How's this for an authentic "Aussie" photo from 1947?
Just add a koala and the harbour bridge in the background!

From Michael's collection, some pages from sales brochures of the era:

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

Club Members Noel & Lyn have shared photos of the
restoration of their 1939 Sloper -

This is Noel eager to
start work after hauling the remains from the Dalby
Wreckers

See more on Noel & Lyn's car on
www.mister-cars.com/Articles/Classic-Car-Reviews/54/ scroll down to Chevrolet
and click on Coupe (Australian Sloper 1939)

Following on from the article about the 1927 Chevrolet Utility in
the "Maybe We Can Help" page, the following photographs of
special-bodied "utes" reveal how widespread was the production
of such vehicles - the first pair of pictures are obviously taken
within the factory - although the vehicles are all new tourers -
was the dealership and the factory within the same building?

Now a selection probably taken by the factory publicity team -
see the Chevrolet sign in the background of one:

The "C" cab van with the signwriting "Sackett Bros." has the
bodybuilder's plate "John H Miller" on the sill below the door
and beneath the three drawers at the rear of the vehicle.

Thanks go to Roger for sharing some of his collection of
photographs of interesting and unique vehicles.

Don Bradman "the Don" 1908 - 2001

On Wednesday, February 28, 2001 "The Advertiser" published a
supplement with highlights of Don Bradman's brilliant career - included was
this photograph. The preamble read "General Motors presented him with the
Don Bradman Special, a red Chevrolet roadster in honour of his deeds during
the 1930 tour of England. While Australians generally applauded the idea of
the gift, it transpired that singling out Bradman for reward resulted in further
unfair and unwarranted criticisms". The caption refers to period photographs
of the don's mother Emily, his fiancee Jessie Menzies and tennis greats
Jean Wilson & R.V. Thomas.

The General Motors Alphabet, or

A for Acadian

B for Buick

C for Chevrolet and so on:

by Bryan Cantrell (050)

This story begins in Spain in 1996 when Judy and I were in Madrid. Across the road from our hotel, in a second-hand car showroom, I came across an unusual “Chevrolet” with Chevrolet insignia on the grille and boot lid, but also the above logo and Acadian ‘Canso’ badges. What was going on?

I recently unearthed my photographs of this car and began to search the internet for more information. Wikipedia has a web page on the Acadian, explaining that it was produced by GM Canada starting in 1962. What follows is based on the Wikipedia information.

The Acadian was introduced so that Canadian Buick and Pontiac dealers would have a compact model to sell alongside their full-size cars. The logo uses the ‘Maple Leaf’ symbol to identify its Canadian origins and perhaps the name has a link to the Acadian race which inhabits the Atlantic provinces in eastern Canada. The Acadians emigrated from France and this part of Canada remains bilingual and bicultural with French and English elements.

It was originally intended that the Acadian would have a Chevrolet Corvair platform and be built at the Oshawa assembly plant on the Canadian side of Lake Ontario. However, plans were altered and the first Acadians used a Chevy II platform with different front and rear styling to give them a distinctive look. All Acadians featured a Pontiac-style split grille but were marketed as a separate brand, never as a Pontiac. There were two models, the base ‘Invader’ and a top-line ‘Beaumont’, both assembled in Oshawa. Available body styles included a 4-door sedan, a 2-door coupe and a convertible.

Subsequently, the Beaumont was moved to a Chevrolet Chevelle platform and the Acadian ‘Canso’ was introduced, being a re-badged Chevy II Nova. After 1976, the Acadian used a Chevrolet Chevette platform and was almost identical to the Chevette except for badging.

The Acadian was also produced in Chile, but as far as I can ascertain, were never sold in Europe. In any case, it seems that GM policy was firm on the fact that the Acadian was a brand in its own right. So, the Acadian I saw in Spain sporting Chevrolet insignia poses some questions.

I believe that the car I saw in Spain is a 1967 model Acadian ‘Canso’ 4-door sedan. Having looked closely at mid-1960’s Chevrolets, I concluded that someone has added the Chevrolet insignia to this car. The “Chevrolet” script on the grille and the “Chevrolet” badge on the boot look identical to those used on some Chevrolet ‘Bel Air’ and ‘Impala’ models of this era. The additions were tastefully done and pay homage to the true identity of the Acadian as a Chevrolet. How this car reached Spain remains unknown as I was unable to converse with the salesman in Madrid.

It seems that have uncovered a case of double re-badging. It helps to highlight the wealth of history encapsulated in the Chevrolet brand over the past 100 years.

1927 CHEVROLET AUSTRALIAN BIBLE VAN.

I spotted this vehicle at the 2010 GM day in Caboolture, Qld. The body was originally built as a "camper van" with bunks, table and pedal organ by Cheetham and Borwick based in Carlton, Melbourne.

It travelled to Tasmania with the new owner Mr Colin Ferguson who took the Good News thoughout Tasmania and outback Eastern Australia until the 1940's .After Mr Fergusons death, the van passed on to Mr Phil Ross, an itinerant preacher, who at that time was based in Atherton Queensland. The van was a home for both the Ferguson and Ross families over many years until the late 1950's. It then became a Sunday School bus in Mackay, after bench seats and a rear door were added. Currently owned for 16 years by Doug Alexander of Deception Bay, the van is in very good condition and is still used to spread the Good Word.

Craig

SOME NEWSPAPER ADVERTS FROM MICHAEL'S COLLECTION: