I was in The Marines in the 70's and spent a year in Japan. Okinawa, Camp Schwab to be exact. I called my Goat "my 5 ton" sportscar. It handled the hills and curves of the hiways there like a dream. Just had to keep the RPMs up 'cause it's a 2 cycle engine. Wish I had one. Loved them !
Oh, man, I'd forgotten how much fun you could have with a Gama Goat. I was stationed in Germany in the early '80's and when I was promoted to 1LT and assigned as HHC XO I thought I would get a jeep. Wrong. Here, you go, Lieutenant, have a Goat and a driver. Anyway, the Goat was a noisy beast, not very fast, and a pain to climb into. Fortunately, my motor sergeant was a prince, so he built a plywood rear for my Goat, traded for a couple of ambulance stretchers so my driver and I could sleep in the back, and stuffed the back with all of the spare parts he wasn't supposed to hoard. If you were an M60A1 tanker you know how much a few spare shocks and a half-dozen heater igniters were worth. That plus a Coleman fuel burner that I learned was great for heating C-Rations but would suffocate you if left on for heat when the German Hawk blew. But the Goat could go ANYWHERE. I had a winch on mine and collected case after case of beer pulling jeeps out of mud. And any time I saw mud I couldn't resist switching places with my driver. Why should he get to have all the fun?
I agree. This 6 wheel drive vehicle was a real blast to drive. I was stationed in Germany in 73-74. We used the Gama Goat for our FDC vehicle in an artillery battery.
LT, I knew these beasts well and thoroughly HATED them. They were a LOT less fun for the enlistedmen who had to routinely drive and maintain them. I too was stationed in Germany though a decade before you and well know about the "hawk" (For those unfamiliar, the Hawk! is the windy, biting cold that goes right through any and everything you could wear going right to the bone.) Driving down the autobahn in a storm of snow and sleet was freezing HELL, es-SPECIAL-ly when some general (Patton Jr. comes to mind) reckoned we couldn't maintain an active air guard with the cab canvases on. GrrrBRRR-r-r-r-r-!!! Then there was the oil change. These were (supposedly) amphibious vehicles with hulls and access plugs for such things as changing the oil. You had to crawl under the vehicle, remove the plug and then reach up through the 4" hole up to the elbow to reach the engine's oil drain plug. Getting it loosened was a chore, not being able to see what you were doing there. Then you had to start unscrewing it by hand and the oil started down your arm before you even finished unthreading it. Then came the flood when you pulled it loose then fast as you could, withdraw your arm and reach over and drag the catch basin (torched off bottom of a 55 gallon steel drum) in place. What oil that wasn't in your arm pit you were laying in. LOTS of FUN in freezing slush. (Warm and dry was a very limited experience in Germany.)
I learned how to drive in one these things. We are also parachuted them at ft Bragg. Honestly most of us hated these things but they were tough. Would love one now
I drove one of these in the Military, our unit had two of them. I sure would like to have one now. I heard the engine was like a Greyhound bus engine. I used to pull tanks out when they got stuck in the mud or between trees. I couldn't get my Gamma Goat stuck anywhere.
3 cyl detroit diesel yep ran them at el toro truck school '75 straight up straight down no worries as long as front or rears could grab or push your head was the roll bar lol so you became very controlled in it's operation i've never seen a cab or roll bar on usmc goats but then we got all the hand me downs from the army and somebody lost the roll bars --except on the hospital version--but that's no fun!? cheers!
+Stan Johnson "HEY STAN " ( SIR ) thats pretty cool to have drove these ( GREAT - AMERICAN ) machines i think ill add driving a GAMA GOAT to my bucket list .( THANK-YOU-4-SERVING-OUR-GREAT-COUNTRY ) ( SIR )
Semper Fi brother! Yep I was at Mag 11 & we'd take them out the back gate to Trabuco Canyon & romp the HELL out of 'em (1975) Ours were pretty much all ready line though. Big time end of war for getting motorpools all ready lined out. Federico I love the bows and canvas you did & it's absolutely a perfect machine congratulations! And yes they do SWIM!! Cheers!!!
Many thanks for this video, especially the detail shots as I want to build one of these in 1/35th scale. And never thought about one pulling a 2nd trailer.
When I was in the 82ND back in the early 70'S we used them to tow our 105 mm howitzers. They were easily airlifted along with the 105 by Chinooks. Loud as hell, and the ride was rough in the back.
I would like to add a tachometer to my Goat. What tachometer cable did you use. Is it a Detroit Diesel part or off another military truck application? Great looking truck!!!
gama goats suck what they don't tell you is its loud, the engine has the be at the correct revs or you'll never be able shift gears I got in one in Germany all macho and stuff and I couldn't get the stupid thing out of first gear
When I was in the Army I remember thinking how that the Gama Goat was one big POS and how absolutely WORTHLESS that it really was. I remember thinking that the PRC-77 was just about as worthless. Only less expensive.
No music/diesel engine sounds=HAPPY LAMP. No diesel sounds/crappy music=NO HAPPY LAMP. Don't do crappy music in your videos. I finally just turned off the sound and watched the video.
