Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

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Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:15 am

My name is Davis and Recently i got chance to get a Chevy art deco truck
here in India. But while going through inspection i found that it has some
remains of its original olive drab color.May be it was used in a war.Its a 1.5 ton truck .Kindly guide me on this which model is this.In India when there is a British rule we have a GMC assembly line here in India(Bombay Sewree Plant).And these small.medium and big trucks built here (right hand drive) May be on Canadian Type. i think for common wealth countries during war and after that for commercial purpose.These truck where called "Bombay Chevrolet" here in India.

Seems this truck is having a Canadian connection any help appreciated thank you

Serial Number Near Distributor:TR 4053945 (R stands for RHD if not correct me)
Block Casting Number:GM 839253 230
Radiator No:42 B 3114520
Carb: Carter W1
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davis


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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:30 am

Hello Davis,
That is a beautiful old Chevrolet you have there, could likely be a WW2 Vehicle used in the defense of the CBI Theater.
Hopefully some British members can shed some light on it, it is a great survivor indeed !!

I hope you keep it rolling :D :D :D :D

I do remember something about the Chevy fender styles, but I am not sure when Chevrolet tapered the front fenders, as opposed to the 1941 style fenders, to the style you have.
I believe that by 1946 they were changed in US civilian production, to your style, but they may have made that modification earlier.

Best Regards,

Ray
Last edited by 70th Division on Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:40 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:33 am

Hello Davis,

Look for some unit markings on the fenders, and numbers on the hood.
There may be some there ?

Best Regards,

Ray
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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:03 pm

Thank you Ray Actually I want to know more about this truck and the problem is its a Canadian truck.And there is no much info available on this not even on casting number they are all different from american casting.One of the fellow just decode the Harrison radiator code which stated 42 B (Feb 1942) And you have said that the about mudguards Its a very awesome info to me.Though the GM having a huge plant in Bombay Sewree but I really don't know whether this vehicle was a CKD to India from Canada GM or manufacturered here locally.
davis

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Sun Feb 25, 2018 7:06 pm

Definitely i will checks for marking any help how can I extract info without damaging them.What type of chemicals I have to use on this thank you Ray :)
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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 25, 2018 8:28 pm

Hello Davis,

Just by looking at the paint on the truck, it looks like you could use a flat razor scraper blade, no chemicals !
I would first use something like WD-40 which is a spray on lubricating oil, on the paint and wipe it down.
It will really clean up the existing paint, and you may see some markings.
If you do see anything just try scraping the paint off over them very slowly to reveal what they may say.
The British and US had numbers along both sides of the hood as well.
Also if needed, a very fine sand paper could be used, but usually a scraper can reveal things as the paint layer scratches off.

On the left side passenger fender, there looks like a rectangular area that might be some sort of marking, under the headlight ?
Use some lube oil and wipe it down to take a look.
Also what is on that license plate, and what does it mean ?
I don't know about the number on the engine block but could it be from 1945 ?

The truck exterior features are just like USA 1941 and 1946 USA production Chevrolet trucks. The only visible difference are the trimmed front lower fender between 1941 and 1946 trucks.
It is possible that 1945 trucks had the tapered fenders like yours.

The "Canadian-Indian" Chevrolet built truck was clearly based on the USA truck. ( Minus the right hand steering wheel set up !!!)
Your front bumper looks like the like those used on 1941 and 1945 civilian trucks.
It appears original !

Here is a link to some pics of Chevy trucks in the US Army from around 1941, note the slight fender difference.

http://olive-drab.com/idphoto/id_photos_chevy_early.php

Best Regards,
Ray

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Sun Feb 25, 2018 9:12 pm

Thank you Ray :) Will share more pics to you today and the Block casting number GM 839253 230 I think it from 1941-45 coz I have seen some block pics of Chevy CMPs having the Same block number but I don't have more info on this.And again thank you Ray :)
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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Sun Feb 25, 2018 10:11 pm

Hello Davis,

The CMP trucks called Canadian Military Pattern Trucks, were "British" designed trucks that were built in Canada by GM and Ford.
They had the British style right hand drive steering wheels. However, 9,500 CMP trucks were assembled in India during WW2,
and huge numbers were produced in Canada !!!

Your truck could very well have been built/assembled in India, with the "British" steering wheel set up, like it has.
The Canadian General Motors and US General Motors, also built your style truck for Canadian and US civilian use, with them all being left hand steering just like in the USA.

It is a very interesting truck, and hopefully some Brits will chime in with more info !!
The British did use some of these Chevy trucks in North Africa, as well as the CBI Theater where you are located !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_ ... tern_truck

Looking forward to more pictures of your nice truck, also check to see if there is a data plate on the fire wall under the hood, or on the dash area.

