Not softskin as such: a 1940 Chev sedan question

[Mike Cecil]

Matt,

The paint sequence suggests RAAF to me: production vehicle in S/drift - possibly then taken under impressment - painted DBG, then transferred from 'stocks' to the RAAF, or the RAN where it served initially in DBG, then toward the end of the war, repainted in Blue-grey. Just a theory, of course, but it does fit the paint sequence. Impressment was not only from the public, but from dealers and manufacturers in the first instance, so may have been a new vehicle at a dealership when it was 'impressed'. The RAAF and especially the RAN registrations are pretty hopeless: not a lot of chance locating it if its one of those, I'm afraid!

Chassis number would help, but I'll have a look and see if I can find the engine number or at least something close.

Postscript: had a look at engine numbers, and R2777077 is comparatively early as far as the Army are concerned. Most are in the R28XXXXX range, but there are several in the R277XXXX range - mostly odd ones here and there amongst other vehicle types. The closest was R2777172 on a Chev sedan assembled in Perth, chassis number P-40-69.

Mike

[Mike K]

Matt

I suggest you get hold of THE HISTORY OF HOLDEN by Norm Darwin. Your local library will help

http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/2146067...ionId=25704039

Although the book is horribly written in my opinion, it does have lots of relevant info.

There is a pic in the book, of 1940 Chev sedans with girls standing in front , all are painted in civilian livery ( the cars not the girls ! )

[Tony Wheeler]

Here's one I photographed in Vic about two years ago. Not much paint left but DBG evident on the boot.

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[Matt Austin]

Gentlemen, thank you very much for your feedback and information. It all makes a great deal of sense now. Now there are three possibilities as far as colour to choose, and I'll leave that for a bit.

Mike, thanks very much for your sequence of events, and for looking through the books for me. The mystery continues, but you've given me plenty to go on. The whole story of vehicular impressments is fascinating, and there is much to learn.

Tony, thanks for your helpful information, which clarifies it as well. I like the car in your pics. Whenever I see pics like those, I think "ooh, spare parts car!" Given that mine started as a spare parts car for a mate's 1939 sedan, I'm glad they don't all get reduced to that.

Mike, funny you mention the Dawin book; I picked up a copy which only recently arrived. You're spot-on, there's plenty of good info therein.

I've attached a closer pic of the green poking through the blue-grey. It was taken in cloudy light, so it doesn't look so green.

Cheers,
Matt