1941 Chevrolet Portee

[Rob Beale]

I have just been in Waiouru at the National Army Museum, where they have obtained a portee. It is disassembled , but I got to get the census number - L4595399. This was painted on the left front guard forward of the headlight.


I also had the opportunity to do some forensic work with some fine grit sand paper, and sanded down through the layers of paint till I hit bare steel.
(this was above board as I was on a course run by George Bailey of the Canberra War Museum - and he had done the same to their Lancaster!)


Under the headlight mount, there was a single layer of drab khaki green.

Between the headlight and the engine cover, were multiple layers of green in various shades, with the same drab khaki green as the last layer.

This suggests to me that the truck was not sent to the middle east.
The 7 digits of the census number suggests a later production date than 1941.
Any comments on this David? Did they renumber them when the trucks were converted?

(I will try to get info on the data plates if they have them).

cheers
Rob