LRDG Chevrolet 1533X2 Aero-screens

[Charlie Down]

Hi Mike,
Any information such as photos and dimensions would be great!
I find it strange that these questions haven't been asked or discussed before about such a popular vehicle.
I don't recall seeing any photo's of Canadian built Chevrolets with factory fitted aero-screens. Indian built ones have them. Not sure about British assembled Chevrolet kits though, and this is the place to find out.
Photos of different manufactured aero-screens seem to follow a similar or identical set of dimensions, with a variety of different shaped glass, rounded and square designs, with a range of different heights. I assume, which is dangerous when researching this truck, that if they were produced by a Chevrolet factory or supplier, they would be a standard design across all the factories or suppliers.
The main differences between the aero-screens seems to be the hinge lock location (with Butterfly screw) and mounting plates.
Photos show the aero-screens locked at various angles, often leaning forward to prevent reflections from the sun being seen by the enemy.
Attached is the factory photo showing the 'Jeep' style windscreen supplied to all the trucks for delivery. (All photos from Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks post)

[Grant Bowker]

Looking at the centre photo above, the windshield wiper system appears simailar to CMP (but mounted the other way up) and the arms to regulate the folding windshield also look like "parts bin engineering". The geometry of the arms is such that when the windhield is folded forward, the arms would be still be near vertical, risking damage to either the arms or vehicle users.

[Charlie Down]

Thanks Grant, that was my next question answered!
Do you have any photos/diagrams/dimensions? Also, either I'm being a bit thick, or I'm not quite seeing how they fit differently looking at photos on other postings of wiper motors. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong motors?
I've dug up some photos of the windscreen, which shows the motors fitted after the trucks were further modified with condenser, sand mat racks and stowage chest in the Ammo body, in Egypt prior to issue to the LRDG. However, all the operational photos show them removed from the windscreen. They are all on early issue trucks with no forward MG mounts.
Photos courtesy of Jonathan Pittaway and various other sites/authors including IWM.

[Charlie Down]

Ok, the motors look different but that may be due to the shadows being cast or the perspective. The square block looks like its attached to the semi circular motor at an angle on the LRDG truck, not square as on the CMP set up. All other details match up.

[Mike K]

It's likely that some of the screens depicted were fitted at base workshops or even by the crews themselves. Anything is possible when necessity overides official channels.

[Charlie Down]

I agree, and the majority look like they came of the Chevrolet WA's when they were replaced by Ford F30's, which begs the question where did the aero-screens for the WA's come from?! Did Chevrolet make aero-screens? Or are they locally produced/acquired, or through the official spare parts system, but from which parts list?

The numbers look about right with 37 WA's originally acquired, losses due to enemy action would make that number in the mid to high 20's, add in screens from the Ford Pilot cars, a few through official channels and reclaiming off derelict/abandoned trucks would make about 40 trucks which is about a third of the 1533X2's. That tallies with the photo's. A lot of possibilities and a rather crude process admittedly!

Just need some dimensions to work with, and hopefully some cleared photos.

[Tony Smith]

Certainly look like Morris Aero Screens, not WA Chev (unless they were also scrounged from Morris vehicles).

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by Charlie Down

Do you have any photos/diagrams/dimensions? Also, either I'm being a bit thick, or I'm not quite seeing how they fit differently looking at photos on other postings of wiper motors.

1. To follow
2. My apologies, I may have been warped by too many "alternate reality" CMP installations, will need to look for more period photos of all three cabs for CMP to refresh my view.

[Charlie Down]

Hi Grant,
Thanks for your help with this.
I've compared the 1533X2 and CMP motors and have reached the conclusion that they are the same fixture. The problem, I believe, is the lighting which seems to have caused a bit of an optical illusion, with the shadows on the 1533X2 causing the rear box on the motor to appear fixed a 45 degrees instead of square. That's not to say the confusion hasn't being added to by me having a bit of a thick moment!
Any more photos may help and looking forward to any help with the dimensions.

[Charlie Down]

Here's a drawing of the Aero-screen fitted to the wooden Dash Board surround on a 1533X2, produced by overlaying a photograph to get the right proportions.
The screen works out at about 380mm/14" wide and with the hinges 430mm/16". It's about 240mm/9 1/2" high.
I'm fairly happy with the proportions, but can anyone confirm the dimensions, as I think they are too small, but I don't have anything to measure against. Anyone have any idea about glass thickness too?

[Bob Carriere]

At the very least "safety glass" with a plastic membrane like a regular windshield. PPG USA do make heavy safely glass in 1/2 in. for jewelry stores.....not to be considered bullet proof but rather smash and grab proof and fully glued in place with some form of polyurethane black goo!!

The complicated parts would be the two brass support pieces....sculpted in wax, plaster molded, they could be poured in brass or even aluminum....then hand finished. Could be made LH or RH version to account for the curve of the dash.

Cheers