The Canadian Tank Museum in Oshawa continues its ambitious Project 1918 restoration with the release of Episode 2, offering viewers a fascinating look at the inner workings of one of the earliest four-wheel-drive military trucks ever built.
Project 1918 focuses on the restoration of the historic 1918 Nash Quad ammunition carrier, a vehicle designed during the First World War to move artillery shells, equipment, and supplies across terrain where conventional trucks would quickly fail. With its advanced four-wheel-drive system and rugged design, the Nash Quad became one of the most reliable transport vehicles of the era and was widely used by Allied forces during the final years of the war.
In Episode 2 of the series, the museum’s restoration team undertakes one of the most significant steps in the project so far — removing the truck’s original Jeffery-Nash Buda engine. After more than a century, the engine is carefully lifted from the vehicle so the team can begin inspecting and rebuilding the powerplant that once helped move heavy wartime loads through mud-filled roads and battle-damaged landscapes.
The process provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at early 20th-century engineering. Built long before modern vehicle manufacturing techniques, the Nash Quad’s engine and drivetrain were designed for durability and field repairability. The components reveal the practical mindset of engineers working during wartime, when reliability and simplicity often mattered more than speed or comfort.
As the engine is removed, viewers get a clear look at how these machines were constructed and how the restoration team plans to bring the vehicle back to life. Each step of the project requires patience and careful documentation, as many of the original parts are now extremely rare and must be restored rather than replaced.
The restoration is part of a larger effort by the Canadian Tank Museum to preserve and interpret important pieces of early military technology. Located in Oshawa, the museum has become internationally known among historians, vehicle enthusiasts, and military researchers for its work restoring rare vehicles and telling the stories behind them.
Project 1918 is expected to continue through multiple episodes as the team works through the careful process of disassembling, restoring, and eventually rebuilding the Nash Quad. The series not only highlights the technical challenges involved but also helps bring attention to the museum’s ongoing preservation efforts.
For residents of Durham Region and visitors interested in military history, the project offers a unique opportunity to follow the restoration of a vehicle that represents a key step in the development of modern military transport.
Episode 2 of Project 1918 is now available online, giving viewers an up-close look at the moment when the 100-year-old engine is removed and the next stage of the restoration begins.
