Holden body

[153624]

Sorry for the delay, hopefully this is useful. Ive been told it is an early holden body car built in october 1927.

Any information will be appreciated 

Thanks, Luke

Hi Luke,

As Bill said - it is very difficult to say which of the local body builders made which car. I believe Holden and Company Motor Body Builders together with Melbourne Motor Body Builders were among the more prolific so yours could be a 'Holden' body.

Up to 1928 Holden bodies were sometimes fitted with an identification plate as below on the body, inside in front of the passengers door.

Later saloons had an aluminium Holden car body number plate under the back seat, some had the new Lion and Ball ID plate  . 

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This is my 1928 Holden bodied Chummy - you might note that the headlamps have been moved from the brackets on the screen supports to the front guards- which alteration was carried out probably at delivery - there is another Club Chummy some 400 numbers different from mine which has the identical  modification. The radiator cowl has also been plated - not sure when but possibly at delivery - well before 1955 anyway.

The body swage is visible as is the position of the single piece screen 'hinge' point.

I have the original Victorian Motor Registration document signed by the great T (Thomas) A Blamey, Chief Commissioner of Police and other than a repaint (and a 1928 coil motor M 71801)) this car has not been altered since 1955 - I still have the original magneto motor M 69139.    

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Tony - only problem with that, is although there may be a few altered or updated after purchase, it doesn't really establish that they were like that on leaving the showroom floor, does it?  The Victorian Motor Registration document for all cars & motorcycles was first introduced in 1932 (and they were all completed by end of 1933) so it doesn't tell us who was the original owner or even the original chassis number for the car.  I once had to track down a 1928 Seven's history and found it had had 4 owners prior to the one current at the time the 1932 Document was issued.  It had also been repainted in the intervening time.  (Admittedly two of the four were dealers, but perhaps illustrated that some or maybe many cars could have had a non-original history before the Certificates were issued?   Cheers,  Bill in Oz

Bill,

No wire holes in the scuttle seems to indicate the lamps were moved before it was first registered - possibly in 1928- or 1929. Unfortunately no prior history is available from the early records held by the Association of Motoring Clubs.

The January 1933 Registration document shows the colour to be typed in as Buff & Maroon, Wheels Do (I assume ditto) then Cream, next Buff crossed out and Grey written with the wheels Blk, (black) followed by ? Faun (sic) and Black with Blk wheels. The body is now white with black guards and wheels but from my memory the white was creamier in the 50's. If this was Fawn then it was a very light Fawn !

Cheers, Tony.

From what I can gather my vehicle is most likely a late 1927 chummy made by Melbourne motor body builders, I believe the first owner was a lady in carlton and that it originally had a yellow stripe where the swage line would be. It currently has lucas king of the road headlights which I dont know if they are original, however they have always been mounted on the guards.

Does anyone have any information about Melbourne body builders that could be used to support this theory?

One other thing that might be worth mentioning, My vehicle has an aluminium scuttle with a raised join to the steel rear section at the bottom of the doors. 

Thanks, Luke