Chevrolet 1542 MCP

[Dave Ashby]

Hi Charlie,

This one does indeed have a single speed rear axle.

Dave

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hello Dave, good the hear you've added an MCP truck to The Ashby Stable Of Canadian Military Vehicles. Could you share some pictures? I'd be interested to see it.

From the thread Modified Conventional Pattern Trucks I learned:

1533x2 3-ton 134 1/2" w.b. with 9.00 x 16 wheels
1542x3 3-ton 160" w.b.
1543x2 3-ton 160" w.b. with dual performance axle and 20x6 wheels and single rears

There may well be more info here on this forum. The spare parts list for the 1542X3 seems to come up for sale every now and then.

I also find the GM Heritage's center's website very useful, see https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/gm-...tion-kits.html

And here is a "1941 Chevrolet 1543 GS (General Service) Truck" which was auctioned recently: https://worldwideauctioneers.com/lis...service-truck/. Its chassis number 4154278208 is on the data plate on the firewall, which incidentally lists it as a Model 1542. So the Chevrolet Model numbers are causing confusion.

BD3A0336-E34E-43CD-A2FB-890D5AA7F8B3.jpg 4.jpg 7.jpg 12.jpg

[Dave Ashby]

Hanno,
Thanks for the info, that one pictured is identical to mine.
I too have a plate on the firewall which is remarkably close in numbers - I was hoping to find the chassis number stamped on the rail to verify the info on the plate.
To add to the confusion - doesn't the wooden steering wheel and military gauges make it later than 1941? Also engine number with first number being 4 denotes 1944?
Dave

[Dave Ashby]

Info on my plate on the firewall has chassis number 4154278361 and engine number TR4045370.
I'll get some photos uploaded shortly.
Dave

[Dave Ashby]

Here is a photo of the MCP in question.

[Paul Singleton]

On Canadian built GM trucks the first number of the serial number is the model year. That would make your truck a 1944 model. The year of the auction vehicle is also 1944 by the serial number, I don’t know why it would be listed as 1941.
GM Canada vehicles used this number system until about 1966. The later years used a system similar to the US format.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This scan was submitted by John Valenti.

It explains the 1500 series are 1941-1942 model 2-ton trucks.

6032C2CC-716D-4339-8705-845CE7FAA110.jpeg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Dave Ashby

Here is a photo of the MCP in question.

Nice one!

[Alex van de Wetering]

Awesome truck, Dave.....and in very nice condition so it seems.

I would love to see more MCP trucks here on MLU!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

And here is a "1941 Chevrolet 1543 GS (General Service) Truck" which was auctioned recently: https://worldwideauctioneers.com/lis...service-truck/. Its chassis number 4154278208 is on the data plate on the firewall, which incidentally lists it as a Model 1542. So the Chevrolet Model numbers are causing confusion.

I came across this picture from back in the day when it was part of the Kruse WW2 Victory Museum - Auburn, IN (defunct since 2012).

i-tSmJKs4-X2.jpg

[Dave Ashby]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I came across this picture from back in the day when it was part of the Kruse WW2 Victory Museum - Auburn, IN (defunct since 2012).

Attachment 118431

Interesting they had it displayed as a 1543 and not 1542.

The confusion between model designations clearly comes from the different models being produced in parallel and not linear as say the CMP production (cab 11 followed by cab 12 followed by cab 13).

I am putting a list together of all changeable items on my 1542 and will post on here, maybe it will be of some use to someone else trying to narrow down an MCP model designation which is missing the cowl plate.

Dave