British army trucks of the 30s: identification

[Konstantin Chernov]

A test run through the hills of North Wales in 1936. This was an event where car manufacturers presented their vehicles to military representatives. Pictured is a Leyland Retriever. The quality of the picture is not very good and I could be wrong, but it looks like the front wheel has eight mounting points. Also missing are the parking lights in a separate housing like on other Retriever trucks. Was this a serial production Retriever? Or was it a one-off experimental example?

[Mike K]

Is this a Retriever ? It is highly likely to be a 'refugee' truck, these were British army vehicles that were diverted to Australian ports - these trucks were taken into the Australian army registration system and issued to Australian units.

Place Oceania: Australia, Northern Territory, Stuart Highway
Accession Number 014393
Collection type Photograph
Object type Nitrate, Silver Gelatin
Physical description Nitrate, Silver Gelatin
Maker Turner, Harry
Place made Australia: Northern Territory
Date made 9 March 1943
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Copyright
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain

This item is in the Public Domain

Description
NORTH SOUTH MILITARY HIGHWAY. THIS PIECE OF ROAD MAKING MACHINERY REQUIRED FOR WORK FURTHER NORTH IS BEING PULLED ON TO A TRAILER AT A CONSTRUCTION DEPOT SOMEWHERE IN CENTRAL AUSTRALIA. (NEGATIVE BY TURNER).

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Is this a Retriever ?

Without a doubt - this is a Retriever. The probability is the second series (conditionally)
1) The first series. The radiator filler neck is vertical. At the bottom of the radiator there is a plate that covers it by about a quarter of the height. Or without plates.
2) These are the trucks that are found as trophies in German photos. Therefore, I believe that this was the earliest series.
3) On these cars, the filler heads are located at an angle. The plate may also be installed or not.
4) The very last series. The radiators are of a completely different design.
Perhaps I am wrong, since there is an assumption that the earliest is the Retriever without parking lights from the post http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...5&postcount=15

[Konstantin Chernov]

1) British Army Chevrolet Truck. Probably a 1929 model. Was this vehicle assembled in the UK? Was the chassis American (LQ,LR,LS series) or Canadian? I have not been able to find any data on this vehicle.
2) American Chevrolet LQ model 1929.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Konstantin Chernov

1) British Army Chevrolet Truck. Probably a 1929 model. Was this vehicle assembled in the UK? Was the chassis American (LQ,LR,LS series) or Canadian? I have not been able to find any data on this vehicle.
2) American Chevrolet LQ model 1929.

Because of the Imperial preference scheme ( lower import costs ) , the chassis would likely have been Canadian. Plus Canada was manufacturing the Right Hand Drive components for other Empire countries.

Edit: I'm not sure if the UK Luton factory was manufacturing the Chevrolet chassis in 1929. Maybe the factory was still assembling the imported Canadian chassis . Does anyone have more info ?

The wiki info below has to be verified. Everything you read on wiki is of somewhat dubious origin.



Found this on wiki

The AC and LQ models were produced at Luton from 1929 to 1931, and styled as the "Chevrolet Bedford", taking the name from the county town of Bedfordshire, in which Luton is located. The AC was bodied as a light van (12 cwt), and the LQ in a wide variety of roles, including a lorry, ambulance, van and bus versions. The name "Chevrolet" was dropped, and the first Bedford was produced in April 1931. This vehicle, a 2-ton lorry, was virtually indistinguishable from its LQ Chevrolet predecessor, apart from detail styling of the radiator, and was available as the WHG with a 10 feet 11 inches (3,330 mm) wheelbase, or as the WLG with a longer wheelbase of 13 feet 1 inch (3,990 mm). However, the Chevrolet LQ and AC continued in production alongside the new product for a further year. In August 1931, a bus chassis was added to the range, and was designated WHB and WLB.

More wiki info:
Until 1925, General Motors assembled trucks in Britain from parts manufactured at its Canadian works. This enabled them to import vehicles into Britain under Imperial Preference, which favoured products from the British Empire as far as import duties were concerned. Such trucks were marketed as "British Chevrolet".

[Konstantin Chernov]

Originally Posted by Mike K

Found this on wiki

Thanks for the comment. From the above I can assume that the truck was designated as Chevrolet/Bedford LQ 1.5-t. Bedford WHG and WLG M1931 (pictured below) had a completely different hood and radiator mask shape.

[Konstantin Chernov]

Talbot Ambulance Van. This vehicle was on display at the Museum of Army Transport, Beverley. Since the museum closed in 2003, this vehicle is in storage, judging by the third photo. I have not been able to find any information about this van. It was probably built on a Talbot Model 75 or 90 chassis from the first half of the 1930s.