Chev 6 Seater Utility

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I wonder what became of it? Ken Hughes may have sold it on to somebody , in his later years he was selling some stuff but he was reluctant to part with the good items . I ended up with his Morris CS8 . Mike

I believe that one is now in Adelaide.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

I believe that one is now in Adelaide.

Could be the same one maybe.

I found the old negative , a 35mm Kodak . I need somebody with a scanner to enlarge it .

I can see in the negative that the front axle was missing , it's sitting on blocks , and the crew doors appear to have been filled in , the body looks like a home made contraption it's so roughly made . It's a 4X2 going by the rear axle . Were all of these utilities 4X2's ? Maybe it was a home made body and I am up the wrong tree .

[Keith Webb]

The WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust) were all built on the C15 4x2 chassis.
Ford also built their own version, the main visual difference was the use of Ford ute mudguards rather than the CMP type ones on the Chev. I believe there were a lot more of the Chevrolet type built than Ford. Mike Cecil can clarify.

I've never seen a surviving Ford version.

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Could be the same one maybe.

I found the old negative , a 35mm Kodak . I need somebody with a scanner to enlarge it .

I can see in the negative that the front axle was missing , it's sitting on blocks , and the crew doors appear to have been filled in , the body looks like a home made contraption it's so roughly made . It's a 4X2 going by the rear axle . Were all of these utilities 4X2's ? Maybe it was a home made body and I am up the wrong tree .

[lynx42]

Here are a few official photos of the WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust).











I have to give the credit to Cliff as he sent them to me many years ago.

[lynx42]

and here are a couple of in use photos.





also from Cliffs collection.

I have some of the one at Rust Hill but it is proving a bit elusive at the moment.

It is intersting to see the different rear mudguards.

Regards Rick.

[Keith Webb]

Those two are from my site Rick. The one of the Ford originally coming from Euan's recruiting album.

Originally Posted by lynx42

and here are a couple of in use photos.

Attachment 78026

Attachment 78027

also from Cliffs collection.

I have some of the one at Rust Hill but it is proving a bit elusive at the moment.

It is intersting to see the different rear mudguards.

Regards Rick.

[Keith Webb]

Only the last one is a WO3 which is the GMH designation. The others were taken at Wesley Grammar which was taken over by the MGO and show the Ford version.

Originally Posted by lynx42

Here are a few official photos of the WO3 type (Truck, 6-seat Utility Aust).

Attachment 78020

Attachment 78021

Attachment 78022

Attachment 78023

Attachment 78024

I have to give the credit to Cliff as he sent them to me many years ago.

[lynx42]

Well Keith I did get them from Cliff but I am happy to give you the credit. I am just glad that they are out there for all to see. I just thought I would give credit to whoever put them out there.

Regards Rick.

[Euan McDonald]

I have a chev 6 seater rear guard if anyone wants to build a replica 😃

[Wayne Henderson]

Thanks for the photos, keep them coming

After I finished the frame I sealed the timber with a primer and undercoat.
All joints were screwed together along with a locally produced wood epoxy.

I had major doubts about the rigidity of the construction as the whole thing swayed side to side. Fears of tearing itself apart off road.
But I was faithful to the original construction method so pressed on.

The original tin sheeting was too far gone to reuse,with the exception of a few corner sections, so I had new sections folded up locally. All the flat sections were easy but the inner wheel arches proved a bit harder. I think these were made up using a Jenny Wheel (?).

[Keith Webb]

Incredibly impressive, Wayne!

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

Thanks for the photos, keep them coming

After I finished the frame I sealed the timber with a primer and undercoat.
All joints were screwed together along with a locally produced wood epoxy.

I had major doubts about the rigidity of the construction as the whole thing swayed side to side. Fears of tearing itself apart off road.
But I was faithful to the original construction method so pressed on.

The original tin sheeting was too far gone to reuse,with the exception of a few corner sections, so I had new sections folded up locally. All the flat sections were easy but the inner wheel arches proved a bit harder. I think these were made up using a Jenny Wheel (?).

[Wayne Henderson]

A local sheet metal bloke made up the outer sheet steel from exact copies of my original parts.

"No, I don't want 10mm folds, I want 3/8ths"

He also put me on to the wonders of ISR 70-05 adhesive.
Brilliant stuff to use and strong beyond belief.

I nailed the sections on one at a time taking care to stay true to the original nail holes.

The long curved top sections were rolled up to fit and nailed in place.
I added one sheet of steel across the top as per the original and once nailed on all worries about rigidity stopped.

[Wayne Henderson]

Blasted the chassis and it all went back together well. New spring bushes, a king pin kit from the US, all the original side steps, original wheel bearings and a partial engine rebuild. Gearbox was good and like new inside.
Replaced all brake and fuel lines, new wheel cyl kits and cleaned up the brake parts.

Fitted the front cab and roof to the rear section, bolted at the front nailed at the back, not a big fan of how this was done and it is the weakest part of the body so I made a few unseen improvements in the join.

Starting to look like a truck at last.

You can now see the fuel tank and filler cutouts in the floor.

[Keith Webb]

Looking fantastic Wayne, excellent workmanship.

[Wayne Henderson]

Thanks Keith, lots of time thinking things out from the few photos that survived.

The original tail gate was cactus but good for reference only.
The Ford tailgate had upper latches that were accessible from the outside to aid in opening, Chev's didn't...

The bottom hinges are beyond agricultural in design but original as are all the hooks and hardware.

There was another Bren Gun mount in the centre of the tail gate but not fitted on the original vehicles from the few photos I have. I hazard a guess that this would have got in the way when using the tailgate in the lowered position as a table or bench. Also being testicle height may have been a factor.

[Ganmain Tony]

Looking really good Wayne..

