Chevrolet Truck 'Lend Lease' etc

[mlombard]

Hi

Ok I'll admit I am now one slightly confused individual, I'm trying to sort out the model designations on the 1940's Chevrolet trucks, not not the CMP 'Blitz's, the ordinary ones.

The two documents I have in front of me, one entitled:

Chevrolet and GMC Truck Parts Catalogue 1941-1955 talks of series 11 to 18 and 91 to 98

and the other

D.M.E. Technical Instruction M.V. Maintenance,, Instruction no. C.10-14,, dated August 1943 states Standard Conventional Pattern Vehicles, Chevrolet and GMC states Models 1300 to 1600 and Models 9300 to 9600

So this makes some sense to me, in militarising these vehicles they added two zeros to the model specification.

However this then starts to get confusing when I look at this webpage (see http://www.trucksplanet.com/catalog/model.php?id=1131 ).

It seems however also that the model/series numbers carried on each year,, but that each year the alphabet prefix would change.

Am I right.

Matt

[Lionelgee]

G'day Matt,

Probably easiest if you visit a specialist old Chevy mob - http://stovebolt.com

They have specialist technical sections, Accessed November 18, 2016 from http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/#ID and lots of other Old Chevrolet information and goodies there.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[mlombard]

Hi Lionel

Thanks very much for this a very interesting website.

So the Lend Lease Chev's are MR and MS model Chevrolet trucks i.e. 1942 models.

Are the military 3 ton trucks uprated to a 3 ton specification by the addition of heavier spring sets at the rear.

Regards

Matt

[mlombard]

Hi again Lionel

I've been trawling around the MLU site and following some of your earlier posts, so your vehicle is designated as a MCP or Modified Conventional Patten, is this the military designation of this model, further to this yours is a 1940 i.e what I'd call a wrap around grill where as the one I am looking at has what I believe to be called a waterfall grill, yours has dual rears where as this truck has singles (split rim type). So did the military not have a way of designating the lend lease Chev by different model but only by it being civilian or modified. in other word they didn't use the Chev designations by model, but only by size i.e. 1300 versus say 9300 series.

Regards

Matt

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by mlombard

Hi again Lionel

I've been trawling around the MLU site and following some of your earlier posts, so your vehicle is designated as a MCP or Modified Conventional Patten, is this the military designation of this model, further to this yours is a 1940 i.e what I'd call a wrap around grill where as the one I am looking at has what I believe to be called a waterfall grill, yours has dual rears where as this truck has singles (split rim type). So did the military not have a way of designating the lend lease Chev by different model but only by it being civilian or modified. in other word they didn't use the Chev designations by model, but only by size i.e. 1300 versus say 9300 series.

Regards

Matt

Hello Matt,

To risk the wrath of more informed members my understanding is the military - possibly Australian formed MCP Modified Civilian Pattern to distinguish them from Canadian Military Pattern vehicles (CMPs).

My grille was only a two year run 1939 and 1940. It is just a rectangle shape made up of horizontal bars. Whereas the 1941 had the big chrome "smile" that was a combination of vertical and horizontal bars.

My truck has dual rear wheels however it is only a single speed differential.

Other members more knowledgeable than me can fill out the model designation details regarding Lend Lease and Australian assembled. The Australian War Memorial does include Chevrolet (Holden) in some of their photographs' captions.

The other point of complication is the inclusion of more heavy duty GMC and Maple Leaf General Motors stable mates.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by mlombard

Hi again Lionel

Where as the one I am looking at has what I believe to be called a waterfall grill, yours has dual rears where as this truck has singles (split rim type).

Regards

Matt

G'day Matt,

When you write "looking at" does it mean walking towards your own truck that you can then 'look at" it in real life? Or are you "looking at" buying one of your own? Or are you "looking at" a picture of one? Maybe just "looking at" out of historic interest? Or are you "looking at" a scale model of one?

If it is the first scenario could you post up some pictures of it?

Kind Regards
Lionel

[cliff]

MCP vehicles were civilian models which were modified slightly with an observation hatch in the cab roof plus a MG gallows pole plus cut out front mudguards so the fitting of the oversize 18in combat rims and tyres had clearance. Most Chevrolet MCP's had Holden built cabs which differed from the American/Canadian lend lease vehicles by having quarter vent windows in the cab and vents in the cowl sides. Some Aussie vehicles though were left with civilian pattern wheels which explains the different wheel styles with some having dual wheels on the back. Most MCP's were also fitted with a 2 speed rear axle as well.


Lendlease vehicles were also normally higher tonnage rated as the Aussie MCP's were beefed up 30cwt trucks normally whereas the imported ones were 3 tonners often with higher HP motors.

Hope this helps a little