Chev 6 Seater Utility

[Wayne Henderson]

During a lull in my life span I thought I might share some photos/info on a vehicle I have been restoring for a while.

It is the lesser known Australia made Chev 6 Seater Utility, similar to the Canadian HUP only better.

Vehicle use is described as "Transport of Unit Personnel and Reconnaissance". There is some theory as to Staff Car duties.

Both Ford and Chev produced this model but unsure of the final production numbers.

There are differences in the Ford and Chev models, parts like wheel arches and interior finishes and of course the drive train.

Features include front and rear bench seats that fold down to make a large bed, fitted with a radio, rolled canvas annex, interior blind for light discipline, 2 small seats in the rear for gunner and radio ops and rear roof hatch fitted with more mountings for the Bren Gun.

The vehicle I am restoring is a 2 wheel drive Chevrolet, body no. 25

I saw the vehicle in a farm shed but the rear body was missing so was not that keen until the owner said the rest of is was in another shed.

[Wayne Henderson]

The owner bought it from a car dealer, Olly Strang in Victoria Park, for 200 quid (no idea) in 1963. The car yard bought it from an army auction around 1960 and used it to ferry customers around.

Farmer took the back off and used it to string wire fencing.

The vehicle top coat of paint is deep bronze green (Post war) and the hand painted camo is clear under this layer.
The paint is the standard green but the other colour is not the usual yellow. It is a muddy light brown with a pink tinge.

Pulled the vehicle out of the shed and then changed a couple of tyres.
Found all of the rear body panels and crew doors, chucked them in the trailer and went home. Only part not found was the roof sheet metal.

[Mike Kelly]

Pics of the ford version


I saw a chev like yours in QLD in 1979 at the Hughes museum at Caloundra .

Lucky you, its a rarity

[David Dunlop]

WOW! What a great looking vehicle! Any idea how many were built?

David

[aj.lec]

Nice find

[Wayne Henderson]

Not sure on production numbers and have only seen two others in WA, both with the rear sections long gone.

From studying photos I have found the war time crew doors were "suicide" and post war fitted the other way around.
also the Bren gun mounts in the rear section are fitted outside post war.

The mount is the same as fitted to Bren Gun Carriers.

Washed the truck and photographed everything.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Great project Wayne, looking forward to see the rest of your restoration!

[Wayne Henderson]

Rod D told me of a 6 seater he had recovered up his way, he was restoring it as a GS. The rear section had been chucked on a farm rubbish pile and burnt. He and I went and had a look, as one does. It was peak snake season so Rod handed out the snake poles which made me feel so much better...

We picked up (with one hand on the pole) all the missing curved roof sections, 4 radio frame mountings, more brackets and best of all the roof tinware and hatches.

I now had every bit of rear section tin apart from one inner wheel arch.

All the tin was put together to get correct measurements for the timber frame. The inside of the tinware was marks to show the width of the boards, rust marks were the screws were and using there dimensions worked out the final timber sizes.

[David Dunlop]

Lucky Day in Wayneland on many levels I'm sure!

David

[cliff]

looking good mate

[Wayne Henderson]

The original body design is a timber frame covered in sheet steel. The timber is screwed together in some places and coach bolts used in others. The sheet steel is nailed to the timber. I followed the original parts down to the amount of nail holes in the tinware. I wanted to be as faithful to the original as possible. Oh dear.

The timber work went together well once the original construction was worked out. There were some unusual joints (to me not being a carpenters ring piece) to master. I started to find out how roughly/quick these bodies were put together originally. One side of the body was 25mm longer than the other and the curved roof sections were a different profile each side.
I decided to use a tape measure and a square, something which must have been rationed when this body was originally made.

I did have problems finding enough slotted wood screws and also square nuts for the coach bolts. My new hobby developed, hunting thru glass jars in old blokes sheds.