The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Here's one for the detail gurus.

I was trawling through Neals49 Flickr page recently and stumbled across this truck.

It looks pretty straightforward at first,then I noticed the right hand cowl vent.
(The image is NOT reversed)

I've yet to ascertain if it is a right hand drive truck,but if it is,did they also put the "crotch cooler" vent on the (new) drivers side,although I have seen a RHD truck in the flesh I failed to notice this detail.

Or..... was this possibly just a custom thing by the owner,can anyone satisfy my curiosity?

Based on the next photo, with the foreign plates, likely it is a right hand drive.

http://inlinethumb45.webshots.com/47788/2360153430103882008S600x600Q85.jpg

I never noticed the rear fenders hang below the running boards...

Hy Guys you can see by the head on picture that the truck is a left hand drive, it looks like it has had some custom touches made, the hood appears to come to a point at the cowl, just like a large truck hood does.

I don't see anything definite that would indicate right hand drive. I think it is a very brilliant solution to repair of those dang fins that are always bent.

Is that the same truck as in jocks first post?
Don't see the side mirror or top of the spare tire over the bed side

you can see the drivers hand on the wheel in the second pic and the cars following - it's left drive in a right drive country

I wouldn't have noticed that before you pointed it out. The fenders are also from a big truck, but have been modified. The wheel cutouts are too large for a pickup.

I think this is why they don't bolt to the running boards and why the small 12"x6" rounded piece is missing between the rear of the running board and the bed and also why it doesn't match with the rear fender height.

As mentioned, the mirrors are missing from the side view, but it could be an earlier picture. Both trucks are 54/55 judging by what you can see of the grill and bed sides in the side view picture.

Jeff

Also, the picture dates on the photo of the side view is in February 2012 while the front view is April 2012. So it looks like mirrors may have been added?

Jeff

one front bumper looks chrome, the other looks black.

I think it's two different trucks, the truck in question has those aftermarket mirrors clipped on the door and appears to be a slightly darker shade of yellow.

...click...

another view?

If it's the same truck, DADS50, he cut the runningboard...

The side mirror looks to be mounted near the edge of the door (in the side-view photo)?

Is the spare mounted below the bed-side (in the front-view photo)? Or, maybe the spare was removed for a cleaner side-view photo?

Here are a few pics of aussie trucks with the vent on the right side, right hand drive
...pic...

...pic...

John,that is in fact a totally different truck.
The picture I posted is an Australian based truck,the picture you posted is in fact here in Blighty.
Most of the trucks here are imported from the USA hence the LHD.

I have seen a South African built RHD truck here,although where it is now is anyones guess.

Thanks DAD,It looks like this might be an Aussie thing,presumably to correspond with RHD,or some ingenious design to keep their tinnies cool!

Thanks for the photos of 54/55 Australian trucks.

The split windshield in both confirms what I had seen posted in the past (and which I noted in the recent thread on 54/55 with split windshield). It looks like the two pieces of windshield glass is curved, not flat (as is the case in that recent thread).

I stand corrected. I clicked on the link in th O.P. and it was the very next photo..

Hot Rod John, no problem I can see where the colour may have thrown you,but it's turned into quite an interesting discussion.

Tim (tclederman), you seem to be "the man in the know"....is there any definative factory details regarding trucks that were built outside the continental U.S.?

Like you say this thread coincides with the 53 and on split windshield discussion.

jock, I barely know what I know, and there is a lot I do not know.

I have a 1954 Canadian GM Trucks (GMC & Chevrolet) Maintenance Manual and a 1954 Canadian Chevrolet Truck Data Book.

It would be very interesting to see GM Australia (Holden?) information. And, interesting to see if Holden supplied GM trucks to South Africa.

I seem to remember some info on South African GM trucks being posted here years ago.

To my knowledge the most obvious indication of a South African built truck was small white reflector lenses fitted to the front fenders,and of course right hand drive,other than that i'm at a loss for more info.

Holden (Australia) supposedly did not start exporting to South Africa until 1957.

Just came across this thread and thought I'd better put you mob out of your miseries.
You got it all back to front .....HOLDEN was not exporting CHEVROLET trucks to South Africa at any stage. General Motors America exported CKD kits (chassis/driveline only-no bodies) to Australia that were then assembled and their bodies then built in Australia by HOLDEN
It is because these bodies were built R.H.D. by HOLDEN that they are quite different to any model ever made by CHEVROLET. Just look at the HOLDEN body on my 1936 Pick-up and you will see it is nothing like the 1936 CHEVROLET made in the U.S.A.
(Just like some GMC and Maple Leaf trucks!)

Do a bit of research and see how many different bodies HOLDEN actually made from the late 1800;s through to the 30's and 40's before General Motors Holden (G.M.H.) was formed.

Bob.