Not softskin as such: a 1940 Chev sedan question

[Mike Cecil]

Matt,

Nice looking find, and as I think Lynx42 will tell you, lots of torque and a nice ride. For an ID, what we need is the chassis number, then there is a chance to narrow it down.

Regards

Mike

[Matt Austin]

Thanks Mike.

Once I get the chance, I'll examine the chassis for the number. It'll be interesting to see if anything can be found.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt Austin]

Just out of curiosity, folks, how common are these cars today? I've seen Rick's example, another in all-over khaki, and a handful in civilian trim. I haven had a great deal of luck in finding out much about them generally, although I have managed to pick up a couples of manuals.

A couple of friends own '39 examples, so I imagine the same positives and negatives apply. Are engines and parts available? Do people have any advice that you may like to share? It's a learning experience for me. I have access to comprehensive vintage aviation restoration facilities, so the tin work is under control.

There are some great pics on the Australian War Memorial site, and these have given me a few ideas.

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Matt Austin

Just out of curiosity, folks, how common are these cars today? I've seen Rick's example, another in all-over khaki, and a handful in civilian trim. I haven had a great deal of luck in finding out much about them generally, although I have managed to pick up a couples of manuals.

A couple of friends own '39 examples, so I imagine the same positives and negatives apply. Are engines and parts available? Do people have any advice that you may like to share? It's a learning experience for me. I have access to comprehensive vintage aviation restoration facilities, so the tin work is under control.

There are some great pics on the Australian War Memorial site, and these have given me a few ideas.

Cheers,
Matt

Matt

The treasurer of the MV club down here (VMVC) has had one for sale for many years , he did some restoration work on it and he's trying to get his money back .

They are reasonably common. I've seen a few around but how many of them are military ?

Being a Chev , parts are no problem .

[Matt Austin]

Thanks Mike. Is the one you've mentioned a green one, based in Seaford?

All indicators point to it being a fairly straightforward process. But, as we all know, the indicators are often way off the mark! Time will tell...

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike Cecil]

Have you got it home yet, and have you had a chance to locate the chassis number? We look forward to some more images.

The AWM also has an example. It is restored and stored at the Annex.

Mike C

[Matt Austin]

Hi Mike,

Not home yet, it's in South Australia, and transport is being arranged. He's a retired gentleman, so I haven't pressed for the chassis number. Would it be on the LHS chassis rail towards the front of the vehicle?

More pics to follow.

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Matt

The treasurer of the MV club down here (VMVC) has had one for sale for many years , he did some restoration work on it and he's trying to get his money back .

They are reasonably common. I've seen a few around but how many of them are military ?

Being a Chev , parts are no problem .

The car is still for sale 7.5 K $

[Matt Austin]

I've been doing an inventory and have almost everything, although there'll be some parts I'll need to replace. At this stage, the only obvious things I'm missing are the worst motors and wipers, the upper left hand front passenger door hinge assembly and the boot hinges.

I haven't been able to scrub the area of the chassis to find the chassis number, but for to find something soon. I've cleaned the appropriate part of the engine and the attached pic shows the engine number, R2777077, which the books tell me is a 1940 engine, so possibly the original. Mike, I don't know if that's any help without the chassis number, but I'll keep looking.

The fun continues! Tony, thanks for the colour clarification, I'll get some clear pics.

Cheers,
Matt

[Matt Austin]

Tony, were cars delivered in a number of colours, then painted DBG for military use? If so, that'd explain the layers as you've described; Sandrift, then DBG, then a later coat of blue-grey. Interesting.

The engine bay shows no sign of any colour other than Sandrift, which'd make sense as there's no point in repainting the engine bay, given that a military repaint is a matter of expediency.

Cheers,
Matt