Australian Chevrolet WO database

[jim sewell]

Attached is a page from the AWM records , it shows C15 and C15A wireless vans assembled in West Aust , note the different engine numbers between the two ( as noted before the letter R signifies right hand drive )
This is the legend for the attached picture , a little patience is required to read it !
Regards
Jim S
Cab Type
WO 12 C15A Wireless Signals Van style ( cab not separate to body ) 4x4
or
WO 73 C15 Wireless Signals Van style ( cab not separate ) 4x2

The chassis’s are different between the c15 and the c15a hence the different cab , sharper turning radius , different position of cab mounts .

In reference to attached document ARN numbers 006

Item
(1) W.A. assembled in W.Aust by Holdens Ltd or also known as GMH
(2) ARN these run consecutively down the page 67809 to 67840
(3) Cvt ( Chevrolet ) truck
(4) ? looks like 15 , could be 15 cwt
(5) Wireless Signals ( all on this page appears to be wireless/signals either c15 or c15a
(6) Engine numbers ( note that those prefixed with SR were fitted to the c15 and those with WR were fitted to c15a ) assume they come from different factories as part of knock down kits
(7) Chassis Numbers ( numbers run from 2-8421-00098 to 2-8421-00108 then 2-8444-157 to 2-8444-00168 , then back to the 8421 chassis’s again
(8) Model ie c15 or c15a
(9) Model year ie 42
(10) Wheel base 101’’
(11) Tyre Size 9.00x16
(12) Department of Supply and Development
(13) Written Off Board of ……… ( not clear , could be supply )
(14) R…….. Dept ( not clear )
(15) Notice the change in Chassis prefix to 8444 ( c15a )
(16) Notice change in chassis prefix to 8421 ( c15 )
(17) Unable to make out , could be S PARK or S PAKK

[Ken Smith]

Good day,
I see this thread hasn't done much lately, so I will add my C15 details.

Chassis # 2842100380M
ARN 62400 or maybe 62466
I picked up a very good C15A Holden steel body on the weekend, and that has kick started my research into C15's ready for when I start the restoration.

I would think by reading through this thread my truck is a WO1, the top half of the plate under the left hand windscreen is broken off and all that is left is a piece that says WO cab and a job number. All other plates are missing.

The truck also has a unit sign in a pretty bad way, but I might be able to decipher what it is.

Cheers Ken

[Mike Cecil]

With regard to the page from AWM 126, I'd like to make a few comments:

Item
(1) W.A. assembled in W.Aust by Holdens Ltd or also known as GMH: No: the 'WA' means taken on charge by Army in Western Australia. This column does not refer to place of construction/assembly, (or the manufacturer) though in some instances, the state of taking on charge and state within which the constructor is located may be the same.
(2) ARN these run consecutively down the page 67809 to 67840 :agree. The AWM126 registers are in sequential order of registration number, from 1 to 19,999 but with significant gaps. The last registers actually finish before that final number, but it was the final block of numbers issued to Army - the RAAF were allocated 200000 onwards.
(3) Cvt ( Chevrolet ) truck:
(4) ? looks like 15 , could be 15 cwt: weight class column, so 15 meaning 15cwt
(5) Wireless Signals ( all on this page appears to be wireless/signals either c15 or c15a: agree.
(6) Engine numbers ( note that those prefixed with SR were fitted to the c15 and those with WR were fitted to c15a ) assume they come from different factories as part of knock down kits
(7) Chassis Numbers ( numbers run from 2-8421-00098 to 2-8421-00108 then 2-8444-157 to 2-8444-00168 , then back to the 8421 chassis’s again
(8) Model ie c15 or c15a
(9) Model year ie 42
(10) Wheel base 101’’
(11) Tyre Size 9.00x16
(12) Department of Supply and Development ie disposed of to the Dept of Supply and Development in the post-war period.
(13) Written Off Board of ……… ( not clear , could be supply ) 'Written off Board of Survey' ; a standard Army term for writing off an item of equipment.
(14) R…….. Dept ( not clear ): 'Premiers Department': ie disposed of to the Premiers Department, except the state is not stated!
(15) Notice the change in Chassis prefix to 8444 ( c15a )
(16) Notice change in chassis prefix to 8421 ( c15 )
(17) Unable to make out , could be S PARK or S PAKK: written in red, so part of the disposals information: Sold from a Sub-Park, ie ordnance depot subpark. There are various indicators in the red lettering as to where (which state: WA - West Aust, SA - South Aust. Most were sold to GM-H, mostly written as 'Holdens Ltd' on this page.

Mike C

[Mike Cecil]

Ken Smith,

Your chassis number corresponds with registration 62400.

The original engine number was PR3825757. It was listed as a 'Cvt 15cwt AALMG' which means a standard GS base body, with an AALMG ('gallows') mount on the left side of the cab - there should be a series of 6? holes where this was bolted on - three in a vertical line on the cab side, and 3 in equivalent positions on the cab back. The AALMG Mount was a horrible piece of kit, and was soon 'lost' from most vehicles, leaving only the mounting plate attached to the cab.

The vehicle was taken on charge at 'VB', ie Victoria Barracks, most probably Melbourne as the vehicle was assembled at GM-H Fishermans Bend, indicated by the 'M' suffix on the chassis number (M = Melbourne).

Mike C

[Keith Webb]

Hi Ken
Good to see another batch of details.

The WO1 had a wooden body, but a good steel one would still make a good looking truck!

The ARN be confirmed if you manage to get access to the right page in AWM 126. Do you have an engine number? Most of the ones I have listed as survivors have a SR prefix.

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Good day,
I see this thread hasn't done much lately, so I will add my C15 details.

Chassis # 2842100380M
ARN 62400 or maybe 62466
I picked up a very good C15A Holden steel body on the weekend, and that has kick started my research into C15's ready for when I start the restoration.

I would think by reading through this thread my truck is a WO1, the top half of the plate under the left hand windscreen is broken off and all that is left is a piece that says WO cab and a job number. All other plates are missing.

The truck also has a unit sign in a pretty bad way, but I might be able to decipher what it is.

Cheers Ken

[Ken Smith]

Thanks very much for the infomation Mike and Keith it was so nice of you to respond with information .
I was only yesterday telling one of the young fellas that work for me that times have changed and that when I bought my 12 cab Chev in 1980 that parts were plentiful and information on blitzes was impossible to find, now it is the other way around.

Mike, it makes such a difference having the correct and confirmed ARN and I really appreciate you going to all the trouble of clearing that up for me, all the other info is a real bonus. I checked the cab and it does have the LMG mounting holes and the former owner was good enough to put the whitworth bolts back in the holes.

Keith, I have never seen a CMP 15 Cwt wood body in the flesh, but an old couple back in 1982 told me about their C15 with wood body and the hundreds of bolts in it. I didn't believe them and thought that they had confused it with a home made body. The chassis for that truck is still around I will have to get the chassis number off it.

Isn't this a great forum

Cheers Ken

[Wayne Henderson]

This is one I've seen... and even been allowed to touch!

Wayne.