Topic: Solved - NEH 2748: 1938 Vauxhall Wyvern Caleche built by Holden 1940 on Bedford 5 cwt Carryall Ute

[Carnut]

What's this car?  For the point I need to know its name, who built it, when it was built and what it was based on!

ANYONE FOUND GIVING ANSWERS OBTAINED BY USING GOOGLE SEARCH BY IMAGE MAY BE BANNED FOR AN INDETERMINATE PERIOD!

[Carnut]

Experts?

[nicanary]

1938 Vauxhall Wyvern H-series Caleche. Bodied by Holden in Australia, and based on what was known on the UK as the Vauxhall 10/4.

I don't think the Wyvern designation was used in the UK until the post-war L-Series, but I could be wrong. This car was the subject of an article in Classic and Sportscar within the last couple of years, which is how I solved it so fast.

[Carnut]

1938 Vauxhall Wyvern H-series Caleche. Bodied by Holden in Australia, and based on what was known on the UK as the Vauxhall 10/4.

I don't think the Wyvern designation was used in the UK until the post-war L-Series, but I could be wrong. This car was the subject of an article in Classic and Sportscar within the last couple of years, which is how I solved it so fast.

So far so good.
Although based on a 1938 vehicle (what exactly?; not a 10/4 according to my information) when was this built?
Locked for you to have another look!

[nicanary]

Whoops. To add to my embarassment, I can't find the info from which I originally quoted, so I can't authenticate my facts.

Anyhoo..... This particular Caleche was based on a 1st series 12hp power-source, and built on a Bedford chassis. Date given is 1940.

[Carnut]

Whoops. To add to my embarassment, I can't find the info from which I originally quoted, so I can't authenticate my facts.

Anyhoo..... This particular Caleche was based on a 1st series 12hp power-source, and built on a Bedford chassis. Date given is 1940.

No need to be embarrassed because you now have the right car, the right name, the right chassis date and date of the re-body, the right body-builder and the fact it's based on a Bedford chassis.

All that's needed for that point now is what kind of a Bedford is it based on?!

Locked for you..

[nicanary]

Bedford 5/6cwt HC van. Phew, got there!

[Carnut]

Bedford 5/6cwt HC van. Phew, got there!

Almost!
I have something slightly different (it wasn't exactly a van and it had a name...)

[nicanary]

I guess you're thinking of the HC Carryall which was a coupe/pickup a.k.a a Ute.

Reading Jon Pressnell's article in C & SC, I read it that they were using their experience of building on the Carryall chassis, to adapt the standard HC frame for the Caleche. The Carryall frame was slightly longer. Having said that, journalistic articles are notorious for being misleading.

[Carnut]

I guess you're thinking of the HC Carryall which was a coupe/pickup a.k.a a Ute.

Reading Jon Pressnell's article in C & SC, I read it that they were using their experience of building on the Carryall chassis, to adapt the standard HC frame for the Caleche. The Carryall frame was slightly longer. Having said that, journalistic articles are notorious for being misleading.

That is indeed what I was looking for.
I don't have the advantage of the C&SC article in front of me, but I do have a different one which states this car was based on a Carryall Ute, so that's what I'm sticking to!

I think generally C&SC is pretty good, but I'm sure they're not beyond the odd journalistic error or two; neither am I, come to that!