VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1933-1936 1933 Roadster from Australia

Hi Folks,

Tom Here from sunny Australia, been using the board as a reference since i inherited my Chevy so i figured i should introduce myself, and you might get a kick out of seeing a right hand drive model!

Car is a 1933 standard "sports roadster" that was bodied by Holden (before Holden became a car company in its own right as part of General motors)

My grandfather purchased it in 1946 after coming back from WWII with his sign off bonus - it was sitting for at least 15 years before i got to it - amazingly only needed basic fuel spark tires fluids style refresh to be on road again. (he did rebuild it some time in the 70's)

Its been a big learning curve for me as i did not grow up on old cars (i'm the youngest member my car club by 30 years) but well worth it.

Without further adieu some photos

When we pulled it out of the shed



After a clean up and registration



Engine bay trying to work out why there was no fuel (it was the fuel tank) note the RHD steering colum



Interior - the Aussie models seem to lack some equipment from what ive seen on US model 3 on the floor for standard in Aus 4 speed for master






Dikkie seat (do you call them dikkie seats in US? ) Rear looks similar to me to US models but not exactly the same



With my other loves my 1977 F100 (they were sold new in AUS for a breif period) and my wife



If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!


And if you notice any big differences to US models let me know - they only made a handful of 33's here due to the depression - mines only a standard but it was still a expensive car compared to English offerings here in Aus

-Tom

Hi Tom, very nice 1933 roadster, not many survived as well as yours. I will send you some questions in a PM

Very nice car Tom. As you might know there was no roadsters or phaetons offered in the Standard series in the US for 1933.
One thing I noticed was the running board mats. I make the mats for the 1933 Standard & sent a set to Australia for another roadster. When he sent pictures of his board, his too had a smaller pad at the rear of the running board. I also notice a chrome hood hinge, The US model is painted. Door handles are different. Spare tire mounted to rear. No well mounted spare in the US catalog. Bumpers are different...Joe

Beautiful car, Tom!! Welcome to the forum.

Here in North America the dickey seat is called a rumble seat.

Beautiful survivor Tom. I too have one which was my dad's. I was a bit worse for wear however.

Neat, the 33 Chevrolet roadster standard series CC with Holden Body.

All the : bumpers , braces , hood , fenders, running boards , gas tank cover are most likely all Canadian produced. I would assume the gauges, motor, trans , rear end are also stock 33 standard pieces from Canada.

First thing I noticed was the hood with the multiple louvers common to 33 std only. The center hood hinge in stainless, first time I have noticed that before on an auzzie built car.

Next up is the windshield posts and especially the 4 sided windshield frame, that's auzzie only. North American built cars only have the 3 sides....top--l & R sides .

As Joe says the running board mats, should not have the extra piece at the end. Joe is the only person to undertake the reproduction of the 33 std mat only.

The door handles are much higher than our 34-35 standard roadsters & tourings. Looks much better.

The left front welled fender.......probably an option in Australia

On 1934-1935 chev Standard series roadsters DC--EC USA Canada produced , the top folds down behind the seat back into a large cavity. The Auzzie built car you have does not have that design.

The SWAG LINES on the body for a Auzzie built car are very much different and shortened than a north American produced car.

You can get a second rear lamp on the passenger side rear, by purchasing the 1933---1935 chev tail light arm, fender mount.

I managed to collect pictures of a 1933 Chevrolet standard CC series Touring car Holden bodied in 2 tone green. Believe the car is in Indiana State or Illinois state USA. Car is a beautiful restoration I believe by Glen Stauffer of Jekyl Island Georgia USA , since passed away.

mike lynch..............

1935 std coupe
1935 std roadster ---under construction
1935 std phaeton

Thanks for the reply's guys,

From all the material i can find that's correct they were Canadian produced then shipped as "kits" to Australia to be bodied locally - im guessing it was cheaper at the time / avoided tariffs to have them "locally produced" - that said they do seem to of cut a few corners for simplification like the roof mechanism etc

Re the spare tire could also be optioned with twin front spares - one each side.

As a side note what freeway speed are you guys comfortably sitting at?

The C K D ( Complete Knock Down ) 1933 car components were shipped from Canada to Australia, because of the Commonwealth basically like a free trade thing, saved a lot on taxes to the AU buyers. Also provided work in the GM Holden assembly fabrication plant.

Sorry to know that the holden plant has been shuttered this year after opening in 1925.

mike lynch

I don't think that GM-H is completely closing its doors. It will just no be involved with local production , as has been the case.
Focus will be on imported designs and vehicles which are readily in production, After all, GM-H is solely owned by GM .

Jack
That is what I have been hearing as well for all 3 manufacturers (Ford, Holden, Toyota) and Mitsubishi a couple of years ago. The main reason stated is cost of production but my guess is the reduction of Government subsidies.
Ford are bringing the Mustang (in 2 versions) with a 12 month waiting list while GM are bringing the Camaro as the sports versions but I am not sure what either are bringing as the general line.
Tony

Great roadster, 40mph seems to be the speed, once you have driven the car for a few miles you will find "the sweet spot" a place where the car feels just right, I personally think pushing past that is hurting the car and you must remember you still have to stop it.

I drive my little '34 standard at 50-55 mph. 4-11 rear end and 17" tires, comfortable at these speeds.

just found my printout of 1933 Chevrolet CANADIAN built cars at Oshawa Ontario

the factory model No. is 254 Australian C. K. D. pass chassis and 901 were exported as RHD.

mike lynch

GM-H LTD 1933 standard CC specifications list the body model identification for the roadster models as 33/312A for the commercial roadster, and 33/312B for the De luxe roadster.
Also lists 33/311 for the standard 1933 CC tourer, which was on the brass plate on the green Glenn Stauffer tourer.

when the cars are produced here in Canada as CKD, for shipping too Australia the factory model number for that 33 std is the # 154.

This is an internal GM number, totally different from fisher body numbers or GM holden numbers.

mike lynch