Quote:
Originally posted by David_Hayward
It is thus quite possible that Ford of Australia stored 1943 components, perhaps with a view to using them as service replacements, and then built them up post-war when required for military or civilian use.
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Exactly. Like you said, this is basically a kit of parts
(*) - not a complete truck - manufactured in 1943 and shipped to Australia to be completed there. For some reason, there was no immediate need to put it together right there and then, so was stored for future use, which moment did not come until after the war. The "Jeep in the crate" is not a myth!
Please bear in mind that during the latter part of the war more equipment was built than needed, really. It was from these stocks the rebuilding of Armies and transport systems in devastated countries took place after the war. Our American friends still suffer under a law put in place by an automobile manufacturer's lobby prohibiting the re-importation of Lend-Lease equipment. This was done because the biggest threat to the US home truck market were new or as-new vehicles released by the Armed Forces.
H.
(*) For Fords this should have included: all chassis, mechanicals, cab floor/lower cab frame, upper (windscreen) cab frame, doors, windscreen frames, front shell, wheels; the rest being manufactured locally in Australia (source).