Aussie WW2 staff cars

[Mike Cecil]

An interesting but in some ways complicated subject, for which I can provide no comprehensive answers due to the lack of surviving detailed records. So in alphabetical order from the surviving records I have had access to, makes of 'Cars, SS' and 'Cars DS' used across all three services:

Alvis, Austin, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, De Soto, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Hillman, Hudson, Morris, Nash, Oldsmobile, Opel, Packard, Plymouth, Pontiac, Renault, Rolls Royce, Studebaker, Triumph, Vauxhall, Willys.


The dominant types were Ford (965 minimum not including MC & CMP 6-seaters) and Chev (2,082 minimum not including MC & CMP six-seaters). Total includes several left hand drive Buick, Chev and Ford sedans purchased in the Middle East after the losses in Greece.


There were also several makes for which there has been no registration information located, but which appear in holdings and disposals lists: Bantam, Citroen, Peogot, Reo and Wolseley.



In addition, there was an unknown number of sedan cars supplied to the USASOS and USN which were in use by US Forces on Australian roads. Many of these were returned for credit to the RLL account and disposed of by the CDC. These included Austin, Morris, Standard, Chev, De Soto, Hudson, Nash, Plymouth, Pontiac, Studebaker.



Mike

[Lang]

There you go Matt.

From Mike's info you can definitely take your Pontiac to a military show because it certainly was owned by the Army. Impressed by the Army, Impressed by US Army, loaned to the army, carried an Army officer or was seen by an Army officer during the war.

As I said, unlike others, I am not precious about the history of a particular vehicle. We have all seen vehicles at shows with photos and "recorded" history. General Macarthur has 476 personal cars that he drove every day. Patten, Montgomery and numerous other generals had vast personal fleets which can be seen at any show in USA or Europe.

The fact you have saved an original type from the period is a credit to you in this day of chopped, lowered and re-engined historic vehicles. The heavier truck people have no trouble because the hotrodders are not too interested but light trucks and cars are becoming precious.

Matt, just to put everything in one place here is your stuff on Chevs from 6 years ago.
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23897

Lang

[Mike K]

The RAAF seem to have preferred Dodge staff cars , late VMVC member Neil Wain restored a ex RAAF 41 Dodge sedan

CAIRNS, QLD. 1943-08-26. DRIVERS OF THE WOMEN'S NATIONAL EMERGENCY LEGION, POLISHING THEIR VEHICLES BEFORE STARTING THEIR SHIFT, WORKING FOR THE UNITED STATES FORCES IN THIS AREA. LEFT TO RIGHT:- DRIVER (DVR) N. ERSKINE; DVR D. DUPAIN; DVR T. LAWSON; DVR S. MIDGEY; DVR H. ARMSTRONG.


Darwin, NT. c. 1944. An informal group standing beside their motor vehicle, RAAF 202505, waiting to greet Lady Wakehurst on her arrival for a visit to a RAAF Medical Receiving Station. Left to right: Air Commodore A. M. Charlesworth AFC, Air Officer Commanding North-West Area; 501129 Matron C. J. McRae of Glen Innes, NSW, Principal Nursing Officer; Wing Commander V. E. Knight, Principal Medical Officer; 251203 Wing Commander R. W. D. Fisher of Elwood, Vic, Commanding Officer of the station.

[David Dunlop]

Hello Mike.

In your first photo, Post #27, the cars all seem to have a long triangular ‘badge’ at the front right edge of the bonnet. Any idea what that might be?

David

[Lang]

Just found out the colour of my "military" Chev is Sand Drift. Very close to Light Stone military but a standard production colour offering.

http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=23897


As mentioned in the old thread above many vehicles had their civilian colours painted over green straight off the production line. As my vehicle has a 253 production number (government order - not necessary Army) I am going with this story. In fact you can see my car 19th back from the front in this factory photo.

[Lang]

David

That photo with the markings seems to show Australian girls working for the Americans. Possibly Plymouths issued to the Americans. Several MP photos are to be found but I understand they had quite a large number of these Australian built vehicles in general service within Australia like the one below it with General Kenney.

Lang

Here is a closeup of the badge - unfortunately the censor has scrubbed it out!

[Mike K]

Post#30 the car in the background is a 41 Pontiac, probably a military 'masonite ute' the front guards have a distinctive style. Having owned one for a short while you never forget !