British Empire Staff Cars

[Ed Storey]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Caption: "Canadian Soldiers With Staff Car and Two Jeeps

Army of Occupation perhaps Or a base in the UK? Bags of time for spit and polish makes me think post-war years. Transport for the brass hats I'd say. Can anyone ID the markings on the vehicles?"

Source: https://flic.kr/p/ny3eAc

The markings appear to be those of CMHQ.

[Keith Brooker]

A few from my collection.
Keith

humber car 1946 libya. M239469 open top with german pow.jpg india car dog.jpg star car.jpg captured german car.jpg enca show trucks car.jpg

[Keith Brooker]

A few more from my collection.
Keith

raf ford v8 radio car 1944 ww2.jpg water well drilling RE ww2 photo 23 by staff car (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg staff car ATS (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg staff car m4340132 (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg US STAFF CAR 1945 (2018_01_13 18_51_57 UTC).jpg

[Steve Guthrie]

Originally Posted by Ed Storey

The markings appear to be those of CMHQ.

I agree Ed. The 'Arm of Service' marking is typical of CMHQ, a black field with an abbreviated title added to the GHQ white bar. The '39' Ford has a very early Census marking but no head light masks, just like the two jeeps. That an the high gloss paintwork would seem to indicate the immediate post war period. What sort of boots is the soldier on the left wearing?

[Ed Storey]

The footwear on the fellow on the left appear to be High Top 'Assault' Boots.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bantam BRC-40 an Chevrolet(?) staff car in North Africa. Both camouflaged.

Courtesy of John J. Valenti.

C683CADD-75AE-458B-A9A5-0093D7E802EC.jpeg

[Keith Brooker]

A few more from my collection.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Keith Brooker

A few more from my collection.

Serious accidents were the order of the day, I reckon.

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Bantam BRC-40 an Chevrolet(?) staff car in North Africa. Both camouflaged.

Courtesy of John J. Valenti.

Attachment 120343

The Chevrolet sedan is a Fisher bodied 1940 model.

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/upl...-Chevrolet.pdf .

It differed from the Australian body by having a one piece rear window and a slightly different shape to the boot area.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by lynx42

The Chevrolet sedan is a Fisher bodied 1940 model.

https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/upl...-Chevrolet.pdf .

It differed from the Australian body by having a one piece rear window and a slightly different shape to the boot area.

Thanks for that Rick. I grabbed some screenshots from that catalogue.
Screenshot_2021-03-01 1940-Chevrolet pdf.jpg


Despite the availability of "Knee-Action" IFS, I think the army went for the more conventional and sturdy leaf spring suspension.
Screenshot_2021-03-01 1940-Chevrolet pdf(1).jpg Screenshot_2021-03-01 1940-Chevrolet pdf(2).jpg

[Lang]

All those 1930's ads show the cars elongated. If they thought people liked that look why did they not build them like that?

[lynx42]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Despite the availability of "Knee-Action" IFS, I think the army went for the more conventional and sturdy leaf spring suspension.

As you know, Hanno, my 1940 Chev staff car was the car used by the then Brigadier Stanley Savige, as OIC 17th Brigade 6th Division AIF. It has the IFS set up. It also had a pack-rack for the sand channels and dents to show where it had been fitted and where the channels were thrown up, denting it above the rear window.

58580494_318304598810223_2480306998843801600_o.jpg

Here it is followed by my 1939 WA Chev, LRDP replica and my M3A1 White Scout Car.

Regards Rick.