Very unsafe vehicle. No roll bars! Many injuries and deaths from this stupid, stupid motor pool queen No parts! Want a good 6x for half the price? Try John Deer gator.
Why are you so critical about this vehicle? Unsafe compared to what? The Mutt or the ubiquitous Willy? It was built for military use but the near totality of the green drivers has never been doing 4 wheel drive and it does require a lot of experience to drive it efficiently in difficult paths and swamps. The truth is that those off-road vehicles required respect and understanding and generally speaking are quite safe to handle. I know because I have one Willy and a Hummer and I do very often heavy off-road to inspect my land and I have been driving for years around!
What you see it what you get. Your HEAD is the roll bar. Deal with it. Makes you a professional operator DAY ONE. Federico built it fine with the bows & canvas. The hospital version had some kind of cab thing going on front & rear but does anybody really plan on flipping??? Anyway Cheers dude!
I was in The Marines in the 70's and spent a year in Japan. Okinawa, Camp Schwab to be exact. I called my Goat "my 5 ton" sportscar. It handled the hills and curves of the hiways there like a dream. Just had to keep the RPMs up 'cause it's a 2 cycle engine. Wish I had one. Loved them !
Thank you for the video. It brought back a lot of memories. I was a Gama Goat driver on Ft Ord in the early 1980s. I wish I had one now.
By 1978 thrue 1981 I was stationed at Fort Ord California CSC 3/17 I was also a gama goat driver until got My promocioned to E-5.
Drove one at times in West Germany.....NOISY. Horrible ckutch, too! Brakes. What brakes?
Oh, man, I'd forgotten how much fun you could have with a Gama Goat. I was stationed in Germany in the early '80's and when I was promoted to 1LT and assigned as HHC XO I thought I would get a jeep. Wrong. Here, you go, Lieutenant, have a Goat and a driver. Anyway, the Goat was a noisy beast, not very fast, and a pain to climb into. Fortunately, my motor sergeant was a prince, so he built a plywood rear for my Goat, traded for a couple of ambulance stretchers so my driver and I could sleep in the back, and stuffed the back with all of the spare parts he wasn't supposed to hoard. If you were an M60A1 tanker you know how much a few spare shocks and a half-dozen heater igniters were worth. That plus a Coleman fuel burner that I learned was great for heating C-Rations but would suffocate you if left on for heat when the German Hawk blew. But the Goat could go ANYWHERE. I had a winch on mine and collected case after case of beer pulling jeeps out of mud. And any time I saw mud I couldn't resist switching places with my driver. Why should he get to have all the fun?
I agree. This 6 wheel drive vehicle was a real blast to drive. I was stationed in Germany in 73-74. We used the Gama Goat for our FDC vehicle in an artillery battery.
LT, I knew these beasts well and thoroughly HATED them. They were a LOT less fun for the enlistedmen who had to routinely drive and maintain them. I too was stationed in Germany though a decade before you and well know about the "hawk" (For those unfamiliar, the Hawk! is the windy, biting cold that goes right through any and everything you could wear going right to the bone.) Driving down the autobahn in a storm of snow and sleet was freezing HELL, es-SPECIAL-ly when some general (Patton Jr. comes to mind) reckoned we couldn't maintain an active air guard with the cab canvases on. GrrrBRRR-r-r-r-r-!!!
Then there was the oil change. These were (supposedly) amphibious vehicles with hulls and access plugs for such things as changing the oil. You had to crawl under the vehicle, remove the plug and then reach up through the 4" hole up to the elbow to reach the engine's oil drain plug. Getting it loosened was a chore, not being able to see what you were doing there. Then you had to start unscrewing it by hand and the oil started down your arm before you even finished unthreading it. Then came the flood when you pulled it loose then fast as you could, withdraw your arm and reach over and drag the catch basin (torched off bottom of a 55 gallon steel drum) in place. What oil that wasn't in your arm pit you were laying in. LOTS of FUN in freezing slush. (Warm and dry was a very limited experience in Germany.)
For all you men and women that were in the Service Thank You All, my wife and I built many of parts for the Gama Goat, we come from Kingston NY
Thanks for the comment, congratulations to you.
I learned how to drive in one these things. We are also parachuted them at ft Bragg. Honestly most of us hated these things but they were tough. Would love one now
I drove one of these in the Military, our unit had two of them. I sure would like to have one now. I heard the engine was like a Greyhound bus engine. I used to pull tanks out when they got stuck in the mud or between trees. I couldn't get my Gamma Goat stuck anywhere.
Greyhound bus ... beautiful and fantastic design !
3 cyl detroit diesel yep ran them at el toro truck school '75
straight up straight down no worries as long as front or rears could grab or push
your head was the roll bar lol so you became very controlled in it's operation
i've never seen a cab or roll bar on usmc goats but then we got all the hand me downs from the army and somebody lost the roll bars --except on the hospital version--but that's no fun!?
cheers!
Love the Gama goats First and last time I saw one live was 29 palms summer of 83
+Lovie DeBiasio The Detroit diesel ... fantastic engines !.
