Chev C8 in Australia

Mike Cecil · #1 04-10-18, 18:40

I'm aware of only one Chev 8-cwt C8 4x2 officially purchased by, and imported new into, Australia. This was a under SM2029. The Australian Contract Demand for the vehicle was CD E2251, and the 'short box body' or 'GS personnel' body (both terms are used in the ordering paperwork) from Massey-Harris was purchased under CD E1466. The cost of the vehicle was $816 and the body was $159.90. I'm assuming it was the vehicle that still existed at Murrayville in the 1990s, because it had the 'SM2029' stencil still visible under the bonnet. Wonder what happened to that little gem. It was always a flat 'NFS' when I was working in that area of Victoria.

The other C8 4x2 vehicles that are in Australia are, as far as I can ascertain, invariably of British in origin and supplied to Australian forces in the Middle East, and were brought to Australia by returning units, hence the 6 Aust Div sign, for example. Upon being returned to OVP, some were then re-issued to other units, such as 1 Aust Armd Div.

The origin of these vehicles is supported by the British 'Z' prefix registration numbers. Few, if any, were transferred to the Australian registration scheme, but retained the Z number, usually pre-fixed with the letters 'AIF'. Pretty much everyone I've seen in Australia where the original registration is visible had a Z prefix registration.

The type begins to come up as write-offs on the War Usage Rate data from the end of 1942/beginning of 1943, when the Army began a cull of worn out and odd-ball, difficult to support vehicles from the inventory.

Mike

Mike K · #2 05-10-18, 05:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

I'm aware of only one Chev 8-cwt C8 4x2 officially purchased by, and imported new into, Australia. This was a under SM2029. The Australian Contract Demand for the vehicle was CD E2251, and the 'short box body' or 'GS personnel' body (both terms are used in the ordering paperwork) from Massey-Harris was purchased under CD E1466. The cost of the vehicle was $816 and the body was $159.90. I'm assuming it was the vehicle that still existed at Murrayville in the 1990s, because it had the 'SM2029' stencil still visible under the bonnet. Wonder what happened to that little gem. It was always a flat 'NFS' when I was working in that area of Victoria.

The other C8 4x2 vehicles that are in Australia are, as far as I can ascertain, invariably of British in origin and supplied to Australian forces in the Middle East, and were brought to Australia by returning units, hence the 6 Aust Div sign, for example. Upon being returned to OVP, some were then re-issued to other units, such as 1 Aust Armd Div.

The origin of these vehicles is supported by the British 'Z' prefix registration numbers. Few, if any, were transferred to the Australian registration scheme, but retained the Z number, usually pre-fixed with the letters 'AIF'. Pretty much everyone I've seen in Australia where the original registration is visible had a Z prefix registration.

The type begins to come up as write-offs on the War Usage Rate data from the end of 1942/beginning of 1943, when the Army began a cull of worn out and odd-ball, difficult to support vehicles from the inventory.

Mike

Yep we all had our attempts at grabbing that Murrayville C8

The old boy wasn't too bad to deal with but there were other family influences going on in the background.

There was a Duple C8 body only sitting in the sawmill up near Waaia Vic. in the early 1980s, I got a tip off but in the meantime the owners had a clean up and it was scrapped.

Clive Skingle · #3 05-10-18, 11:22

Dash switches Im missing also missing shift plates of the enginge tin wear.

Are there photos of these trucks as returned from the mid east in their original livery?
Thanks so much fr the posts if gained more history on the truck in 3 days than I have in the year i have been sitting on the fence folllowing theseMissing dash switches.jpg Threads

Mike K · #4 05-10-18, 12:10

Somebody has added a odd looking extra panel under the windscreen. The fuel gauge tank switch is missing, I got one from Brian Asbury. New choke , throttle cables are available , civvy ones, with the rose tan knobs , light switch has the rose tan knob too

Owen Evans · #5 05-10-18, 13:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Skingle

Dash switches Im missing also missing shift plates of the enginge tin wear.Attachment 102696 Threads

As Mike says, the choke, throttle and light switch are all standard 1940 Chevy civilian truck parts; quite often available on Fleabay, or via one of the classic Chevy dealers. Choke & Throttle knobs are embossed 'C' and 'T', whereas the light knob is plain. The 'shift' and 'lubrication' plates are available as reproduction from LWD parts in the Netherlands (http://www.lwdparts.com). LWD also have the ignition switch/coil assembly.

Looks from your photos like the 'dash jewel' is missing too. No functional benefit; just looks cool!

Owen.

Clive Skingle · #6 06-10-18, 10:05

Sorry might have confused the issue there this is the Dash in my truck the over Photo was one I found on another site but I used it to show the buttons I was missing. does any one have a good photo of the full set of Dash buttons?

Bob Carriere · #7 06-10-18, 16:29

Here is an early CDN C8......

Owen Evans · #8 06-10-18, 16:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clive Skingle

Sorry might have confused the issue there this is the Dash in my truck the over Photo was one I found on another site but I used it to show the buttons I was missing. does any one have a good photo of the full set of Dash buttons?

This will help:
http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=8246

Owen.

Clive Skingle · #9 06-10-18, 21:10

Thanks Owen , Bob That's just what I was after