4-wheel drive Maple Leaf truck

[Konstantin Chernov]

Is this an experimental car? Joint creativity with Marmon-Herington or own development?

[Mike K]

I have previously seen a pic of a number of these 4X4 Maple Leaf trucks lined up at a GM-H assembly plant , from memory it was at Fishermens Bend. The truck pictured has a GM-H manufactured cab fitted , the little rectangular cowl vent and the quarter vent door windows are typical.

Years ago somebody in Melbourne contacted me with a query about these 4X4 Maple Leaf trucks , can't recall if he was restoring one or after parts. There was a VMVC member who had one listed in the old membership list but that was many years ago, he was living near Eden in NSW.

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I have previously seen a pic of a number of these 4X4 Maple Leaf trucks lined up at a GM-H assembly plant , from memory it was at Fishermens Bend.

That is, it was not a single sample?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Konstantin Chernov

Is this an experimental car? Joint creativity with Marmon-Herington or own development?

Interesting picture, not seen it before.

I merged your thread with an earlier one on 4x4 Maple Leaf trucks. Also see What makes a truck a Maple Leaf?, this may contain some more info?

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Interesting picture, not seen it before.

This image is interesting because the truck is equipped with a body for transporting troops.What is the wheelbase of this truck? Also 134"?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Konstantin Chernov

This image is interesting because the truck is equipped with a body for transporting troops.

What is the wheelbase of this truck? Also 134"?

It is not a body for transporting troops. A "Stores lorry" means a truck to transport stores, or stock or e.g. mechanical spares or wireless equipment spares.

Going by Mike's post, this is a Maple Leaf model 16-40/E8 truck with 157-3/4" wheelbase and "special stores lorry body"

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

I have the 1940 GMH NASCO parts book. The front cover of the book states "SPECIALLY COMPILED FOR THE AUSTRALIAN COMMONWEALTH MILITARY FORCES". The book is for sedans and trucks

1940 Maple Leaf was series 16 - diff ratio was 7.16 to 1
*snip*
1940 MAPLE LEAF
The Maple leaf model 16-40/E12 ... Chassis cab 157-3/4" wheelbase with special Office Lorry body
..............................16-40/E8 ...............................................wit h special stores lorry body
..............................16-40 /E6 ................................................wi th special breakdown vehicle body
The AWM have that pic incorrectly captioned, it's actually a Maple Leaf office lorry, not Chevrolet.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

This picture from a brochure - see the link in Mike Kelly's first posting - shows the same type of truck as in Konstantin’s photo.

It is labeled as an “office body unit”.

D229E18A-7107-439A-AEE4-930D539DB7CA.jpg

[Paul Singleton]

I believe that the four wheel drive components were supplied to General Motors by NAPCO, northwestern auto parts company. Marmon Herrington seems to be more associated with the Ford products.

[Mike Cecil]

Hanno,

Lorry/truck mounted office bodies were generally not equipped with an enclosed wire mesh screen on all sides, whereas stores bodies were. It appears the same base body was used for both.

Neither the 1939-40, nor the 1941 spare parts lists for the Maple Leaf Series 16 lorries list a driven front axle in the descriptions, nor is there an artillery tractor version listed. The data provides only a 'Rear Axle Ratio' listing and the parts lists shows a beam front axle.

The Aust Army Series 16 body styles listed were:
1939:

16-CC1 platform
16-CC2: platform with dropsides
16-CHT: Horse transport

1940: (16-40/E?) WB = 157.75 inches

E6: breakdown
E7: GS with canopy
E8 Stores
E12: Office

1941: (16-41/E?) WB = 159.25 inches

E7: GS with canopy
E8: Stores
E12: Office
E17: breakdown
E20: advanced dressing station
E21: Disinfector

The image shows the Commonwealth number plate C-6301. AWM126 shows this as a Chevrolet E8 Stores Lorry with Marmon Herrington FWD. It appears to be the only one, unless someone can find some more listed elsewhere! It's a new one on me, so very happy to be able to read the plate in the image. The opposite page shows 'bins not fitted' so an unbinned stores truck.

Mike