2 Pounder Portee
 

Though aged, I am new to softskin study. I have long been interested in early Western desert portees, with an eye to modelling in 1:35. Particularly, these vehicles:

http://img9.imageshack.us/img9/5338/...ternchevy1.jpg

An IWM photo, E-2567.

The second in line has serial on the hood 395514 with the prefix "L" or faintly possible "C". I estimate the wheel base of the third in line at approximately 160 inches, working from an estimated 50 inch length beyond the shied of the 2 pounder barrel. Are these trucks possibly Canadian Chevrolet WBs?

Any advice on tracing the serial, the actual make and model and /or anything known about the unit, location, date, camo, license plate style, anything at all would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Mike Powell

Check out this thread ror the LRDG trucks.
http://www.class-five.com/~mlu/forum...ad.php?t=12500

1st and 2nd trucks are 134 inch wheelbase models while the last is line is a 160inch wheelbase.

1st and 3rd appear to be WB Chevs but the second in line looks like a Ford as it has a different headlight position.

Cliff,

Thanks for pointing out the wheelbase differences. Very clear, once you got me to looking. "1st and 3rd appear to be WB Chevs..."? I assumed all WB were one wheelbase and WA's another?

Here's a crop of the front of the second vehicle. Maybe the vents below the serial number will suggest more about the make to you or someone.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3...ailcrop2nd.jpg

Yours,

Mike Powell

Census Numbers
 

L 39000 to 39515 were 133" wheelbase Chevrolet WA lorries for Egypt, My information has it that the LRDG used 19 1940 WA lorries assembled by GM Near east in Alexandria. Further, 14 were supplied by the Egyptian Army.

Ah so it looks like trucks 1 & 2 are 1940 WA Chevrolets with 133inch wheelbase and the 3rd is a 158.5 inch WB.

What looked like a headlight on the second truck is not as shown on the enlarged photo. :)