With the US entry into World War II, trucks were quickly modified to be successful for military use. Pre-existing cabs, frames, and mechanical components were altered to be more usable when in battle. NOTE: The Chevrolet cab remains almost the same as those on civilian trucks.
This photo shows a large military truck that was built by the Chevrolet Division of General Motors about 1941. The items of much interest are the changes made for use overseas and when the truck was in the field.
The horn button is of a very heavy duty basic design, not like on most civilian trucks. Only the civilian 'cab-over-engine' body carried this style horn button on non-military vehicles.
Note: This is a civilian Chevrolet cab with many modifications. The windshield frame is operated differently. Its hinges are on the outside for easy repair. There is no crank-out assembly that was known for their short life. The frame is opened manually much like the trucks before 1936.
The crank handle hole is not punched in the dash panel. The windshield frame is secured in the closed position by this simple “beyond top dead center” wedge handle.
The cab rear window is well protected with an exterior steel grill. We suspect many private owners would have liked this extra on their domestic farm trucks.
The inside door and window handles are not die-cast due to the war time shortage of zinc. They are made of a steel stamping covered with a dull Bakelite molded material. This usually shrinks and cracks within a few years in a cab in hot summer.
The removable hood side panels are of extra thickness to protect the engine from enemy rifle fire. The Chevrolet lettering was removed after 1941 to stop extra advertising.
The top of the hood is one piece, not side opening as civilian trucks. It opens from the front. See the two hinges to attach the hood to the cowl that are easily reached if there is damage overseas.
Though not part of the cab, note the radiator protection from brush in off road needs. No, it’s not bullet proof!
The steel bumper can withstand much pushing of other vehicles. Even the two hooks by the lower edge of the radiator can pull damaged vehicles out o9f the mud, off a road, or be pulled when it is disabled. See photo #1.
