ID required on this Chev

[Ken Smith]

I have a M6 bomb service truck with a DOD of Nov 1941 Chassis # 4NQ 1975, It came from down near Albury and was advertised in the farm auction as a 4 x 4 Studebaker. It had a seed grain bin with the auger out over the front, and a broken chassis that had been repaired.
It is missing the crane, seats, windscreen and a lot of other parts that I haven't noticed yet.
It has a very early registration number W004804, a nice fellow in Los Angeles, who is a bit of an expert on M6s, said he had never seen an earlier number surviving.
Cheers Ken

[aj.lec]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I have a M6 bomb service truck with a DOD of Nov 1941 Chassis # 4NQ 1975, It came from down near Albury and was advertised in the farm auction as a 4 x 4 Studebaker. It had a seed grain bin with the auger out over the front, and a broken chassis that had been repaired.
It is missing the crane, seats, windscreen and a lot of other parts that I haven't noticed yet.
It has a very early registration number W004804, a nice fellow in Los Angeles, who is a bit of an expert on M6s, said he had never seen an earlier number surviving.
Cheers Ken

Sounds like you might have a pretty rare one on your hands Ken

[Ken Smith]

May be to rare, I have heard of the crane part at Charters Towers, but no proof that it exists.

I did find a Beebee hand winch for the crane at the local truck wrecker.

I will put some photos up when I get organised, which could be months at the rate I am going.
Ken

[aj.lec]

Keep chasing the leads Ken
Occasionally they pay off
Always good to have unique items in the collection

[aj.lec]

Spoke to owners brother and he allowed a better look at it today
Could not spot a chassis number or any other data plates though
Does a engine number help in identification ?

[aj.lec]

couple more
Looks like roof was grafted off something else just above bottom of window pillar, guessing pommy by the shape and construction
Apparently it was bought from an airport where they were using it as a rescue/fire truck

[motto (RIP)]

The mystery deepens. I have never seen anything like the PTO mounted above the transfer case. Is it secured to the TC and driven from it somehow? That would be a complete novelty. Or is it a separate unit that just happens to be mounted there?
The rest seems to be standard Yankee Joe cargo truck configuration except for the strange bodywork. The windscreen surround is standard inside and out up to just above the hinge mounting.
The truck is definitely not an earth borer, pole setter or M6 bomb handler and I don't believe it was a tractor unit. That still leaves quite a number of possibilities as these trucks were used for all sorts of odd tasks.
Nomenclature, data and shift plates would have been mounted on the header board above the windscreen. I think you can see where some have been removed.
All in all an intriguing vehicle. If the PTO is an original factory fitting that may be the vital clue. If it just happens to be sitting there, my guess would be cargo truck with post war body grafted on. The pintle hook and bumperettes point in that direction.

David