Sharing a shed

[DaveBuckle]

While picking up a motor for a project - found this ol timer sharing the shed - what is it?
Seems to have blackout lights and military style dash setup.
Truck1.jpg Interior.jpg Light.jpg

[Leon Hassing]

Hello Dave.

It seems to me to be a Mack EH.
Only the cab is not standard I think.

Should look like this.

[DaveBuckle]

Thanks Leon - yes, up until cab/doors seems to be it.
Apparently it will soon be up for sale - not enough room in my shed tho ...

[Tony Smith]

Nice.

With a 158" wb, it's only as big as a C60L or F60L, Dave!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

That's a rare beast... maybe 500 or so built?

Surely someone must have a soft spot for it.

[DaveBuckle]

Thanks gentlemen for the input. Only 500?! - who made and used them?
Intriguing (like so many others) - I can make enquiries if any one is interested.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Dave,

Just checked the details in Bart Vanderveen’s book on Macks:

It’s the military pattern semi-tactical variant of the EH 5-tonner for Defense Aid distribution. 3,450 5-ton trucks with 170-in wheelbase were made in the USA during 1943-1944. 2,400 of these were supplied to Britain under S/M 2428.
Of the 5-ton tractor with 146-in wheelbase only 50 were built. They were delivered in 1943. Some of these were used by the Royal Navy in Australia.

Check the wheelbase so you know if it was a truck or tractor originally.

[Mike K]

Saw one of these EH trucks unrestored, in Tasmania in the hands of the chap at Quamby Bluff near Deloraine, I had a EH parts book that he bought from me. He also had the ex Clemons Thornycroft workshop 6X4 that was featured in W&T magazine and other odd military vehicles . Wonder what became of his collection ? Can't think of his name but he also had a FWD HAR with a AWC number plate on the cab side and the remains of a British pattern bren carrier and a Cletrac airfield tractor.

[Ian Patrick]

That would be the Westbury Tractor Wreckers. The tractors and tractor wrecks were sold at an auction in April 2018 but the other vehicles weren't part of the sale. I didn't see the Mack (or wouldn't have recognised it in any case) or the Cletrac but I did see the Thorneycroft, FWD, British carrier, a GMC, a SWB Blitz and the remains of a Ferret scout car. I assume they're all still there. There were a few closed sheds which probably held the other good stuff not in the auction.

[Tony Smith]

Seem to be a hardy truck, this one's still working for a living after 75 years:

https://www.facebook.com/Brisbanetod...2322474843807/

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by Ian Patrick

That would be the Westbury Tractor Wreckers. The tractors and tractor wrecks were sold at an auction in April 2018 but the other vehicles weren't part of the sale. I didn't see the Mack (or wouldn't have recognised it in any case) or the Cletrac but I did see the Thorneycroft, FWD, British carrier, a GMC, a SWB Blitz and the remains of a Ferret scout car. I assume they're all still there. There were a few closed sheds which probably held the other good stuff not in the auction.

Ah interesting. Think his name is Graham ? Bussey or similar . When I was down there around 1990 he ran the Deloraine car wreckers , I drove out to his property near Quamby Bluff and he showed me around . The Cletrac he recovered, he told me it was left in the bush by loggers and he got it with the salvage rights as it had been left for many years abandoned.

Used to be a military vehicle museum in Deloraine run by the Clemons brothers, they moved the museum to a tourist park just outside Launceston, I visited that Launceston setup in 1988 , they had a running bren carrier for kids to ride in and the Thorny and other vehicles on static display , the venture didnt last very long, the vehicle collection was all sold by auction and that's where Bussey bought the Thorny. They also had a Diamond T wrecker purchased straight from the army surplus sales