Let us know vvcaaqld@gmail.com if you think that our Members with years of Chevrolet experience and access to a library full of Chevrolet stuff can possibly help you with your project:
Do you know this car?
Graham from Nottingham, England is the current custodian of this 1936 Aussie sloper. When he bought the car in the UK it was wearing a V.V.C.A.A. club badge and he would like to contact the car's owner before it left Australia. If you can help Graham, please contact us on vvcaaqld@gmail.com and we will pass the info on.
1927 Chevrolet ute.
Dear Sir, I am researching an unusual Chev I have recently encountered. At present I have no photos, just a description, although I have seen it, about 20 years ago. (Colin later sent pics)
It's a 1927 Chevrolet chassis, with wooden spoked wheels. The bodywork incorporates a steel utility back, complete with rear tailgate, like an early GM Holden ute. I think the bodywork may have been done by Trevans in Lismore NSW. Trevans have been in business since 1905, principally as a Ford dealership. The vehicle is in original used condition, and has been stored under cover since the late 1970's when it was taken off the road because of a blown head gasket. When were the first factory utility's sold? Was the bodywork built by Chevrolet, or Holden, or were they "custom built" by companies like Trevans? How unusual is this vehicle? Any information will be most welcome.
Colin.
  
Bryan replied:
Dear Colin, Your enquiry re the 1927 Chevrolet utility has been passed on to me for reply. Original ute's were available from the early 1920's, built by large body works such as Holden Motor Body Builders in Adelaide and Miller's in Sydney as well as local body shops such as Trevans in Lismore. A Queensland body builder was Hope and I have seen ute's with the Hope body badge. A wide variety of styles was available to suit different purposes, including vans for butchers, bakers etc (not sure about candle stick makers).
Chevrolets sold in Australia normally had Australian-built bodies.
Certainly "factory" Chevrolet utilities were available in 1927, sold through General Motors Australia dealers, but were a minority compared with car sales so such vehicles are much rarer today. They are also generally much sought after by enthusiasts. However, these have timber trays not the metal body you refer to. I suggest that this would increase the liklihood that it was built by Millers or a local builder. Chances are that it would carry a body builder's plate somewhere on the vehicle, possibly in the cabin, on the door sills, or on the firewall, if you are able to get a good look at it.
Hope this helped - contact me if you get any more info.
Cheers, Bryan
With the help of Club Member Roger, we later located these photographs of a specially-bodied Chevrolet utility - body builder's name-plate "John H Miller" on the door sill and at the rear of the vehicle below the drawers:
 
See the "Interesting Chevrolet bits" page for more photographs.
1954 Chev Truck
Hi, could you please help me identify my truck? Load capacities etc.
Style No. 7384900
Body No. 1498
Trim No. 60-386
Paint No. 253-16018
Acc: 6
Engine No. TR32036
Number inside left door pillar: 54 1142 HM 30755
Numbers/letters on firewall tag (printing has worn off so I don't know what these numbers are)
CHEV 161DG
6 5
 
Dear Craig,
Your query re your 1954 Chevrolet truck reached me for reply. I have a little information and hope to provide more in due course.
The model number on each side of the bonnet of your truck should be either 4100 or 4400; I suspect the latter. Both these trucks are rated 1.5 tons (or greater) and came in 2 wheelbases. The 4100 has a 137inch wb while the 4400 has a 161inch wb. Since the numbers on the firewall that you could not fully decipher include "161" I guess that this refers to the wheelbase, meaning you have a 4400 truck. Please let me know. I am not sure how to tell the exact load rating and guess it is determined by the strength of the rear springs. GMH rates these trucks as 1.5 to 3.5 tons, but in the USA they were rated at only 1.5 tons, so I'm not sure what is going on.
The mechanicals of your truck would have been imported from a GM plant in Canada and the cabin (built by General Motors Holden) here. The truck was probably sold as a cab/chassis and the tray back added by the buyer. The number found inside the left door pillar is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) attached by GMH. It may be translated as follows:
54 = 1954
1142 = model No, (the "11" is the GMH code for Series 11 trucks (1.5 - 3.5 tons capacity and the "42" will mean something else (probably the wheelbase) so that 42 could = 161inch wb or maybe the load rating. I am only guessing re the "42" as I have no definitive information.
HM = Holden, Melbourne (meaning it was assembled in the GMH plant at Fishermen's Bend)
30755 = the unique number for your truck.
I have been unable to interpret the Paint No. or the Trim No. but will ask a colleague in Melbourne if he can help. The "60" in the Trim No. will be an abbreviation for the full Paint No. while the "386" will refer to the interior trim - probably brown vinyl. Unfortunately no one has any information on Chevrolet trim codes for this period, so we will never know. Finally, the ACC:6 is the date of assembly = June 1954.
I cannot do anything with the firewall numbers other than suggest, as above, that 161 refers to the wheelbase.
Hope this helps. I will send more as and when I receive information.
Bryan
1936 Chev panelvan
Hi, my name is Laurie and I am trying to track down some information on a vehicle we have. It is a 1936 Holden-bodied Chev panelvan. It is in need of restoration. So before we start we wanted to know what the vehicle looked like originally. Any further info on the vehicle we could obtain would be an asset. Thank you for your time. Cheers, Laurie
Dear Laurie,
Well, you have a job on your hands but would have a rare vehicle once restored. You seem to have usuable panels from the doors forward but I suspect that someone has cut out the sides of the van section above the waistline - does it look like rough surgery? That would have weakened the body integrity which may be why it is drooping at the back (in combination with the rotten woodwork). There is a small photo of the side profile of a 1936 Chev panelvan on page 72 in a book by Norm Darwin "100 years of GM in Australia" 2002 HaND Publishing, Ballarat, Victoria. If you can't locate a copy I could send you one. My Grandfather bought a 1936 Chev standard sedan in September, 1936 and it's engine number was MR5574831 so your Engine No. MR 5588286 indicates a slightly later vehicle. I cannot decipher the number on the firewall or on the Holden body plate. I have passed on your eMail and photos to one of our Club members who is very knowledgeable on 1935 Chevs and restored a 1935 Chev Master utility from a similar starting point to your panelvan. He may be able to help further. Best wishes. Bryan
Hi Laurie,
Had eMails from Kevin & Bryan about your Chev panelvan. I only know of one on the road and that car is in Victoria. I have a couple of photos somewhere and I have heard rumours of one around Coffs Harbour area and that was some years ago. If you get on to www.trove.nla.gov.au and hit the search button and the photos section and type in 1936 Chevrolet, there are a couple of photos taken when they were new and in PMG livery. Also if you put in 193* Chevrolet there are more photos of 36s in other body styles. If I can help in any other way I would be pleased to.
Regards, Ron
Michael has come up with an appropriate newspaper advert. from his collection:
1940 CHEVROLET TRUCK (ARMY MODEL)
Hamish messaged to say that he wondered whether someone might be able to help him identify his truck - from the tag on the firewall he supplied the following information:
Body No - 1950
Model - chev-cab
Series - (blank)
Job No - (blank)
Colour - dly DFNCE
Batch No - (blank)
Date - k9
Club Member Ron replied that he thought that Hamish's truck was either a 1939 or1940 model, he suspects it is a 1940 but couldn't be definate without seeing the grille. The word "DFNCE" indicated that the truck was built for the army. The remaining "khaki" paint colour would add credence to that. Ron also wondered whether the roof had been hacked about or whether it is fitted with an original army hatch (Hamish later advised that the roof was pushed in from the kids jumping on it!).
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