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The first 1946 Model Chevrolet cars
I am starting a new thread.
This is my best shot so far at CMP commencement dates: Quote:
As regards the last CMPs, a letter dated September 11th 1945 from the Minister of Munitions and Supply to General Motors of Canada stated that wartime production would be ending in a few days thereafter. The Ford of Canada plant in Windsor went on strike supposedly on September 12th. Dearborn went on stike on the 15th, aggravated by Kelsey Wheel going on strike. However, we know that by Friday September 7th 1945 there had been massive lay-offs at Oshawa, then Ford and Chrysler advised employees of their lay-offs as well. If we say that the last known Ford assembly date was September 4th, then Ford must have wound-up CMP assembly around the 12th, and GM about the same time, with presumably C8A assembly trickling on at the end. The first 1946 car was assembled on Tuesday October 30th 1945. I have yet to find a date for Fords but one source suggests announcement in August 1945. Last edited by David_Hayward (RIP); 10-11-08 at 00:05. |
#2
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1946 Models
The 1946 US Chevrolets began production on October 3rd, 1945. The GM strike began in November and was over by March. However Oshawa had to re-tool which took them until as we know, October 30th.
The 1219 Stylemaster was the first off the line. You may like to know that Canadian CKD production for 1946 Model Year started April 22nd 1946, after the strike. The last CKD (for Australia possibly NZ as well) 1945 Models were sent out in September '45. The # 1 car, which would have been 6121900001, was driven off the line on October 30th by Private Vern Bowen?, a GM employee who had lost an arm whilst serving with the Canadian Army in Italy. The car was presented to the Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver and was to be equipped with driving aids (for ampuation and paralytic cases) so that it could be used to train injured servicemen to drive again. I have now purchased the magazine page from THE GARAGE OPERATOR December 1945 issue with its photo. We know from a plate that the first cars were indeed model 1219 sport sedans: MODEL 1219 SERIAL 6121900024 ENGINE 100015 BODY SERIAL 70 TRIM 391 PAINT 643 So, the 15th engine, in the 70th body, and 24th off the line. These are the officially available models with dates: FLEETLINE 10-00 1007 AERO SEDAN MARCH 1946> FLEETMASTER 1027 COUPE 1011 TOWN SEDAN 1019 SPORT SEDAN 1016 SEDAN CHASSIS OCTOBER 30TH 1945> STYLEMASTER 1227B BUSINESS COUPE 1227 COUPE 1211 TOWN SEDAN 1216 SEDAN CHASSIS 1219 SPORT SEDAN 1271 SEDAN DELIVERY OCTOBER 30TH 1945> E.g. 61211111718 ENGINE 131,584 BODY 1683 E.g. MODEL: 12-19 SERIAL: 6121901978 ENGINE: 105058 TRIM: 391 BODY SERIAL: 1957 PAINT: 641 Last edited by David_Hayward (RIP); 19-11-09 at 09:51. |
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The last CMPs
Excuse me for digging-up an old thread but this one deserves to be, as a result of re-assessment of information. As I am writing about the Slough CMD (see VINTAGE ROADSCENE magazine issue 120, and forthcoming issue 122), and GM Ltd in Bamber Bridge (will be in VRS123/124) and Cleckheaton (VRS125?) I have been re-considering the evidence as to the closure of the GM operations. I have written on another thread:
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