CAB with hatched roof - optional all models

[Mike K]

CAB with hatched roof - optional all models ?

[Mike K]

Thanks to Keith Webb, that doyen of Art tractors for pointing out my error .

Keith , I use the word doyen in the nicest possible context, I am not implying that you are old !

It's a Chev No. 8 from around 1944 ish ? .

Mike

[Mike K]

1939 Ford ute , or van 12 cwt in Aust army parlance .

This 39 Ford ute is based on the car chassis , classed as a light commercial in civilian life . It has the truck cab and grill , but narrower guards ( fenders ) than the larger trucks .

The door script reads DIV sigs , so it belongs to a signals unit . The army reg number V ??? is also there on the door .

The box in the back would house a no. 101 wireless set . The ute has a antenna mount on the off side . These utes are particularly rare nowadays , I have only seen 3 of them over the years , all unrestored . Of The examples delivered to the military , many would have gone overseas to areas like the Middle East , virtually none have survived here in OZ .

The ute bodies were rather fragile and very few survived for long .

Mike

[Mike K]

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[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Mike can have you any more official Ford photos? If so could you burn a CD Rom for the books please? $$$$ of course!

The Ford-Bren reminds me of the Bedford-Bren which was itself arguably based on the Opel Blitz Maultier. The QL chassis had a standard Bren Carrier tracked set replacing the rear wheels.

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Mike Kelly
8

Ford???
Hey, Mike.... Not exactly... I know that must've been a typo)
This truck features in several different poses and of course is the CGT #8 - it highlights the differences between the two manufacturers of this body design - the Chev has rolled sheetmetal joins where the Ford is butt welded... also the Ford fuel tanks have the fillers at the rear while the Holden built version (and I don't know why) has them at the front necessitating a small cut out in the crew door.
I think this is possibly the pilot truck.

This is the Ford - and does anybody know what the vertical locker on the rear quarter panel was designed for?

[Mike K]

1940 Chev 15 cwt ute or Van 15cwt GS in army parlance

Military mods included the fitting of wider rims to accept the 7.50 X 16 tyres . The later delivered examples had the 4 speed crash box fitted .

I have the remains of two of these , both have the CFA logo on the door , and dont have any ex mil paint on them . These are particularly rare utes here in Australia . 99% of them went overseas to the Middle East and Malaya with the AIF .

Mike

[Mike K]

David , in reply to your query . I don't own the photos . Many years ago a club memebr here was given a old photo album that was found on a rubbish tip . The album contained hundreds of official pics of Aust . army vehicles , many have the dept. of information stamp or whatever stamp on them . I have about 300 of the pics on a CD and

Who owns them , only god knows .

Mike

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

...at your end onto a CD copy please?

[Pete Ashby]

Originally posted by Mike Kelly
CAB with hatched roof - optional all models ?

Who knows what the row of holes in the rear boby were for ?,

I have seen several 2B1 bodies in the UK with with the same holes, two rows next to each wheel box. I had thought that they may have been added in civi use ie for a small crane but it would appear not............. any ideas guys ?

Pete

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Yes, exclelent photos thanks..now I have to work out which ones are Australian indigenous and which are Canadian...the US ones are obvious and there are some clearly Australian Utes in there.

If you have any more on CD Rom please let me know. I'll reciprocate as I will burn a CD or perhaps better still a DVD Rom with my GM War Album photos that I have.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Pete Ashby
Who knows what the row of holes in the rear boby were for ?,

I have seen several 2B1 bodies in the UK with with the same holes, two rows next to each wheel box. I had thought that they may have been added in civi use ie for a small crane but it would appear not............. any ideas guys ?

Take a look at Transporting the Vickers Machine Gun - the 15-cwt Truck - I'd say the holes were for "stowage division boards"?

Hope this helps,
Hanno


Source: http://www.vickersmachinegun.org.uk/transport-15cwt.htm

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Keith Webb
This is the Ford - and does anybody know what the vertical locker on the rear quarter panel was designed for?

To answer my own question - the locker, we have discovered is for the stowage of side curtains. On the No9 they are stored in a canvas bag behind the crew seats, but due to the narrower aisle in a No8 they had to be stowed externally.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Take a look at Transporting the Vickers Machine Gun - the 15-cwt Truck - I'd say the holes were for "stowage division boards"?

Reply from Pete Ashby:

Most interesting, I think you may be onto something here, I have noted that the late 2B1 bodies do not seem to have them. The original body for my C15A did however, it is now on Steve Stones F15A 11 (we like to keep things in the family).

I suppose the purpose of the boards was to prevent floor loads slipping up and down the floor. I have the 1941 DND body manual and noted the boards in the text before but never made the connection with the holes.

I can only think that on active service these were the first things to get chucked in the hedge. You would only need to stumble over one in the dark in the back of the van body to convince you they were not such a good idea!!