Who can guess
 

I took this picture about 35 years ago and wonder who is old enough to remember:

(a) where
(b) what is the vehicle type
(c) who are the two in the picture

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8...8fdb6c4a_b.jpg

A Ford 21A perhaps. A friend had a genuine US Army one which he restored in England some 20 years ago.

Ford is correct
 

This is a genuine one too, and still in existence, relatively low mileage. It was repainted soon after this pic was taken in OD with US stars as I remember.

We always called it the '42 Ford staff car.

Yarra junction ?
 

Bert Barker's 42 staff car ?

I first spotted it on that Fort Queenscliff trip in Oct. 1976

Mike

Thanks Keith.
I will have to find a photo of it. It was a very comfortable ride from what I remember (for a Ford that is ;) )

Yes!
 

It is indeed Bert's staff car, and the year must be about 1976, before that club run which was it's first trip with Bert. It overheated.

And the people?

Another angle
 

Looking toward Warburton...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8...07837732_b.jpg

Hi Keith,
I notice it is right hand drive, was it converted or was it one built for the Australian Army?

Rhd
 

Can't really say for sure, I think it was built that way. Someone else will have an answer!

The person in the white hat and overalls looks like Bert to me . Don't know who the young person is .
The place Bert's garage at Millgrove ???

Bert
 

Correct, it is Bert Barker. The Barker Brothers garage was located in Wesburn, between Yarra Junction and Millgrove, on Warburton Hwy.

That area was a happy hunting ground for CMPs as most of the numerous sawmills had several as yard cranes, log sniggers and the like. Not far from there were a couple of cut down FGT9s, one of which is now in Dubbo! The other, from Gladysdale seems to have disappeared.

Can anyone ID the other head visible? I think I know who it is.

Rhd
 

I would say built RHD , almost 100% certain

Ford here assembled RHD utes and some sedans for the military . The 41 and 42 car based utes were a quick 'mock up' in some ways , the cab was formed from a chopped up sedan body , rather unusual . A VMVC member A. Browne , in Melbourne has a long term ongoing project to restore a Ford 41 car based ute , using the remains of around four he has salvaged . The body work has been a nightmare to say the least , with complicated layers of panels .

Apparently the RAAF used a few of them .

Mike

Thanks Mike,
I thought it was probably not a US military model due to a few details. Must try and find the photo of my friend's 21A.

regards, Richard

Ford
 

Hi Richard

A pic of the rare 41 car based ute , in Townsville from memory .

These were also issued to US units here in OZ . Bert Barkers sister had a yank boyfriend and he used to visit her driving one of these utes . Bert told me that himself .

Mike

Hi Mike,
That is interesting, thanks. When the US military came to England they had some British vehicles, cars included.

Townsville
 

Looking at that Townsville pic, there is a distinct knoll in the background . It would be possible to do a 'now and then' scenario with a pic taken recently of the same location. Only thing is, that intersection is more than likely to be cluttered with modern biuldings . MIKE

Via Coonabarabran even :D