minute to reflect on that political stance)…and contrast it with the ignominious disposal of Leyland to DAF, (when they could not make the General Motors Leyland Deal work), by our own elected Government!..shamefull is it not…Mr Channon what a clown indeed!
Iveco was formed in 1975…
Pre dating this was an exodus of staff, particularly engineers from both Trappes, and Bourbon Lancy, (the Unic engine plant), to Berliet in Venissieux, and Bourg en Bresse…as well as across the Alpes to Turin…now many had worked on the development of the Unic V8, and is it not odd, that in its final form, before it was killed off…its bore and stroke were identical to the “revised”…“rip snorting” Berliet version?
But of course the Fiat “Turin” V8 was based on a Saurer design…was it really…when 70% of the engineers on that project were ex Unic…Interesting to speculate eh?
1984, Unic were closed,…well the engine plant, and the spare parts facility remained at Bourbon Lancy…but Unic lorries were no more…Bourbon Lancy produced the middle, and heavy range engines for Fiat/Iveco…and great engines indeed they were…
So really the basic little SUMB was the death knell of France`s fine, ney, outstanding lorry manufacturer, Unic…1893-1984…not a bad innings…
And if any of you are tempted to buy a SUMB…go for one of the converted ones, that 3.8 litre turbo is a tractable gem…and a good SUMB really can do anything that your nerves will let you do in a Unimog…believe me…and at far less cost!
My Salmon, and Pasta, in a Basil and mushroom sauce awaits…I`m off
Cheerio for now.
Thanks Saviem, it’s amazing how much info a picture can generate, as usual you did not disappoint!! Ps don’t forget the lend lease Mack. 
Regards Kev. 