3 Aust A/T Regt Vehicle numbers

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I have emailed them thanks.

David

[Ken Smith]

Good day,
I was just trawling through these old posts and this one I found very interesting,Shane asks what CAS stands for,it means Canadian All Steel body,the bodies were thought very highly of for their ease of maintenance compared to the wooden bodies supplied with Australian trucks.
I have a 1941 C60L ex desert truck its original registration number is L 4710841 this is stencilled in black on light stone on the door.When the truck was refurbished and painted olive drab in Australia the registration number became AIF L 4710841 in white on the door.According to Bart Vanderveen this truck had been sent direct to the middle east.
Cheers Ken

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I am glad when we open up old threads with new information as ordinarily we prefer to start a new one.

This is an interesting find! It is a 1941 Model C60L, model 8443. It was one of a batch Census Numbers L 4710701to L 4711424 that covered trucks acquired and delivered under both Ministry of Supply Demand [contract] Supply-Mechanical or S/M 2033 for 'LORRY 3-TON GS 4 X 4' [ some of which were 'for Egypt', that is assembled by GM Near East Ltd in Alexandria], and S/M 2037, which must have been a mixed order between C60L and CC60L (model 1543X2) and Ford F60L/CF60L, models EC018Q and EC098T 160 in wheelbase trucks. 6,847 were ordered under 2037 with a detsination of Egypt as at 30 June 1942.

Has your truck got a # 12 cab?

As I have said before, trucks delivered to the Mid-East were issued to the AIF, NZEF and Indian Army [and SA Defence Force?], and then at least in the case of the AIF/NZEF were 'sold' to the Dominions for cash paid through London..per Shane's findings! They then ended-up being shipped back to Australasia.

David
Super Moderator

[Ken Smith]

G'day David ,
Thanks for the information and yes my truck is a cab 12,I don't have any id plates on it and was always pleased that it had a registration number still on it.When I was searching for bits for it 30 years ago I found the remains of another cab 12 Chev at the local car wrecker which I took a plate off.It was a very interesting truck as carved into the steering wheel were a few New Guinea place names,these days I would buy the whole wreck but in those days I didn't have the money or the means to get it home.I will see if I can find the plate and give you the details.
Cheers Ken

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

G'day...that wheel must have seen some action and proves that the AIF sent these trucks on to goodness knows where in the East. As an historian I find it amazing that these trucks had such an amazing career. And just think of the shipping that went on!

[Ken Smith]

Good day David,
I found the plate I took off the wrecked Cab 12 it reads
Model 84-43X2
Serial 1844327243
Engine 3758207
Trim XR Paint F.C. 102
Another plate has SPLY/MECH NO. 2033 as per your information
DATE OF MANUFACTURE 9-5-41
Is that September 5th or 9th May for the date?
Cheers Ken

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

These are also [and probably also] similar S/M 2033 trucks (lorries):

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA
MADE IN GM CANADA
OSHAWA WALKERVILLE REGINA
MODEL 84-43X2
SERIAL.1844318023
ENGINE 3726053 BODY SERIAL
TRIM XR PAINT F.C. 102


GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA
MADE IN GM CANADA
OSHAWA WALKERVILLE REGINA
MODEL 84-43X2
SERIAL.1844323527
ENGINE 3731861 BODY SERIAL
TRIM XR PAINT F.C. 102

GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA
MADE IN GM CANADA
OSHAWA WALKERVILLE REGINA
MODEL 84-43X2
SERIAL.1844327372
ENGINE 3737619 BODY SERIAL
TRIM XR PAINT F.C. 102


GENERAL MOTORS OF CANADA
MADE IN GM CANADA
OSHAWA WALKERVILLE REGINA
MODEL: 84-43X2
SERIAL NO: 1844325764 SM2033
ENGINE NO: 3754252
TRIM: XR
PAINT: F.C.102


I think that they used the US system of dates at the time. as against the commonly-used British system though I have to say here that even now the date layout varies in this country! So I think the date was September 5th 1941 as against 9th May. However, if the original engine is in there still, the block casting date code will perhaps confirm which it was: The McKinnon Industries foundry used the same system that Flint Grey Foundry used, namely Month-Date-Year. That is in both cases A to L for the Month for Jan to Dec, then 1 to 31 and 0, 1, 2, etc.

A quick check of my database revealed that Engine number R3747383 had a July 14th 1941 casting date so I think that the September 5th '41 date is correct. Windsor Transmission Plant had stockpiles of engines so they got shipped off to Oshawa in no particular numerical order. However, the evidence seems to suggest that I am correct.