"This scarce 1941-1942 Shop Manual is a comprehensive factory service publication covering Chevrolet Passenger Cars as well as Chevrolet, Maple Leaf, and GMC Trucks, reflecting the breadth of General Motors' North American vehicle range immediately prior to and during the early years of the Second World War. Compiled originally by General Motors Products of Canada Ltd. (Oshawa, Ontario) and reprinted locally by General Motors-Holden's Ltd., Melbourne, in June 1944, it was produced specifically for use in Australia, with notes acknowledging variations between Canadian, U.S., and Australian-built vehicles. The manual stands as an important technical bridge between international GM engineering standards and local Holden service practice during a period of wartime scarcity and adaptation.
Internally, the manual is densely illustrated and methodically organised, providing detailed technical coverage across all major mechanical systems. Sections include general lubrication, frame and suspension, brakes, engine (with lubrication, fuel and cooling systems), transmission, rear axle assembly, steering, wheels and tyres, chassis sheet metal, and electrical systems and instruments. Cutaway diagrams, exploded component views, specifications, and step-by-step repair procedures are presented in the clear, utilitarian style typical of wartime-era factory manuals, intended for professional mechanics rather than owners. Particularly notable is its inclusion of Maple Leaf trucks and GMC commercial vehicles, which were widely used in Australia for both civilian and military purposes.
Surviving copies are increasingly uncommon, especially complete examples retaining original wartime paper, printing, and technical plates. As a locally reprinted Holden service manual tied directly to Australia's wartime automotive infrastructure, this volume holds strong historical and technical significance beyond its mechanical content alone. It would appeal especially to pre-war and wartime Chevrolet restorers, GMC and Maple Leaf truck enthusiasts, Holden historians, automotive archivists, and collectors of original factory workshop manuals."
