Chevrolet Truck 'Lend Lease' etc

[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

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by cliff

MCP vehicles were civilian models which were modified slightly with an observation hatch in the cab roof plus a MG gallows pole
Hope this helps a little

G'day Cliff,

My 1940 Chevrolet MCP - more is the pity - does not have an observation hatch and no sign of a welded up one either in the roof. Its front mudguards were only slightly raised while still being far lower than the desert ones were cropped. A mate has a full civilian farm truck of my same year and you can tell that the front mudguards were raised a wee bit on my truck.

I do have the fully tilting hinged no crank type desert wind screen though

What is a MG gallows pole and where would it have been what did it look like and what was it used for?

My truck's plates have the colour DLX (Dulux) Khaki 1940 so it was built for the Australian Army by Holden. It still has its khaki colour on the cab and traces of khaki on the metal work of the tray.

It also has traces of paint for an ARN on the bonnet and etched outlines - it is hard to tell where over-painted numbers and the original ARN start and finish.

Due to my truck's lack of major modifications it might have been produced rather early in 1940 and perhaps saw little action - something like a stores vehicle. It might have been why it survived without lots of dents even after its civilian life as a farm truck in the Dalby area of Queensland. Who knows?

P.S. Sorry for the thread hijack Matt!

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

G'day Matt,

The Stovebolt website for old Chevrolet trucks says the following information about 1940 model coding... Hmmm this website does not like tables ... hang on a second .... I made it into an image and attached it.

Accessed November 19, 2016 from, http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/identification/Series

The same chart extends down to the US "War years" with different model numbers.

All these models may not have applied to Australian "Holden" assembled Chevrolets.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Mike K]

You need to get hold of the NASCO ( GMH ) parts catalogue for your particular truck. Those codes on the USA stovebolt site have little or nothing relevant to Australian assembled Chev RHD trucks in 1940 .

The 1940 Chev truck RHD , is Model Series 13,14 and 15 , assembled for the Aust. army - that's straight out of the NASCO book.

eg model 15-40/E2 158 1/2" wb with special 10ft 6" x 7ft G.S. Wagon with Canopy top .