Are you going to drive it to Corowa this year?

Out of curiosity did Australia make these using the Cab 12?

[Keith Webb]

Out of curiosity did Australia make these using the Cab 12?

No Tony, only cab 13. The thing that has me a bit surprised is why both manufacturers built them - they were built in very small numbers, most being built by Holden from memory.

There was more sense in the way the Wireless Signals van was built by only one manufacturer in both 4x2 and 4x4 versions.

[David Dunlop]

Keith. Was production concurrent with GMH and Ford, or consecutive? Just wondering if one company started the production but came up with conflicting demands so production was switched to the alternate manufacturer. But then what do I know…I'm freezing in Canada at the moment.

David

[Wayne Henderson]

Hi Tony,
I'd like to but I only have 4 weeks annual leave so I'd only get to Ceduna before turning back

See you in March, you got a rear tray for your other truck yet?

[Ganmain Tony]

I thought it might have been a town even closer than Ceduna Wayne

Bloody shame its such a long distance. That is a superb looking project.

Following the thread with much interest.

Have a 2C1 box kindly given to me by Keith.

[Wayne Henderson]

This is the rear section, 2 crew seats, spare wheel compartment and side lockers. None of the original timbers survived so I worked off the photos I had. The top section lifts off if required.

[Wayne Henderson]

The folding bench seats. The front and rear seats fold flat to make a wide bed. Adjustable leather straps hold the saet backs in place.
The original front seat was complete but The rear base was missing. I made new frames copied from the originals. The original hinges and strapping brackets were all in good condition and also used. There is a map reading light in the rear of the front seat. I will use a light from an late 1930's Chev as I have no idea what the original was or looked like (just a wire and a hole in the frame as can be seen in the photo).

[Wayne Henderson]

The utility carried a Thompson MG, 2 303 Rifles and a Bren MG.

Like the Ford FAT the Thompson was stowed in front on the passengers side.
The utility also has clips on the roof to stow the Thompson.

The rifles are mounted left rear seat by the door and the Bren is opposite the 9 or 11 set radio.

There are mounts for the Bren on both sides, rear and 4 positions on the roof rear hatch. Still have not been able to id the Bren mount that slide into these clips so I will convert a carrier mount to fit.

[Keith Webb]

Not something you see every day - really interesting pics Wayne.

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

The utility carried a Thompson MG, 2 303 Rifles and a Bren MG.

Like the Ford FAT the Thompson was stowed in front on the passengers side.
The utility also has clips on the roof to stow the Thompson.

The rifles are mounted left rear seat by the door and the Bren is opposite the 9 or 11 set radio.

There are mounts for the Bren on both sides, rear and 4 positions on the roof rear hatch. Still have not been able to id the Bren mount that slide into these clips so I will convert a carrier mount to fit.

[Mike Cecil]

Nice job, Wayne: always liked the 6-seater, and you are doing a magnificent job of the restoration. Thought you might enjoy the following extract from a report done in Feb 1944 in New Guinea. The report included a section on vehicle performance of each of the types in use at that time. The following was written about the Truck, 6 seater:

'This vehicle is disliked on account of the chassis and the extreme discomfort. It is suggested that a more useful vehicle is either the Cars, 6 seater, Utility or conventional 12 or 15 cwt utility, as by the time the Trucks, Utility etc are put into operation, road surfaces are sufficiently good for the conventional 4x2 vehicle to operate.'

Still, I've no doubt it is no worse a ride than the 4x2 or 4x4 15cwt CMP - probably even better given the body weight that should in theory make the springs work a bit harder. Nevertheless, there is no sugarcoating what the troops thought of them way back in 1944 in NG!

Mike

[Wayne Henderson]

Uncomfortable!, maybe the Officer's Gin tipped over

Hi Mike, most of the complaints would have been from the last two crew members who sat on wood seats hinged to the wood floor and a radio to bash their heads on at every bump.
I am thinking there may be a bit of side ways body roll that would also add to the complaints.
The truck would be no worse than a C15 on NG roads but I'll find out soon when it gets going around the bush over here.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Great work Wayne, like many others on MLU I look forward to seeing these updates.
Rich.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Nevertheless, there is no sugarcoating what the troops thought of them way back in 1944 in NG!

One wonders how many 4x2 rated roads there were in PNG during the war . Could you drive anywhere more than 50km out of Port Morseby in any direction ?

Even today, there isn't a road across the Owen Stanley range and probably never will be unless somebody manages to bulldoze whole mountain tops .

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Wayne Henderson

The utility carried a Thompson MG, 2 303 Rifles and a Bren MG.

Like the Ford FAT the Thompson was stowed in front on the passengers side.
The utility also has clips on the roof to stow the Thompson.

The rifles are mounted left rear seat by the door and the Bren is opposite the 9 or 11 set radio.

There are mounts for the Bren on both sides, rear and 4 positions on the roof rear hatch. Still have not been able to id the Bren mount that slide into these clips so I will convert a carrier mount to fit.

Oh my, Thompson at the ready on the roof, plenty of firing positions for the Bren - looks like they had fantasies about a "Blitz Battle Wagon"

All kidding aside, I like your project!

[Mike Cecil]

A well armed truck indeed, and with a body designed to stop the incoming .... not!

The listed use included recon, so maybe the Army had thoughts of all- round self defence during recon missions?? Big, bulky and slow for a recon mission - a jeep would be much better, I should think.

The SMG mount on the roof was supposed to be a universal mount to fit either the TSMG or the (by then) more common OMC. It is listed simply as a 'Mount, SMG' without specifying the type.

Wayne, have you been collecting all the items on the Vehicle Outfit List (VOL) to equip the truck? It will look even more snappy with all the kit aboard.

Mike