Final GM of Canada Contract 1945

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I wanted to stimulate a discussion about the very end of CMP production. The last known [to me] CMP was 1C11 STAFF CAR 4844521386 ENGINE # FR4,057,573 AUGUST 31 1945 to British order SM 6407. However only by a day as # 1376 was built the day before so this suggests that production had really slowed by then.

After the placing of S/M 6407 I know of further Chevrolet contracts for:
SM 6439 TRUCK 15 CWT. 4 X 4 GS
SM 6441 LORRY 3 TON 4 X 4 GS
SM 6447 LORRY 30 CWT. 4 X 4 TELEPHONE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINT.
SM 6524 CAR 8 CWT. 4 X 4 HEAVY UTILITY

This compares with the Ford listings already posted plus the latest one I know of, which must have been received by autumn 1944 because it is in the Census Listing:
SM 6556 Truck 15 cwt 4x4 GS

So, the actual placing of contracts has no bearing on assembly dates. My guess is that as 6524 was not in the Cenus Listing this might just have been the last Chevrolet CMP contract fulfilled.

However, both Ford and G.M. of Canada produced 1945 Model M.C.P. trucks until production ended in December 1945 of Chevrolets/Maple Leafs and G.M.C.s, re-starting April 1946 with the 1946 Models, and in the case of Ford, until the strike in Windsor Plant started September 12 1945. I know of one MCP that was repatriated to Canada post-war from the UK I suppose:
CHASSIS 1543X1 SERIAL 5154307537 MOTOR T104,220 BODY 2553 [Stake Body]

A letter I found dated 11 September 1945 from the Minister of Munitions and Supply to General Motors of Canada states that wartime production would be ending in a few days thereafter: this seems to suggest that C.M.P. production as well as M.C.P. production ended by 20 September, say 30 September at the latest, in Oshawa Plant. When Ford production ended I have no idea yet but it must have been around the same time.