STUMPS!!! LOL!!! SEMPER FI!!!
80 81 29 palms drove 1 , Artillery
Drove one from the Oregon border to Anaheim, CA. When our guard unit swapped some out. A long, slow, noisy ride.
Wow Great looking Goat Federico ! We had them in the 70's and early 80's in the Marines. They we usually broken - lol Your looks and sounds Great.
+Stan Johnson "HEY STAN " ( SIR ) thats pretty cool to have drove these ( GREAT - AMERICAN ) machines i think ill add driving a GAMA GOAT to my bucket list .( THANK-YOU-4-SERVING-OUR-GREAT-COUNTRY ) ( SIR )
Thank you Chad and Semper Fi !
I have always loved the Amrican engines, in particular these. Thank you !.
Semper Fi brother! Yep I was at Mag 11 & we'd take them out the back gate to Trabuco Canyon & romp the HELL out of 'em (1975) Ours were pretty much all ready line though. Big time end of war for getting motorpools all ready lined out.
Federico I love the bows and canvas you did & it's absolutely a perfect machine congratulations! And yes they do SWIM!!
Cheers!!!
you need to change gears at 2500-2800 rpm, don't be scared you wont hurt it youll do more harm short shifting it
Il motore ideale era il 6 cilindri V.
I've seen the gamma do some shiz!!!! Wish I had one💖
Many thanks for this video, especially the detail shots as I want to build one of these in 1/35th scale. And never thought about one pulling a 2nd trailer.
Thanks for comment. Little powerful engine, better DD 6 V !.
This is the vehicle and I drove while I was in the service United States Army 82nd Airborne excellent vehicle would love to own one myself
Not very powerful engine ... Better to mount the Detroit diesel 6 V
When I was in the 82ND back in the early 70'S we used them to tow our 105 mm howitzers. They were easily airlifted along with the 105 by Chinooks. Loud as hell, and the ride was rough in the back.
I would like to add a tachometer to my Goat. What tachometer cable did you use. Is it a Detroit Diesel part or off another military truck application? Great looking truck!!!
+wsucougarx Thank you. Cable standard, important section, size.
No hearing protection? I remember these as being unbearably loud.
Yes, it's true !.
Used the Gama Goat to pull our M167 Vulcan 80-82 Fort Ord, CA. B Btry 1st / 51st ADA
Che figata Atomica!
I drove one at Fort Polk, Louisiana back in 1985. Division Artillery S3, 2/21 FA…
Awesome.. thanks 👍🇳🇿
Reminds me of the days driving HO 76.
linda Italia.Muito linda.
Miss the goat even one bite my finger lol
I like Detroit diesel, fantastic !.
They gave me a duce and half.
almost got me to
gama goats suck what they don't tell you is its loud, the engine has the be at the correct revs or you'll never be able shift gears I got in one in Germany all macho and stuff and I couldn't get the stupid thing out of first gear
GM is great engine ( for me ) Thank you.
When I was in the Army I remember thinking how that the Gama Goat was one big POS and how absolutely WORTHLESS that it really was. I remember thinking that the PRC-77 was just about as worthless. Only less expensive.
It had alot of places to lube.
Need hearing protection to be in it!!
It is true, very loud ...
This is the restored Swiss Made ancestor of the Gama Goat: ua-cam.com/video/80zIeP8jj6s/v-deo.html
They gave me a duce an half and trailer..not good driving sklls , the goat was ok, HHc 3/67 arm ,2Ad 1975 The Hood.
No music/diesel engine sounds=HAPPY LAMP. No diesel sounds/crappy music=NO HAPPY LAMP. Don't do crappy music in your videos. I finally just turned off the sound and watched the video.
Everyone has his musical tastes ... You Tube music a reason there will be ...
I agree, would have been better without the music, that said he removed the music once he started up the truck. At the 3:05 point.
Oq estrago foi essa música o trem irritante
Music is essential for video, advertising, ecc ...
Very unsafe vehicle. No roll bars! Many injuries and deaths from this stupid, stupid motor pool queen No parts! Want a good 6x for half the price? Try John Deer gator.
Critically ... but truck for specific military use. Then, i like DD engines.
Why are you so critical about this vehicle? Unsafe compared to what? The Mutt or the ubiquitous Willy? It was built for military use but the near totality of the green drivers has never been doing 4 wheel drive and it does require a lot of experience to drive it efficiently in difficult paths and swamps. The truth is that those off-road vehicles required respect and understanding and generally speaking are quite safe to handle. I know because I have one Willy and a Hummer and I do very often heavy off-road to inspect my land and I have been driving for years around!
They are fine for dirt roads at slow speed but are very dangerous on pavement. I know from 1st hand experience
What you see it what you get. Your HEAD is the roll bar. Deal with it. Makes you a professional operator DAY ONE. Federico built it fine with the bows & canvas. The hospital version had some kind of cab thing going on front & rear but does anybody really plan on flipping???
Anyway Cheers dude!
The Army put me in one because I drove dune buggies in the Mojave Desert before enlistment… I had a blast at NTC, Fort Irwin, California!💥