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by retro-roco » Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:43 am

The pictured truck is NOT a CMP truck, whether built in Canada or India. Please look at the information related to types 31 or 32 here: http://usautoindustryworldwartwo.com/Ch ... trucks.htm Chevrolet supplied the indicated quantities of the "standard" (not 4x4) truck with Right Hand Drive. Some were supplied with standard cab, while others were supplied with Cowl and windshield. I can not tell from your pictures if the cowl and windshield assembly are original, or if a standard cab was chopped down. It is evident that the roof and cab rear are not factory. My opinion, for whatever that might or might not be worth! :lol:
Kirk Gustafson
359th Infantry Regt. 90th Div. WWII HRS

1942 Chevy G506 1-1/2 ton 4x4 Cargo
1943 Ben Hur water trailer

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Mon Feb 26, 2018 4:05 pm

Hello Kirk, Davis,

Yes clearly not a CMP truck !

I think he mentions that the serial number on the engine looks like a CMP style engine number.

This truck could have come from a few sources...

A US made right hand drive Chevy, with a wind-shielded cowl as your excellent info lists they produced. (very interesting info right there !)

Next, Chevrolet Canada was making tremendous amounts of British and Empire trucks that were shipped around the world.
They made this style truck in Canada, as well as the tremendous numbers of CMP trucks shipped all over the world.
In fact 9500 additional CMP trucks were assembled in India alone from crates/parts from Canada.

There was a GM India assembly facility that his type truck may have been locally assembled , in Theater.

Now USA and Canada also built Davis' style truck at Chevrolet factories, pre-war and post-war with his front clip design for the civilian markets.
Hopefully he can find a data plate that could shed some light on its origin !!

Your info can certainly help with identifying possibilities on this interesting truck !!

I wonder if there is also frame serial number as well like on CCKWs on the outside passenger side front frame rail?

We had a beautiful 1941 Chevrolet when I was a kid in New Hampshire, if I remember right, a local garage who had a 1946 Chevrolet tow truck,
told me that the front fenders were changed between the 1941 and 1946 models. The fenders were "cropped " or "tapered" like Davis' truck.
I don't know when the change occurred, but the truck had been a farm truck and was in a barn for 39 years or so before we got it.
Also, our 1941 Chevy had the same front bumper, but was chrome :D

Looking forward to more pictures !

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Tue Feb 27, 2018 8:05 am

Hello Ray

Thank you yes I know that the CMP is total different from this truck.Recently i am browsing some of the chevy forum and came across some links and photos kindly go through it.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showt ... 500&page=3


In this the truck which uses the same pattern of wood structure as mine and also having a stepney support similar to mine truck kindly check. Here I am also mentioning with arrow kindly shed some light on it.
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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Tue Feb 27, 2018 10:34 am

Hello Davis,

You have found a match !!!!
Wow that was an excellent site, Maple Leaf Up !
You certainly have an excellent survivor truck, with the original bed still on it.
Clearly it has been well taken care of all these many years :D :D :D :D

The one that you posted along side yours is in Australia !
That is exactly the truck bed you have, with the exact same brackets and mounts.

You should post on their website as well pictures of your nice truck, and see if they can provide additional information.
The Indian Army truck looks very much the same as yours, but the windshield in different, you have the full factory cowl windshield.
Very interesting and a whole new field of historic research :D :D :D

Please post additional photos of your truck when you get the chance !

Best Regards.

Ray

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Tue Feb 27, 2018 9:01 pm

Hi Ray

Here i have going through some bollywood old song and what i found a chevy 1 ton having a same style and wood work .This movie(Nau Do Gyarah) was shot in 1957 at that very time many of the world war vehicle was auctioned to civilian and to government department.I dont think mine truck was a civilian wood work there are many similarities mentioning the photographs with arrows including the taillight.Guide me if i am wrong thank you. and also my truck pintle hook similar to CMPs truck here is the link you can check.

Might be i am wrong but i am trying to find out the things :)Thank you Ray :)

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=7096
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davis

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by 70th Division » Wed Feb 28, 2018 8:37 pm

Hello Davis,

Based on your information and pictures, I would believe that your truck was a Military contract truck :D :D :D
You are very lucky to have the original bed with your truck !
Your bed and brackets match the military Chevy truck in Australia and you have the olive drab paint under the blue paint.

The pintle hitch looks just like a Military CMP one that was on that website.
The lights are interesting, as they look like the same lights that I have on my ex-British jeep.
The British added them to the jeep during a rebuild in 1952, but they were US made lights manufactured manufactured by Dietz.
They have been found on several ex-British WW2 jeeps that were rebuilt by their army after the War.
See who made your tail lights, they should have some info on the glass.
It is a lot of fun tracking down the history, see if you can find any data plates or rebuild plates on the side of the engine.

Keep us updated, your truck looks great and complete :D :D :D

Best Regards,

Ray

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Re: Chevy Art deco 1942 (4x2)

Post by davistine » Thu Mar 01, 2018 5:44 am

Hello Ray

I dont get any Data plates.Not even rebuild plates on engine and not even a chassis number.Can you help me to check where is the serial number on the chassis with the help of pictures. Thank you Ray :)
davis


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