Not softskin as such: a 1940 Chev sedan question

[Matt Austin]

I'm not sure where to ask this, but I figure that there are people here who know. I apologise if it isn't appropriate for the softskin forum.

Did the Australian Army use 1940 Chev sedans, particularly the Holden-bodied variety? I have a lead on one and wonder if it's worth chasing from the military perspective.

Thank you for any advice.

Cheers,
Matt

[Keith Webb]

Mike Cecil will be able to tell you more, but I think they did, and many other GM products such as Pontiacs.

[lynx42]

Try these, There might be a clue painted on the firewall under the bonnet. The ARN was painted in 1 inch high white letters and numbers up near the top of the firewall.

western%20desert,%20egypt_%201942.jpg

My Chev had the dents from the sand channels still visible and a scarf where they had shoved the sand tracks up over the centre of the rear window.

1940 Moorebank Anzac Rifle Range Camp.jpg

About 140/150 here at Morebank NSW in 1940.

050894.JPG chevroletaus39.jpg 307719_237241322996255_454958266_n.jpg

And mine.

Regards Rick.

[Matt Austin]

Fantastic, thanks very much, Rick. Thank you too, Keith.

It's early stages, and I wonder if it's a good idea to have two vehicles on the go, but it's so very tempting. Rick, I might be in touch, if I may. That's a lovely car you've restored. Great work.

Cheers,
Matt

[Mike Cecil]

Rick wrote: 'The ARN was painted in 1 inch high white letters and numbers up near the top of the firewall.' Unusual to see the registration number there, Rick: the underbonnet nomenclature specifications include the make, model and year, but did not include the registration, although this might have been included if space permitted. These underbonnet specs came into existence in mid-1942, with orders for vehs already in service to have the data painted on at Unit level. Naturally, many were not.

Matt: if you have a chassis and engine number for your proposed acquisition, I'll see what can be found. No promises, of course: all services used them, and the RAAF and Navy records are pretty woeful. Rick's been lucky: his research located a known AIF registration, which led to a known departure date from Australia and the ship it went overseas aboard, so a very nice historical example, and well restored to boot.

Mike

[lynx42]

Thanks for the compliments Mike. You helped there 22 years ago. I think we have done about 30.000 miles since 1995 including Darwin, Canberra, Sydney, Adelaide, Alice Springs and many other places including "The Border Track" , the State boundary between Victoria and South Australia. That run is a 4 wheel drive one way (South) trip due to the desert and many sand dunes. Most of the trips include a No.3 Jeep trailer, (IHC No.7) hanging on the back.

I have seen 3 1940 Chev Staff cars with the ARN painted on the fire wall. Maybe it was a workshops idea prior to a repaint?

Regards Rick.