ID required on this Chev

[aj.lec]

Was hoping it was a bit more exciting than a Joe but looking at it ,that makes sense Motto
How hard would a decent cab section be to get hold of ?

[cliff]

I'm sorry I don't accept that it was a standard Chev 1.5 ton 4X4.

I think it may have had a specialist body fitted that has been cut down for civvy use. Have a look at the RAAF pic below of a MCP Chev ambulance/medical vehicle and how it widens out behind the doors.

Pity we have no close up photos of the door openings etc to see if it is more then just a home built job?

[gordon]

I think it has started life as a panel van, or more likely a K-51 ( that's one of those odd cases where they built a batch of vans, then contractor-converted more of them to K-51 than they left as plain panels, so plain panel vans now rarer)

Reasonably certain it was never a bomb tractor, as it is the longer standard wheelbase ( unless someone has stretched it ) instead they have cut off most of the body, split the cab rear centre, and pushed the back corners apart, then filled in the gap - not uncommon where you wanted to widen the cab to take a three person seat. Hinging screen has been taken out and lobbed / welded / glued back in.

Zero chance of finding a panel body pretty much anywhere. If the mechanicals are intact, bin the cab and fit a standard GMC / Chev truck cab, keep the front metal, and buy a 1.5 ton standard Budd cargo body for it.

[motto]

We need more detail and close ups Andrew particularly if there are any data plates in evidence.
In answer to your question about the availability of cabs the most likely source would be to find an American Lend Lease Chev cab. (not the local Holden built alternative). Not plentiful any more but not extinct either. They are very similar though not identical to Yankee Joe and GMC and can be modified to a close approximation.

David

[aj.lec]

It certainly is a bit different at least
Have to get hold of owner and get a close up look at it

[motto]

Please do so, I'm curious to know more. Any type of Yankee Joe is rare in this country as that class of vehicle was filled with CMPs. The Australian Army aquired very few American Chev 4x4s.
One give away in regards to identification on these trucks is the transfer case. There were three different patterns.
1/ Single output yoke at rear. (Hand brake in rear hubs).
2/Two outputs at rear. Lower to rear diff, upper had a hand brake drum mounted and drove nothing else.
3/ Two outputs at rear. Lower to rear diff, upper yoke connected to auxiliary gearbox to drive earth borer and or winch. No hand brake drum. (Hand brake in rear hubs).
It seems a rather high percentage of Yankee Joes here were earth borer/pole setters. Cargo trucks are in the minority with bomb trucks, tractor units or vans unheard of to my knowledge. I would be quite interested to learn otherwise. I have a liking for these little trucks and recently imported one from the U.S.

David

[Ken Smith]

I have a M6 bomb service truck with a DOD of Nov 1941 Chassis # 4NQ 1975, It came from down near Albury and was advertised in the farm auction as a 4 x 4 Studebaker. It had a seed grain bin with the auger out over the front, and a broken chassis that had been repaired.
It is missing the crane, seats, windscreen and a lot of other parts that I haven't noticed yet.
It has a very early registration number W004804, a nice fellow in Los Angeles, who is a bit of an expert on M6s, said he had never seen an earlier number surviving.
Cheers Ken