On the road to Syria

[Mike K]

With Syria in the news so much this pic is of interest

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...d_to_Syria.jpg


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F..._Palestine.jpg

Can anyone ID the unit ?

Another pic

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...El_Kantara.jpg

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Can anyone ID the unit ?

Formation sign: Black swan on Yellow background = 1st Australia Corps MEF
Unit Serial: 308 = Anti-Malarial Unit

064_1942_-_Tom's_mates_Bob_^_Norm_with_Tom's_truck,_on_the_road_to_Syria 1940 Chevrolet utilit.jpg

[motto]

I wonder at the origins of the Chev in the 3rd photo as it has an interesting mix of features. On this type of truck (RHD Modified Civilian) I would have expected the windscreen to be the wind out type with concealed hinges, not the full military swing out type with external hinges and slider at each end. Add to this the civilian type bumper, commercial parking lights, single windscreen wiper, non military looking cargo body and what may possibly be 18 inch tyres and it becomes a bit of a puzzle how it came to be?
Would it have been sourced from Canada or the U.S.? Would it have been shipped direct to the M.E. or via Australia? Is it an odd one out or were there more like this?
The more you see of these trucks the more unanswered questions arise.

David

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by motto

I wonder at the origins of the Chev in the 3rd photo as it has an interesting mix of features. On this type of truck (RHD Modified Civilian) I would have expected the windscreen to be the wind out type with concealed hinges, not the full military swing out type with external hinges and slider at each end. Add to this the civilian type bumper, commercial parking lights, single windscreen wiper, non military looking cargo body and what may possibly be 18 inch tyres and it becomes a bit of a puzzle how it came to be?
Would it have been sourced from Canada or the U.S.? Would it have been shipped direct to the M.E. or via Australia? Is it an odd one out or were there more like this?
The more you see of these trucks the more unanswered questions arise.

David

Not being an expert , the cab looks like a GMH built cab, the opening screen is a brass frame I believe . It's not unusual for a GMH assembled 1941 Chevy to have the civilian type park lights . Mike C may tell us more from the AIF number plate .

Thanks Tony for the unit ID . Can anybody make a guess , the two colours on the utility ? Light Stone and Black maybe . I have two of these 1940 utes in rough shape . I am missing the rear bodywork .

here are a few more

I reckon the lighter colour has been applied over the dark shade of Green ? It is a rough paint job on the 123" wheelbase 1 Ton Van . The rectangular vent on the cowl side is a dead giveaway ..GMH built cab

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...d_to_Syria.jpg


https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...%29,_Syria.jpg

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F...pital_in_B.jpg

[Mike K]

Here we go Motto

The cab is GM-H built as seen in this pic of Driver Tom .... another thing is the quarter windows in the doors , seen on Australian cabs .

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/F..._Palestine.jpg

[motto]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Not being an expert , the cab looks like a GMH built cab, the opening screen is a brass frame I believe . It's not unusual for a GMH assembled 1941 Chevy to have the civilian type park lights . Mike C may tell us more from the AIF number plate .

The rectangular vent on the cowl side is a dead giveaway ..GMH built cab
Of course, the Holden built cabs with opening windscreen. These are so few and far between that I had forgotten about them. In the side view the quarter vent window and foot well vents are clinchers.
Built in Australia from a mixture of imported and locally produced parts most likely before the arrival of the true Lend/Lease trucks.
Thanks Mike
Dave

[Tony Wheeler]

Base colour is original DBG which often looks almost black in B&W photos.

P02006.050 Puckapunyal, Vic. 1940-03-01. GMC one and a half ton 4x4 cargo trucks and Chevrolet.jpg