Chevrolet 1533X2 30-cwt trucks

[Tony R]

I wonder if anyone can help me please? I am looking for any photographs of the original Chevrolet 1533X2 30cwt trucks circa 1942 prior to conversion by the LRDG. I recently found this picture on the web, it purports to come from that excellent BBC series ‘The World at War’, episode 8.

Screenshot_2020-04-19 Photobucket albums hh245 Bilko_photo Chevoriginal jpg.jpg
http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/h...evoriginal.jpg

If it is pre-conversion truck then it clearly starts out life as an open cab truck. I originally thought that they were closed cab trucks that the LRDG modified by, amongst other things, cutting the roofs off in a similar way to the Chevy WB’s that they used. In the photograph below you can clearly see where the windscreen pillars/posts of this surviving LRDG WB have been cut off. However as far as I know you don’t see this on the 1533’s.

v_wb3.jpg
http://www.lrdg.de/v_wb3.jpg

My guess is, therefore, that the 1533's started out as open cab trucks. But that is only my guess. There are much more knowledgeable guys out there than me.

It would be great to hear from anyone who has photographs of the original 1533 trucks and also whether anyone can shed any light on the World at War image.

Thanks!

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony R

My guess is, therefore, that the 1533's started out as open cab trucks. But that is only my guess. There are much more knowledgeable guys out there than me.

Thanks!

Tony the trucks you mention were flat cowl export models which were produced with only the front sheet metal and with out windscreen pillars. The bodies were built locally at whatever destination they arrived at. Fargo, which is the Chrysler Corp. export model truck were exported as flat faced cowl models as well. In New Zealand most of the Fargo, Ford and Chevrolet trucks/ panel vans were local bodies with wooden frames which looked the same as the all steel cab from a distance but was totally different.

The early model Chev you have pictured was a steel cab cut down but the YS model you show is an Indian Army model and they did a lot of canvas roof type vehicles including CMP's.

I have added 3 photos below. The first is a 1939 WB Chev flat faced cowl model with local Egyption built body on it the other two are Indian Army Chev's. Photos are off the net and I can't remember where from.

There is also a thread on this forum called I think "BOMBAY CHEV'S" which has a great deal of information and a few photos of the Canvas roofed flat cowl Indian Army vehicles.

1939 WB Chev - Egypian assembled - 03.jpg Chevrolet2large.jpg WW2-02a.jpg

[cletrac (RIP)]

These pix off the Factory Photos CD should solve your dilemma.

1533x2 MCP GMEXQ1 458-141041.jpg

1533x2 MCP GMEXQ2 459-141041.jpg 1533x2 MCP GMEXQ3 461-141041.jpg 1533x2 MCP GMEXQ4 460-141041.jpg

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The work was done by General Motors Near East Ltd in Alexandria.

[Tony R]

Thanks one and all!

If you could just indulge me a bit further, the truck that Cletrac posted photos of, is that the 'India pattern'?

Also, is this the version that the LRDG modified for their own use?

Finally, are there any shots of the cab interior/dash and is the 'factory photo CD' available to buy?

Hope you don't think I'm a P.I.T.A!

Cheers!

[cletrac (RIP)]

The India Pattern used a locally made box while the one in the pix I posted is Canadian made. This looks identical to the LRDG truck. There aren't any interior pix on the CD.
Check out this thread for the CD. I highly recommend it: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=9101
The surviving LRDG truck has had the windshield removed. It pivots on those two bolts at the top of the short posts. The posts weren't chopped, they were made like that. On some of the LRDG pix the windshield is in place.
These pix are from the IWM site.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Tony R

Thanks one and all!

If you could just indulge me a bit further, the truck that Cletrac posted photos of, is that the 'India pattern'?

Also, is this the version that the LRDG modified for their own use?

Finally, are there any shots of the cab interior/dash and is the 'factory photo CD' available to buy?

Hope you don't think I'm a P.I.T.A!

Cheers!

If you look at the photos of the factory Chev you will see that it has no provision for the folding canvas cab roof whereas the 'Indian Pattern' trucks do. The Later 1533X2 LRDG trucks were made new in the factory to the LRDG's design so in effect were just another 'model' of new truck rather then trucks the LRDG modified for their own use. Mind you they were probably modified further by the troops that used them.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

On a LRDG research FB page, John J. Valenti posted the specs drawn up by the LRDG for what became the Chevrolet 1533X2. It mentions all kinds of interesting details, like an “engine driven air pump”.

B9C54D76-2819-4383-853C-DF5EECEF2157.jpeg

[Grant Bowker]

Yes, very interesting.
Given the stated objection to WD pattern was weight, complexity and gear noise of the 4WD drive, I wonder why a C30 modified to use a commercial pattern Timkin (their spelling) front axle wasn't considered. It would have provided many of the features they asked to include on the modified commercial chassis. Hatred of the cramped cab 11/12 (document dated 1941 so before cab 13)?

The phrase "engine driven air pump" could describe the CMP standard pump mounted on the transmission but powered by the engine.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Grant,

I think the previous experience with civilian GM trucks from “Local Purchase” in North Africa influenced these specs. See the attached document from 1940 listing the types of trucks in use by the LRDG.

Apart from the purpose built body by Gotfredson, the rest of the 1533X2’s configuration seems to be made up from off the shelf components already used for MCP and CMP trucks.

The tyre pump would indeed be the gearbox mounted compressor which was an option on MCP and CMP trucks.

Noteworthy is the specification of the rear axle with 6.17 ratio. This would be the same axle as on the C15, which has a type of differential lock. Thus, the 1533X2 was ideally equipped for the desert, whereas the extra weight, noise and fuel consumption of an all wheel drive system apparently did not give enough advantage.

FCC42046-1E20-4BD8-8AD0-596D04CBC275.jpeg

[Charlie Down]

Hi, this is my first venture into MLU, just joined today as advised by Hanno. I am currently trying to get a set of drawings of the floor and cab area including the dashboard completed for the LRDG Chevrolet 1533X2 truck on the basis that we don't know much specific detail about it. On the spec above it stated that the trucks would have a PTO air pump, but have never seen one being used. I have so far got details of the actual pump and its location, I know what the airline looks like and the connector, but have no idea where the airline runs to from the pump and whether it comes out in the cab or somewhere else. The cab makes sense as it's central to all 4 wheels, but there is no photo evidence of it's location on the LRDG trucks. I know the pump and airline were a standard accessory, was its fitting and location also standard?

[Grant Bowker]

This doesn't apply directly to the 1533x2:
When fitted to a Chevrolet CMP, the pump is driven by PTO attached to the left side of the transmission, engaged by twisting a rod with slot in the end using a screwdriver or similar tool through a hole in the floor. On CMP, the air output line ran to a fitting mounted on the frame rail adjacent to the pump. Based on the photos of the trucks, the frame rail isn't readily accessible so either an extension to the airline, relocation of the line or an access door would be needed. One of the photos in post #19 above shows a couple of projections on the filler panel between running board and cab (at the forward edge) that might be an air fitting. I hope someone with more knowledge can give you a better answer.