1941 Chevrolet Portee

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward

Look like 1944 conversions to 3-ton G/S?

I have recently been shown some photos from an Album of 1952 CMT (Compulsory Military Training, NZ's scheme of National Service) that feature, amongst other things, a couple of Portee's. These trucks still plainly retain their Portee decks and have not yet been converted to GS bodies.
David, while your records show some CGT and Morris Portees being converted to 17pdr towers and later GS trucks, it is apparent that some of the NZ trucks did not get converted well into the 50's, and therefore done locally and not in the UK.

Some interesting points:
2pdr guns are quite rare in NZ and as all of the pics I have seen of NZ Portees show them unladen, it is open to conjecture wether any guns returned to NZ at all, only the Portees. Note that in Pic 1 and 2, the front tyre pressure is shown on the front guards as 40psi, well below the recommended for a CGT. Was the combination of Runflat tyres, 101"wb and unladen state too unconfortable for the crews?

In pic 1 (on the front bumper) and pic 4 (on the rear wheel guard), there appears to be a marking of white, yellow or red vertical bars (actual colours are difficult to determine from B&W pics). While they are located in a position you would expect Unit/Formation signs, or troop/battery markings, they don't seem to be . If they are simply traffic markers, why doesn't the F30 in pic 3 have them?

From this thread: "Other known NZ Portee numbers are NZ23853, NZ24669 and NZ24671". Note in pic 1, the number can just be made out on the fuel tank: NZ 24671! This Portee still survives to this day.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Interesting that some if not a largew proportion were not converted to G/S trucks! Thanks for that...it is mentally noted.

[Tony Smith]

Another interesting point: None of the Portees appear to have headlights!

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony Smith

Some interesting points:
2pdr guns are quite rare in NZ and as all of the pics I have seen of NZ Portees show them unladen, it is open to conjecture wether any guns returned to NZ at all, only the Portees.

Tony the lack of 2pdr guns in New Zealand today could be because they were either all cut up and scrapped at the end of their life or sold in bulk overseas. My Brother-in-law remembers cutting up Vickers MG's and other small arms for scrap in his early service days. I also think that the guns were not taken from storage very often as New Zealands Armed Services were down sized very quickly at the end of the war and money for practice would have been tight for quite some time. Loading the guns would produce un-needed wear on both guns and trucks.

The lack of headlights could be because they were rarely off Army property as they are also not showing any NZ registration plates as Military Vehicles must be registered the same as any other vehicle to enable use on public roads. In 1989 we also had to paint (in black) "New Zealand Army" and the area of it's base (e.g. Auckland) on the doors of our Unimogs and other heavy transport to comply with Transport regulations. The police Traffic department at the time also tried to get all Military Drivers to have the appropriate grade of licence to drive vehicles on Public Roads as well. As we were a Medical Unit the Ambulance Drivers needed to have the equivilent Civilian Emergency Services Drivers Licence and to drive a bus load of troopers you needed a Civilian Bus licence. Common sence prevailed and the equivilent Heavy Transport and trailer licence was all that was required in the end.

[Rookie]

Due to an overindulgence in Dutch beer during the drought I managed to put three rolls of photographs of the disassembly of the Portee through the washing machine.

Being a Newbie and an idiot I now have a shed full of cab parts that I cant work out in which order to repair and re assemble. This included what I felt to be wooden insulating bits between body bits.

THE QUESTION: Is there anywhere on the web or MLU that shows the cab assembly? I have the manuals on line for everything but the body assembly.


HELP

Rookie

[aj.lec]

This is about the best i have although two are ford pictures and one chev they are fairly similar
Hope that helps

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by aj.lec
just surfing through a few threads and discovered you have already rated a mention in another thread titled kiwi chev portee.
another one you might be interested in is chevrolet portee photos
just click on the search and type it in

Andrew, just do 'em as links, a search can be hard for the Newbies out there!
Kiwi chev portee
Chevrolet portee photos

And Eric, for some interesting reading, try:
Ex-NZ Army 1941 Chev Portee

PS: Eric, I like the Walker trailer you have. Into LR's also?

[aj.lec]

question
how do you set them as links again ?
limited computer skills

[Tony Smith]

When you click "Post reply", down the left hand side of the page will be a series of headers, Logged in user, Post Subject, Message Icon, vB Code.
Click on vB Code help and it will explain how to use many of the advanced features of writing text (Colours, Fonts, etc) and hyperlinks (Links, Images, etc).
Have a play around, it can be quite easy once you get the hang of it.

But the short story is write [ u r l= linked address ]l i n k p a g e [ / u r l ]

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

And what about this thread as well?


Was the FAT a 3-tonner chassis?


If anyone gets stuck with posting & hosting photos too large to load directly into threads, just PM me. I can help. I am a Doctor, sorry Journalist...trust me!

Also, a very, very polite suggestion: do not quote e-mail addresses literally in forums. This avoids spamming software that can copy them and then use them...replace "@" with "AT" say. Oh! "PM" = "Private Message" as this may not be obvious.

[Tony Smith]

And while we're linking away like crazy, what about David Ellery's Portee for sale?

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This shows what the Portees looked like when assembled here in England, probably by GM Limited:

[David Ellery]

Since advertising the Portee on Trademe I've had at least 4 phone calls from blokes across the country who own one and were'nt sure of what they had. There's still quite a few of these trucks hanging on. David...

[Rookie]

Tony

Sorry to let you down but the photo was taken at the point of purchase which is a yard used by the NZ Military Collectors club

The photo posted later is one of Dave Ellery's truck in Auckland, that photo is on the wall of the barn as inspiration. My truck is down to chassis and engine in the male bonding area (barn)

Check the site (if you haven't already) www.nzmvcc.org.nz

David will be checking those numbers off the engine plate today and will post them

Rookie

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Thanks for that.

[Rookie]

Dave H

Re checked numbers I made a mistake

Mod: 84-40x2

serial: 1844031615

eng: 3758552
trim: XR
Paint: F, C, 98

Rookie (decomtaminating after wading through what seems to be asbestos inside cover)

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

That makes complete sense now thanks. These are all possibly Portees:

1844031565
1844031586
1844031599 then
1844031615 PORTEE of course

[Tony Smith]

Originally posted by David Ellery
Since advertising the Portee on Trademe I've had at least 4 phone calls from blokes across the country who own one and were'nt sure of what they had. There's still quite a few of these trucks hanging on. David...

I hope you're taking details down!

[Rookie]

Being a newbie to this I joined in the group Today I received in the mail ,gratis, free, without cost, no payment etc from a total gentleman who shared a common interest a working complete instrument panel plus plans for a portee. It cost me a phone call seeking advice from a person 780 kms from where I live.

I bring to you fellow member Dave Ellery, at the moment a person without peer who echoes what we are all about

(I know it sounds drivelly but when you are looking for bits that are hard to find to be given the bits and some, is one where I am going to get him into his cups when I get to Auckland.

Rookie (I just wanted you all to know he is a good bloke)