Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks

[Tony R]

Thanks guys, great info!

Now, I really thought I’d got it sussed. The pics that Cletrac first posted proved to me that the 1533 Chev was an open cab truck. Then I got thrown a swerved ball/bowled a googlie (depending on whether you follow baseball or cricket!) by the photo of the LRDG truck, the one with the guy ‘firing’ the Vickers K.



If you look at the ‘door post’ near his holster there is a door striker catch. This part at least looks like a cut-down closed cab. I am totally confused now! The 1533’s used by the LRDG appear to have an open cab dash/windshield area (flat like an open cab) but a cut down closed cab rear. For my sanity can anyone offer any comment?

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony R

Thanks guys, great info!

For my sanity can anyone offer any comment?

As mentioned the trucks were made NEW in the factory. The Chev cab of the period was made up of about 4 or 5 pieces welded togeather so it was quite simple to use the lower rear panel of the cab on these trucks which had the lower part of the door pillars as well as the door lock striker plate for the half height doors that were fitted "WHEN NEW". This panel ended at the mold line seen on GMC and Chev truck cabs of the period and because it did not have the roof to brace it it had a diagonal bar fitted at the bottom for bracing. The LRDG took parts off the trucks and cut out grill bars etc. to save weight which was often replaced with petrol cans so this is why you often saw no doors once the trucks were issued and you only have to look at their jeeps to see this.

Compare this all steel panel on the factory made truck to the photo showing the 'Indian Army' truck which is wood.

[Tony R]

Thanks Cliff for putting me right, very informative. This forum is a great place to increase ones knowledge.

So, if one was to re-create a LRDG Chev, a good start would be to mate an open cab GMC front (converted to RH drive) to a cut down closed cab rear? The reason for asking is that I recently acquired a 1 1/2 ton Chev and was contemplating doing this as a project. Now I better understand how the trucks were first built, it gives me a better idea of the task in hand.

Regards to all.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony R

Thanks Cliff for putting me right, very informative. This forum is a great place to increase ones knowledge.

So, if one was to re-create a LRDG Chev, a good start would be to mate an open cab GMC front (converted to RH drive) to a cut down closed cab rear? The reason for asking is that I recently acquired a 1 1/2 ton Chev and was contemplating doing this as a project. Now I better understand how the trucks were first built, it gives me a better idea of the task in hand.

Regards to all.

Tony what country/area are you located in? makes it easier for us know where you are located.

I am not 100% certain but I think you will find the open cab GMC-CCKW cowl is totally different to the flat cowl Chev of the same period. For instance the Chev bonnet probably does not fit.

The photo below is of a replica LRDG Chev in England I believe.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Excuse me if I cry but that truck was constructed out of the last Southampton-assembled normal control Chevrolet, 1939 3TL model chassis number3TL39063. That has left just a COE as the last locally-built Chevy in the world. It provided its chassis and was bodied with the front end of a probably Canadian '42 Model 1543 with a replica body.

[Tony R]

Hi Cliff, I live in the UK, but I've yet to get close up to the LRDG Chev that you pictured.

Here is a pic of my truck.




A guy who knows more about GMC's than me reckons the Chev's cab is the same as a GMC one (?). Thus I thought that the GMC open cab cowl would fit. The rear bed is GMC but is obviously not original. The axles are not the same as the LRDG Chev (are they common to other vehicles?) the wheel base is too long and its a left hooker. Apart from that its a runner and the bodywork is in excellent condition!

[cliff]

the closed cabs were probably the same on the GMC and Chev but a flat faced cowl and the GMC open cab cowl I think you will find are different. Remember the flat faced cowl was an export civilian body.