A European-spec, mid-century White WC16 Super Power flatbed made the perfect restoration project and addition to the collection of one Dutch enthusiast.

From the late 1930s on, the White Motor Company produced a range of gasoline-powered truck chassis that also became popular in Europe. In Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, notably, operators liked the powerful gasoline machines because they were also suitable for running on poorer fuel. After World War II, a fair number of new White chassis in CKD form were imported by Messrs Albatros in Amsterdam. After assembly, these chassis were often fitted with a locally fabricated cab.

One such WC16 Super Power truck has stood the test of time and was recently restored by Dutchman Cees van Vliet of Woudenberg. The WB and WC series from the 1950s had basically the styling from the 1930s conventional White. Its 3000 COE stablemate that came in 1949 was also a product that the competition looked at with envy. Incidentally, the very first White 3000 that left the Ohio factory was sold to the Bols Gin distillery in Amsterdam.

Cees van Vliet also owns two 3000s. He says: “From a young age, I have been interested in cars and trucks. That worked out well because when I started as a self-employed worker in the logging industry, transport was an important part of the business.”

When Cees reached retirement age, the firm was sold off. But sitting still was not his thing. So he started to spend much of his time and money on his old hobby, collecting everything about American road transport. In 2012, he bought his first pickup-truck and restored it with the help of some friends. Since then, he has flown many times over the ocean to buy more typical American things that were mostly related to road transport. In 2017, the first White cabover was added to his collection.

“That was a nice moment,” he says. “It has been on my wish-list for a long time. We have rebuilt it thoroughly and converted it to LPG gas because it was not exactly frugal. We also wanted to transport classic cars to meetings with it.”

Although Cees had collected quite a few American vehicles, he also wanted to have a heavier truck. That opportunity arose in 2022 when haulage operator D.G. vd Nadort in Dordrecht offered him a rare 1956 White WC16 Super Power flatbed. The truck was already partly rebuilt.

The first owner in the 1950s had been a factory in Rotterdam that processed split peas. Later, it was sold to a local collector of vintage vehicles, before haulage operator vd Nadort became the third owner in 1990.

In 1956, White importer CV Albatros in Amsterdam had assembled the chassis. In Holland, the two-axle chassis received a custom-built cab that consisted of a wooden frame with metal panels, fabricated by body builder Kees Mulder in Rijnsburg.

“For its age, the cab was still in a surprisingly good condition,” says Cees, who continues: “We know that second owner Kees de Rijke had done some bodywork on it but, for 75%, it is original. We have no plans to bring it back to showroom condition. I like it as it is with some little dents and wear spots. However, it must be mechanically good, because I also want to drive it on the road now and then.”

When Cees acquired the White two years ago, it had 213,000km on the odometer. Although the Mustang six- cylinder, side-valve engine initially looked okay, it did not want to start after 24 years.

Visible in the background is the refurbished White 3000 COE.

“So the first thing we did was to tackle the driveline. Because spare parts are hard to find for such an old White, I bought a second chassis that Nadort still had on his property. Actually, it was nothing more than a pile of scrap. The original engine was overhauled by a specialist, as well as the water pump and the radiator. Most of the other engine work we did ourselves. We found new gaskets via Ebay in the US. Luckily, the gearbox and clutch were still in good order. The brake system was also overhauled and partially replaced. The electrical system needed quite a bit of work too. In retrospect, the state the White was in was disappointing,” Cees says.

Remarkably, the wooden and steel cab was in better condition. The flatbed is also original. The White is equipped with large Trilex wheels that have received six used-but-young 8.25×20 tyres. They give the 6.5-ton truck a sturdy look.

Cees explains: “Between the 1930s and 50s, a lot of American truck chassis arrived on the Continent without a cab, because it was much cheaper that way to ship them. A lot of hauliers had a cab mounted that was made by a local body builder. These were more spacious, better finished and generally cheaper. The nice thing about my White is that the cab is still completely original.”

Of course, the flatbed was also completely restored. Cees says: “But with a nice load, it would look even better. So I tried to find something with a link to America. Partly inspired by the Budweiser beer I often drank in the US, a bright idea came up one night when I could not sleep – placing a nice load of empty beer crates on the bed of the White. After some roaming on the internet I managed to obtain 160 plastic Budweiser crates. I have placed them on the flatdeck and tied the lot together with glue and screws. It looks great and fits the truck perfectly!”

You don’t expect it, but the ‘superstructure’ is hollow inside. So Cees can sleep in it when he attends a classic vehicle weekend.

In total, Cees now owns, apart from several cars and motorcycles, seven vintage American trucks. He concludes: “I still have some space left in my ‘museum’, so I might catch a plane to the US again one of these days!”