Aussie Army Chev Find

Rusty · #1 22-07-07, 14:26

I picked this up today, a Chev, I hope the Fords dont pick on the poor little six seeing it is the first true Chev to stop in. Would love to restore this one day.

I will attach a few images what can people tell me abouyt this model?

Rusty · #2 22-07-07, 14:27

Side View

Rusty · #3 22-07-07, 14:28

Firewall Data Plates

Rusty · #4 22-07-07, 14:29

Data Plate

aj.lec · #5 22-07-07, 14:48

nice find
interesting guard treatment

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #6 22-07-07, 15:02

Quote:

Originally posted by Rusty
I picked this up today, a Chev, I hope the Fords dont pick on the poor little six seeing it is the first true Chev to stop in.

I wouldn't worry Rusty, the Fords are mostly all bluster anyway...

BTW, nice find! Is it just my imagination, or is that tray sagging a mite in the middle? What kind of tray would it have had in service?

Colin Foulkes · #7 22-07-07, 21:49

Geoff.
I believe this is original.
Col.

Pic 1.

Colin Foulkes · #8 22-07-07, 21:50

Pic 2.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #9 22-07-07, 23:22

Thanks Col!

Looks like a really neat truck, and that tray* looks to be relatively "easy" to replicate. I wonder if the floor is wood or steel?

BREAK-BREAK

Rusty, I wonder if you could slap a 261 in there and REALLY make the Ford guys jealous...

Jif

*Geez, you folks Downunder are even making me learn your lingo! Whatever next...

cliff · #10 23-07-07, 00:26

with no side vents in the cowl and no quarterlite windows in the door it is an American type cab and not a Holden built cab, although it was probably assembled from a CKD kit by GM Holden. The 1941 Chevs also had a longer side light on the top of the headlight rather then the seperate side lights as shown

Colin Foulkes · #11 23-07-07, 09:29

Rusty & Geoff
The tray is mainly timber. Steel brackets hold the steel edge all the way round and the curved front quarter panels are attached to the stakes.
Now you've got me thinking, I am not sure how it goes together, I will check.
It is a standard factory stakeside.
In this case even the stakes appear original except for one I had to replace.

Cliff.
It is at least a 42 model and the convoy lights on the headlights are standard army, the long ones are normal commercial.
No mounting holes for the long ones, only the single hole for the light you see.
I can't date it by the engine number as it was an army replacement with no serial number stamped. Have to recheck the casting date but I think it is 43.
I will have a look at my cowl tags in the light of day and post some pics.

Col.

Rusty · #12 23-07-07, 15:13

Is there a specfic model desination applied to these chev trucks ?
Colin is the truck in the photos yours ? is the truck shown as Cev Maple Leaf 42 in your signature.

As the vehicle has a two Holdens badges one very similar to those found on a Holdens assembled Blitz's could they have built a a local pattern tray rather than the flash curly corner job?

The cutaway guards seem to be an Australian feature another of the Yass Mob has a fully restored 1.5 Tonne truck with the same feature. Is this a feature applied to local assembly or did US built trucks also have this?

Colin Foulkes · #13 23-07-07, 18:27

Rusty,

I do not know the army model info but the factory data is:
1942 USA 1.5 ton Lease Lend ; Model M
1945 Canadian Maple Leaf ; Model 16
I am not sure what happens in beetween.

The pic is my truck.
Drivable, but the RTA will not accept a hand brake as the only way of stopping.
The good thing about the hydraulic brakes is the reservoir filler cap, the rest is RS.
Needs a stainless resleeve job.

I can't answer your other two questions but someone will I am sure.

Watch that Yass mob.

I am in Newcastle.

Col.

cliff · #14 23-07-07, 21:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Rusty

The cutaway guards seem to be an Australian feature another of the Yass Mob has a fully restored 1.5 Tonne truck with the same feature. Is this a feature applied to local assembly or did US built trucks also have this?

I have seen photos of LHD US models (including a 6X4) destined for the French with the cut out guards as well so it is not solely an Aussie thing.

David_Hayward (RIP) · #15 24-07-07, 10:24

I think that the truck with a plate is a 1942 RHD Model MS 1 1/2 tonner, Model 4412. There was a Stake version and Flat-bed.

Robert Farmer · #16 24-07-07, 11:03

Heres my truck with the same gaurds that mark has.

Mike K · #17 24-07-07, 11:42

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this.

Some of those 41-45 chevs with the cut out guards were originally fitted with 18" military split rims . After the war many owners converted the hubs to take the standard civilian rims as the 20" tyres were far easier to obtain than the 18" army tyres . You see the odd Chev still fitted with its 18" army rims , but they are not numerous at all , I would have seen or heard of less than ten in over 30 years .

In the 1940 GMH Chev. parts list , they refer to the 18" army rims as ' overseas rims ' , indicating that they are for the AIF I think .

Mike

Mike K · #18 24-07-07, 11:51

Pic of a 3 Tonner fitted with the 10.50 X 18 tyres . The cutouts
a re very evident on the truck.

Mike

Mike K · #19 24-07-07, 11:58

This is a 30 cwt chassis , fitted with 9.00 X 18" tyres . Looks like the 1941 GMH cab with brass windscreen frame , the two hinges can just be seen , it also sports the civilian park lights , typical of the 1941 production .

Mike

Colin Foulkes · #20 24-07-07, 13:06

Robert F.

How long is your tray?
Mine is 12'6"
A couple of feet longer than the chassis.

Col.

Robert Farmer · #21 24-07-07, 13:21

My tray is roughly 9'. Thats just from memory though, too cold to measure tonight!!!

cliff · #22 24-07-07, 13:26

Roberts cab is Holden built as it has vents in the cowl sides and quarterlite windows in the doors.

Rusty · #23 24-07-07, 13:44

The truck I picked up has two large plates riveted to the chassis from just behind the rear front spring hanger to just in front of the rear spring hanger. Is this a 3 ton version as oposed to 1.5 ton are there other differances?
The Plates are the same style as used on a F60S

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #24 24-07-07, 14:17

Quote:

Originally posted by Robert Farmer
... too cold to measure tonight!!!

Oh my.... err .... oh, just 'oh my'....

I'm afraid that this doesn't go too far in Canada, my lad... come for a visit sometime, say between the middle of January and the middle of February! It can be a trifle frosty then, 'bracing', or 'refreshing' we call it...

You Yasserians will just have to tough it out right now...

cliff · #25 24-07-07, 22:50

Quote:

Originally posted by Rusty
The truck I picked up has two large plates riveted to the chassis from just behind the rear front spring hanger to just in front of the rear spring hanger. Is this a 3 ton version as oposed to 1.5 ton are there other differances?
The Plates are the same style as used on a F60S

If you look at the first AWM photo Mike Kelly put up you will see it has the same additions to the chassis.