VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1946-1948 1948 Sedan Delivery South Africa Right Hand Drive

Being a low production sedan delivery and all sedan delivery bodies were made at the Cleveland Fsher Body plant it would be a US unit.
GM used the 1 and I for the numeral "one" and I beieve it notes the date assembled, Jan. of 1948
To be an early 1948 it have had the polairty reversing switch on the starter and window glass should have about a 12-47 date code on the glass.
Orr being an export leaft the factory in Ja. of 1949 because 1949 production did not began until Feb. of 1949.

Were there any optional/accessory tail lights available for the sedan delivery so that you could add turn signals?

I see nothing listed for sedan deliveries in the 1948 parts book. They list an accessory directional signal kit for cars except sedan delivery and for actual trucks but nothing is mentioned for the Sdl.

My olds serial number starts with XGO and Chev XGC. these were knocked down kits assembled in South Africa. Local tires, glass and batteries were fitted.\The glass is marked "Armourplate" My uncle had a panel delivery model the same as yours. He hit a steam engine on a level crossing with it. Dont know how he managed that because the Garratt steam engine he hit had a top speed of 80km/hr.

Thanks for your confirmation of the serial numbers. I had wondered what parts of the car might have been locally sourced, as indeed, my glass is marked "Armourplate". It does not carry a date designation or the LOF name that is on the USA cars. Glad to hear it's the original glass and not just replacement glass. Any idea how complete these kits were? Engines already installed? Seats installed or locally stitched? Painted in South Africa? Any chance you have any original literature? Thx!

Hi Dale, i have literature concerning the factory when it was enlarged in 1948. Will get off my lazy b-hind and see if i can copy it and send it to you. Will need your address.

Thx! Just send you a PM with my address.

Dale... for the paint, you could check the code against your USA built books and see if it lines up. I know for Canadian built cars the numbers are all different from USA ones, and the paint colours are too. If it was painted over there, they would use locally sourced paint and have their own numbers I would guess. That said, I would bet it was painted where assembled, as I doubt an unpainted car would do well on an ocean freighter for a month or so...

Dale, please send me a PM with your e-mail addess pse, will be quicker than post.

Done!

Bruce - Unfortunately, there is no firewall ID tag with all the pertinent information. Instead there's this crazy tag about valve clearances and other engine data. (See picture #3 in my original post). The original color does however appear to be the same green as in the US in 1948 - Liveoak Green, Paint Code #370.

Hi there decarter not sure if this is of interest to you? I came across your thread by accident whilst trying to find out numbers of SA assembled vehicles.
I have a1948 RHD sedan delivery FAN262431 XGOFS177490 here in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Found it in a barn, apparently driven in there around 40 years ago after the owner couldn't get a 6 volt battery for it. I am in the process of getting it back on the road to join my '46 2 ton dually and my '60 Biscayne both RHD.

That is very interesting. Keep us informed on your progress.

From previous discussions in this thread, your serial number that starts with XGO would indicate it's an Oldsmobile Sedan Delivery?

Definitely a '48 Chevrolet Styleline Sedan Delivery......

Zimbo - what does your firewall tag look like? Is it the same thing that I show in the 3rd picture of my initial post on this thread?

[quote=decarter]Zimbo - what does your firewall tag look like? Is it the same thing that I show in the 3rd picture of my initial post on this thread?

It is exactly the same as yours, other than the front seat arrangement is a sort of split bench which may not be original as I can see the lower frame has been modified and set further back to give more leg room. There's a short article here that a friend wrote; http://www.postwarclassic.com/postwarclassic/magazine/previous-features/page-4-11111111111.html

Thanks for the link. I believe my sedan delivery was also originally painted LIveoak Green - which looks to be the same color your car is. I also had a trailer hitch mounted on the back bumper - long gone, but a number of ugly holes where they mounted it to the bumper and frame.

Okay - here's my next question - is it really possible that in 1948, my South African Chevrolet had a push button solenoid equipped starter instead of the foot pedal in the middle of the floor?? Attached are two photos. The first one is of the dash. There is a very authentic, old looking button below the gauges that says "START". The second is a photo of the starter, showing the solenoid mechanism mounted on top. I wasn't aware that Chevrolet had that capability in 1948, but I suppose other GM lines did? The top of the bell housing does not look like it has a place to mount the starter pedal linkage (remember this is a unique bell housing because of the right hand drive) and it's pretty busy behind the engine with the linkages going over to the carb and the transmission. The center floor plate does not seem to have a cut-out for the starter pedal either.

Zimbo - you might be the best person to confirm this. Does your car have the starter button on the dash & no foot pedal starter?

Solenoids were used on most (not all) years on RHD cars as early as 1933. What you have including the starter button is exactly the same as would be found on a local Holden bodied car.

Thanks for that great info!!! I thought someone over the years had replaced the foot starter and figured I'd have to do some parts hunting to put it back to original. Glad to hear I don't.

Since this car seems to share some similarities with the Holden cars, are there sources in Australia for RHD parts? For example, the accelerator pedal on this car is very small (compared to the states version) and attaches completely differently. Mine is bent in two - guess the guy who drove it really did have a lead foot...

Try Chevparts in Sydney for the accelerator pedal. They have a website and carry a lot of NOS and second hand parts.
As to where the car came from, check the Delco Remy tags on the distributor and generator. If it came out of Canada they will be stamped McKinnon Industries Ltd. St Catharines Ontario.

Thanks again!!!!