The first comment to be made in regards to the photo is that the 15cwt is NOT a pilot or prototype but an actual production model. The short article below may provide some clarification.
Pre-war Chevrolet 15cwt in the Canadian Army
My research has uncovered the following information on the first purchases of the Chev 15cwt. The data is culled from surveys of vehicles, by Military District, which include the census number and the vehicle description.
In the future I hope to compile data on the early Fords also.
As of February 5, 1940, DND reported holdings of 62, 15cwt trucks, of various bodies. This total included two Pilot models.
It should be noted that only MGO (Master General of the Ordnance) vehicles were subject to the survey. Vehicles operated by the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps are not included.
The vehicles, although numbered in the 1938 year were delivered in 1939. The disparity in the numbering may be due to the fact that the contract was let in Fiscal Year 1938-39, which ended on March 31, 1939. With the late date of the contract the numbers were still allotted to the 1938 ‘year’ but deliveries were made throughout 1939.
It is my belief that the numbering started with 1938-1-2-and ended with 1938-1-52, resulting in 51 vehicles. This fits with the order of 51 total 15cwt vehicles which, originally, were to be split between Chevrolet and Ford. Ford declined to deliver any vehicles so the entire contract was let to Chevrolet with the understanding that the next order of 50 vehicles would be directed to Ford only.
The breakdown of these is;
Census No. --- Holding Unit --- Description
38-1-14 --- Cdn Armd Fighting Veh Trg Ctre --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-15 --- Cdn Armd Fighting Veh Trg Ctre --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-17 --- Cdn Armd Fighting Veh Trg Ctre --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-31 --- Royal Canadian Dragoons --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-9 --- Royal Canadian Dragoons --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-12 --- Royal Canadian Dragoons --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-3 --- Royal Canadian Dragoons --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-14 --- RCA Depot, Kingston --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-15 --- RCA Depot, Kingston --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-16 --- RCA Depot, Kingston --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-17 --- RCA Depot, Kingston --- Chevrolet GS Body
38-1-27 --- ‘A’ Sqdn, RCD --- GM GS Body
38-1-2 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-4 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-10 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-11 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-28 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-29 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-30 --- MD 4 (“probably at Inf Trg Ctre”) --- Chevrolet 15cwt Body
38-1-36 --- 1st Fld Coy, RCE, Halifax --- Chevrolet 15cwt Box Body
38-1-35 --- 8th Med Bty, RCA, Charlottetown --- Chevrolet
38-1-37 --- 2nd Med Bty, RCA, Charlottetown --- Chevrolet
38-1-23 --- 4th AA Bty, RCA, Halifax --- Chevrolet
38-1-25 --- 4th AA Bty, RCA, Halifax --- Chevrolet
38-1-38 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-39 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-41 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-42 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-43 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-44 --- PPCLI Depot School --- GMC Chevrolet
38-1-40 --- LdSH (RC) --- Chevrolet GMC
38-1-45 --- Seaforth Highlanders of Canada --- GMC GS Box Body
38-1-46 --- Seaforth Highlanders of Canada --- GMC GS Box Body
38-1-47 --- Seaforth Highlanders of Canada --- GMC GS Box Body
38-1-48 --- Seaforth Highlanders of Canada --- GMC GS Box Body
38-1-49 --- LdSH (RC) (Rec’d 28 Dec 1939) --- GMC
38-1-50 --- LdSH (RC) (Rec’d 28 Dec 1939) --- GMC
38-1-51 --- LdSH (RC) (Rec’d 28 Dec 1939) --- GMC
38-1-52 --- LdSH (RC) (Rec’d 28 Dec 1939) --- GMC
Thanks to Robert, who put me in touch with the vendor of the photo at the top of this thread, I managed to buy another photo of this vehicle.
