|
|
|
|
#1
21-05-13, 22:59
|
||||
|
||||
Ian posted his 1944 Maple Leaf Australian Chevrolet Utility for sale on MilWeb.
I think it has turned out really smart! Quote:
__________________
Regards, Hanno -------------------------- 
|
|
#2
22-05-13, 05:28
|
|||
|
|||
|
A Chev modified conventional of 1944 ??
Hanno,
It is a nice looking and well finished vehicle, but with due respect to the efforts of the restorer, I have to question the claims made in the advert, and hope prospective buyers do their own investigations into the authenticity of this vehicle. At a glance, there are a number of problems with the vehicle and the claims made for it, particularly the finish and markings: 'Forest green being the home service colour of 1944' is not correct for an Australian vehicle, and neither is a gloss finish for the purported period (1944). The Australian Army did not commence to finish vehicles in Deep Bronze Green gloss finish until 1945, and then only for rear areas and where a vehicle actually needed to be repainted.'Forest Green' has never, to my knowledge, been an Australian Military colour. The Army registration number '78342' was not issued until 1952, being part of a block of numbers unused until that date, and was never issued to a wartime Chevrolet ute. It was issued to an International 3/4 ton CL cargo vehicle, 4x2, of 1952 manufacture, which was written off by Tasmania Central Ordnance Depot in 1959. The Formation marking is indeed the 9th Australian Infantry Division, which was initially raised in the Middle East from a nucleus of AIF troops from the UK. I've never seen the 9th referred to as the 'Western Australian' division, nor any of the other 4 AIF Divisions raised during the Second World War (6th, 7th, 8th and 1st Armd). By 1944, 9th Aust Inf Div was equipped as a Jungle Division, with everything that entails for transport and equipment. The Unit sign is that of the 2/7th Australian Field Artillery Regiment, the design of the sign dating from mid-1944 (unit designation as the numerator over unit type as the denominator). By that stage, the Unit was equipped with Trucks, 1/4 ton and trailers, Tractors Artillery - both full tracked and Tractors, Artillery Aust No.8 & 9, and for logistics support, Trucks, 2 1/2 ton GMC. The unit was not equipped with modified conventional 4x2 utilities, nor had it been since converting to Jungle War Equipment Tables (WET(J)) around the beginning of 1943. Indeed, even in the latter stages of service in the Middle East, the unit had been re-equipped with CMP tractors and support vehicles, and had returned their earlier Modified Conventional vehicles to Ordnance Vehicle Parks. By 1944 when it is purported that this vehicle was taken on charge by the Australian Army, the Army were disposing of 4x2 vehicles, having in stock more modified conventional vehicles than they wanted or needed. Many languished in Ordnance Vehicle Parks, unissued. The Army's shortage was in tactical all wheel drive trucks of all sizes, and that was what was being purchased - not modified conventional 15 cwt Chev utes (correctly and officially, 'Van, 15 cwt, GS, (Aust)'). In fact, the 1944 Army vehicle list shows only three production years of 15cwt Chevrolets in service: the Model 13/39 (1939), 13/40 (1940) and 13/41 (1941), any other Chevrolet models in that size class having been declared obsolete. The '13' of course indicates a Canadian manufactured vehicle of 115 inch wheel base. I think I may have seen this ute featured in CMV magazine, and wondered at the claims made for it then. Mike C
|
|
#3
22-05-13, 09:39
|
||||
|
||||
|
Ute for sale
__________________
Euan McDonald 4? C-GT (Aust) #8 44 C-GT (Aust) #9 42 Jeep, Trailer Aust 3 Welbike MK2 complete Welbike MK2 inconplete under resto C15A x3 C60S x1 ex ambo F60L x3 LP2a carrier SAR #4993. Trailer No27 Limber Trailer, Cario cargo Trailer, Pontoon semi Wiles Cooker 2 wheeled (jnr)
|
|
#4
22-05-13, 11:26
|
||||
|
||||
Oops, 1944 ute info
 Apologies, bit more info on my ute. This vehicle was found on a farm near Kukerin, Dumbleyung, Western Australia in 1994, still painted military green. The farm owner had inherited it as a derelict wreck when he purchased the farm some 20 years previous and was quite happy to sell the vehicle when approached and was eventually restored in a post-war civilian finish by Peter Meulenbroek of Katanning, Western Australia, prior to being purchased by myself in late 2006 and shipped to the UK. During the restoration Peter determined to chrome the grill and bumper plus grill/hood embelishments. As such a good job had been done it was determined to leave some of the 'brightwork, hence home service colour of '45. As the ute had probably never left WA I determined to use the 2/7 Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery markings as it was a local Western Australia unit, disbanded I believe in 1946, and part of 9th. Div. Hood number is fictitious as I could find no info other than utes in service as shown in the photos. Ian
|
|
#5
22-05-13, 12:01
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Last edited by Hanno Spoelstra; 24-05-13 at 17:56. Reason: please don't quote entire posting
|
|
#6
22-05-13, 16:55
|
|||
|
|||
|
Jack,
The dark green you refer to was the 'pre-mobilisation' colour. It was a dark gloss/satin green, and deliveries to the AMF in 39 and 40 were in this colour. It was not Forest Green, but a dark green akin to the post-WW2 Deep Bronze Green gloss. Hence, it is entirely probably that your 1939 roadster was originally painted in this colour and with the pre-mobilization type of unit markings on the doors. 2/7Fd Regt was formed from recruits from both Western Australia (14 Bty) and South Australia (13 Bty and RHQ), the majority being South Australians. Mike C Last edited by Mike Cecil; 22-05-13 at 17:08.
|
|
#7
23-05-13, 11:01
|
|||
|
|||
|
Thanks Mike. I haven't touched the doors as yet so I can rub back and look for markings. What could I expect to find?
|
|
#8
24-05-13, 05:07
|
|||
|
|||
|
Typical would be the vehicle Defence Dept type and number (like V25 etc), and a unit patch and abbreviated unit name like '12 Fd Regt' or similar.
What is the chassis number? There were so few Battery Staff Utes from 1939, there is a chance I may have made a note of it against its Commonwealth registration number. You might be lucky! Mike C
|
|
#9
22-12-21, 21:59
|
|||
|
|||
|
Ian's Ute is up for sale again on car and Classic
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1410001 Always loved these utes . Does anyone have any info on military contracts? I have seen pictures of these used in North Africa, were these purchase by the British, or were they all Australian contracts ?
|
 |
|
|
Hybrid Mode
