1940 Chevrolet 12-cwt Ute

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

Just got it home

That's a beauty ! looks like somebody has done all the hard work... these are quite rare , the production numbers were very low compared to the overseas models which were produced in large numbers, GM-H were a relatively small setup.

more pics of the 1941 army models being made


https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../207/4/557-572

1939 ute interior: and other aspects. Looks like they carried over the 1939 ute body into 1940 and fitted the 40 model front end ?

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/436

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/431

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../207/4/432-433

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../207/4/434-435

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r.../207/4/437-440

1940 Body bits .. sedan I think

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/489

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/483

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/474

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/731

https://collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/r...+213/207/4/724

[Lang]

Mike or anyone

What engine is in my ute. Definitely a 216.

I think it might be a GMH assembled unit from 1941

Engine Number R118522

Casting Number 3835127 - 066

Just for interest has anybody ever seen one of these overdrives and what make? Not a 5 minute job to fit to a torsion tube. It will save me finding an overdrive gearbox.

Chev OD1.jpg Chev OD2.jpg Chev OD3.jpg

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Wow Lang, what a find! An iconic Australian vehicle, and it's a military one to boot.

Worthy of it's own thread so I've split off your posts from Chevrolet 12cwt ute

[Lang]

Thanks Hanno

Might be a good one for Normandy next year?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lang

Thanks Hanno

Might be a good one for Normandy next year?

Yes, would be great to see you there!

[Lang]

They are a good looking vehicle and with the overdrive no problem easily cruising at 100kmh.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Lang

Mike or anyone

What engine is in my ute. Definitely a 216.

I think it might be a GMH assembled unit from 1941

Engine Number R118522

Casting Number 3835127 - 066

Just for interest has anybody ever seen one of these overdrives and what make? Not a 5 minute job to fit to a torsion tube. It will save me finding an overdrive gearbox.

Attachment 132135 Attachment 132136 Attachment 132137

The engine nr. seems to be correct for a vehicle of that vintage . David Hayward's site would help you but the site seems to have disappeared. The 216 evolved over the years from 1937 until the early 1950s. There are different heads and valve lengths to consider if you are buying spares and different water pumps.

This might help http://hotrod.gregwapling.com/chev-t...dian-chev.html

FOR WALKERVILLE CHEVROLET MILITARY TRUCK ENGINE NUMBERS 1940 G.M .OF CANADA USED SEVERAL SEQUENTIAL SERIES FOR EACH PREFIX AKIN TO A CODE FOR EACH TYPE OF VEHICLE: THOSE KNOWN INCLUDE “R” [CAR] “AR” “CR” “FR” “PR” “SR” “TR” “WR” “ZR” WITH THE “R” FOR R.H.D. MOTORS AND ALSO “TRA” AND “TBA” AND “TBRA” IN 1940 FOR “TRUCK, RIGHT HAND DRIVE, ARMY”; “TRUCK, BUFFALO -ASSEMBLED, ARMY” AND “TRUCK, BUFFALO-ASSEMBLED, ARMY, RIGHT-HAND DRIVE” WHEN “B” FOR “BUFFALO” RERESENTED THE TONAWANDA, NEAR BUFFALO, NEW YORK STATE, ENGINE PLANT. THERE MAY ALSO HAVE BEEN “KR” ON ½ TON GMC TRUCKS, BUT “WR” HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH “W” WINDSOR-BUILT GMC 224 UNITS.

[Lang]

Thank you Mike

[Mike K]

These 1940 12 cwt Chevy utes were shipped overseas . The LH column ( in red ) refers to vehicles returned to Australia , I think.

[Mike K]

A few examples had reg. transferred from AIF plates to C plates

One was returned to Australia then transferred to the Dept, of Navy.

The early army nomenclature for these utes was: 12 cwt GS , it seems to change later on to - 12 cwt Vans GS.

[Mike K]

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