[Lang]

Steve,

Thanks for your reply. When I said my vehicle was a "rare" model I was responding to an overseas enquiry. They are extremely rare overseas having been made nowhere else in the world and never commercially exported but can not be called anything like that in Australia - they are the most common of the 40's 1/2 ton utes of any make by a long shot having been produced through the war and for two years afterwards. You would find few issues of "Just Cars" that did not have at least one of these Chev utes in it.

I think you might be a little precious taking the high moral ground when you intimate the people going on the trip see their vehicles in dollar value. Almost all of them have a long history of military vehicle restoration and between the group I would not be surprised if over a hundred vehicles have been saved and restored over the years. I have never met a restorer (as compared to a ready made buy and sell type owner) who has genuinely made money on a vehicle if they place any value at all on their time - most don't even get their actual outlay back. As far as I am aware everyone on the trip has as much or more interest, respect and love of our history as you do. Most are not wealthy and some are forced to sell their vehicles to fund a trip of a lifetime. What will it be - a trip across the world promoting Australia's military history or driving around the block 3 times on ANZAC day once a year? I don't think anyone should judge them.

When I was talking about hotrods I never mentioned anything about importing them. My comments on importing referred to quality historical vehicles. My comments on hotrods referred to hundreds of these guys combing the Australian countryside, paying top dollar, dumping all the running gear and chopping the bodies of often extremely rare complete vehicles.

The more well heeled of these people go out and buy beautifully restored vintage cars and destroy them the same. They have the most wonderful workmanship but finish up with a one man mongrel that many observers admire for a couple of years but do not wish to purchase so the parts get used on the next project often dumping what remained of the original historic car.

I am interested in your comments on Jeep Club members owning 90% ex-Australian forces vehicles but having 90% marked with USA colours - there are even blitzs with US markings floating around. I have never understood this - is this preserving Australian history?

I figure what we are doing on this trip, even if everybody sells their vehicles (which is not going to happen - I think 3 or 4 out of the 15) is promoting awareness of our military history within Australia and across the world more than a hundred jeeps with American markings driving in a parade on ANZAC day in Sydney.

I know at least two of our people are looking at bringing back in military vehicles of a type used in small numbers by Australian forces overseas but now very scarce or extinct in Australia. Lose one of a thousand+ jeeps, blitzs or Chevs still active in Australia to give people a look at a type seldom seen or no longer here (even if that particular vehicle never carried Australian markings) I think is good value.

Anyhow we all have our opinions and it is good thing too! MLU forum is an excellent place to voice them.

Lang