Help - what is she?

[JayMcCann]

Hi,
We have recently purchased this truck but we are struggling to work out exactly what it is?

We have been told it is a WW2 truck. The issue is we can't find any descriptions or images that match.

There is an observer hatch with two handles (we have read there is a difference between the two).

Apparently anything pre 1947 didn't have VIN number marked on them?

The two little plates (from what we can work out say)
Plate 1:
Holden
K 2887
MODEL CHEV.CAB
SERIES (blank)
JOB No. A ( we can't really read this line)

Plate 2:
COLOUR DLV (?)
LY STONE

Colour wise she looks like she was green, then red, then green. However, upon further inspection on the doors it looks like it might have been the stone colour...

Any help would be greatly appreciated

[Matt Stephenson]

Hi,

To me she looks kinda like a Chevrolet however I cant be certain as which type as there is no tell tale signs. Can I suggest a look at the engine block might give more clues as to it origin and manufacture. VINs are only a recent thing for cars and trucks. Most pre 1970's built vehicles only had a body number and an engine number. A google search of ww2 chev trucks might be helpful.

[Mike Cecil]

..... and a chassis number. Left hand chassis rail, near the front spring hanger, I think, but it's a Chev, so that detail needs to be corroborated by someone who actually knows Chevs (David M where are you???).

Chev modified conventional, originally finished in Light Stone, so possibly built for an AIF contract.

Find the chassis number and there is a reasonable chance - well, a chance, anyway - of identifying its Australian military registration number.

Mike

[cliff]

I'd hazard a guess at 1940 or 1941 Chevrolet 3 ton Modified Conventional Pattern with Holden manufactured body. further more accurate data can be obtained with the chassis and engine number.

Here's an original photo from the AWM

[Mike K]

There is a possibility , the wheels were 18" split type

[motto]

The truck is obviously one that was intended for military use as indicated by the roof hatch. It also has an Australian cab with opening windscreen which I doubt was ever a feature of the civilian version. It appears to have a heavy front axle which may indicate Maple Leaf origins and is on 20" wheels although these may have been changed at some point.
I can't tell much more from the photographs. Does it have a two speed rear axle?
Does it have a tow hook? If so what type of mounting is provided?
Is there possibly a number on the side of the bonnet?
The word 'CHEVROLET' should be pressed into the lower most horizontal bar in the grill in large letters.
There should be 10" deep chassis reinforcements on the outside between front and rear spring hangers.
There should be a chassis number as Mike stated stamped near the left front spring hanger. They are usually not deep and numerals fairly large and not obvious.

David

[JayMcCann]

Thank you everyone!! We found the chassis and engine number!! Yay. It took some searching apparently!!

Now what should I do with them to find out more?

[David Herbert]

Post them here would be a good starting point !

David

[Mike Cecil]

I'll second that, David H.

And if you could look at Dave M's queries in his post, and provide some answers/images, that will all help for the collective MLU knowledgebase to ID the vehicle for you.

Mike

[JayMcCann]

Okay!! Thank you so much:
Chassis- 4116M1089
Engine- TR3730066

Doesn't have two speed rear axle. But it us a leaver on the gear stick which we think was to operate a 2 spread diff. So we think it has had either a diff change or gear box change.

With the tow hook question do you mean on the front or back?

There is no number on the side of the bonnet. It possibly looks like there could have been as it looks like there might have been a stone colour paint...but we would never be able to work out what it says as there is hardly paint left. There is he number 96 in front of the door.

The word CHEVROLET is not pressed into the grill but it has CHEVY.CAB on the id tag.

Yes it has the 10" deep chassis reinforcements.

Thanks everyone

[Ganmain Tony]

Ive got a Cab sitting here... that has the indicators located in the very same places that this cab has.

I think its exactly the same Chevy cab as well

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by JayMcCann

Okay!! Thank you so much:
Chassis- 4116M1089
Engine- TR3730066

Doesn't have two speed rear axle. But it us a leaver on the gear stick which we think was to operate a 2 spread diff. So we think it has had either a diff change or gear box change.


Thanks everyone

Hello Jay,

I think you may find that the lever on the gear stick is a reverse gate that needs to be shifted to be able to select reverse.

The truck ranges from 1941 to 1947 and is known as the "Art Deco" Series Trucks. The earlier series 1936 to 1940 trucks had a different grille and headlight arrangement.

If you want to know more about the old "Stovebolt" Chevrolet trucks this link is a good one to visit http://www.stovebolt.com. It is a pretty comprehensive site that ranges from a "Gallery" to years of "Technical Tips"

Could you please post up a photograph of where you found the Chassis Number? I have been looking for one on my 1940 truck and still not have been able to find it.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike Cecil]

1941 Series 16 Chevrolet assembled in Melbourne, the 1,089th assembled.

41 = 1941
16 = Series 16, 3 ton
M = Melbourne GMH plant

1089 the individual vehicle assembly/chassis number.

The parts list identifies these as initially having 20 inch offset, pierced steel wheel rims with dual rear wheels. Later changed to 18 inch military wheels, but many appear to have been left 'as issued'.

Have you measured the wheel base as yet? Mid front to mid rear wheel distance?

I have not as yet found an entry for that chassis number. Unfortunately, many were listed only by their engine number, which are generally in the TR1xxxxxx and TR2xxxxxx range. With no guarantee that this is the original engine, it may be difficult to locate the registration number, but I'll take a longer look over the next few days. We might get lucky yet!

Gina W: you will have noted that the vehicle is a 1941 Chev supplied from the manufacturer to the military in Light Stone colour overall.

Mike