What Vehicle do I need?

Shakey985 · #1 24-05-09, 08:12

As some of you would know I am in the process of rebuilding the Sugarloaf Creek Hotel. This is situated 10 miles from the Puckapunyal Military Base, it was renowned as a solders watering hole prior to the Boar war and its down fall was Nashos sneaking out of camp in the 1950s for a quite drink with a borrowed Jeep.

So when I have finished what sort of Military Vehicle should the hotel have?

Keith Webb · #2 24-05-09, 08:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shakey985

As some of you would know I am in the process of rebuilding the Sugarloaf Creek Hotel. This is situated 10 miles from the Puckapunyal Military Base, it was renowned as a solders watering hole prior to the Boar war and its down fall was Nashos sneaking out of camp in the 1950s for a quite drink with a borrowed Jeep.

So when I have finished what sort of Military Vehicle should the hotel have?

What an open choice you have! I think it should be something of a personnel carrier - how about a "Truck, 6 seat utility (Aust)" so you could carry patrons.

Alternately you could of course just slap a coat of light stone in appropriate places to camouflage the MGA.

Richard Coutts-Smith · #3 24-05-09, 10:15

My totally unbiased choice would be one of these, Humber One Ton.
Pic taken at Puka. by a National Serviceman about '56 or '58, I imagine they were doing a few mechanical test drives in that direction.
(Shame about the photographer, caught a severe case of Jeepitis ten years ago, has yet to recover)
Rich

Keith Webb · #4 24-05-09, 10:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

My totally unbiased choice would be one of these, Humber One Ton.
Pic taken at Puka. by a National Serviceman about '56 or '58, I imagine they were doing a few mechanical test drives in that direction.
Rich

This one may have done it's last mechanical test drive I think, possibly is on it's way to Korea now.

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #5 24-05-09, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Alternately you could of course just slap a coat of light stone in appropriate places to camouflage the MGA.

LMAO!! Yeah, that's what I'd go for... a nice desert camo pattern on the MGA! Of course you'd have to rough-sand all those ugly chrome spokes to get the paint to stick, but it would be a labour of love, wouldn't it?

alleramilitaria · #6 25-05-09, 04:48

i would say a M-113 or other closed armored vehicle M-3 / 5 tank etc..

that way it can be on display and outside, also not much to break or steal off it. remember that some people will want to stand on it for photos, and take something to remember it by.

also think about having it on a cement slab with a chain around it with a (do not touch) sign on it to coveryourself from the lawyers.

Jan Thompson · #7 26-05-09, 10:43

We all know how little and 'big' kids can't keep their fingers off military vehicles. Perhaps if you have something up high so people can't climb on it. It might become well known such as the "Big Banana", "Big Oyster" etc. With your Hotel being located near Pucka some sort of Armoured Vehicle would be appropriate. It could be known as the "Big Tank".

alleramilitaria · #8 26-05-09, 20:02

one thing you might think about is making a M-1 from sheet steel and a doner centurian. that has been done over here and it looks good.

Philliphastings · #9 27-05-09, 06:35

Why not a good old MB/GPW Jeep

Small practical easy to maintain and totally in keeping with the legend of the Sugarloaf Creek Hotel ?

Cheers

Phill

Mike K · #10 27-05-09, 12:01

Something like this would be ideal... its a monument the the land clearing scheme at Keith, South Australia .. What a 1952 Land Rover has to do with land clearing, is a tenuous link ...

http://www.redbubble.com/people/bigg.../1606562-1-why

Keith Webb · #11 27-05-09, 12:35

'The big Pucka'

I'll get me coat.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jan Thompson

We all know how little and 'big' kids can't keep their fingers off military vehicles. Perhaps if you have something up high so people can't climb on it. It might become well known such as the "Big Banana", "Big Oyster" etc. With your Hotel being located near Pucka some sort of Armoured Vehicle would be appropriate. It could be known as the "Big Tank".

Shakey985 · #12 27-05-09, 23:23

Thank you for your suggestions’ so far. When I was discharged from the Army 11 years ago, I moved to my current address and was always fascinated by the stone veranda wall all that remained of the famous Sugarloaf Creek Hotel (Glue Pot). About 18 months ago I started to rebuild with a lot of help from the local community, and ex army mates. It has become a lot more involved then when I first started, in away it has become a living history museum with prominence going to the 2/8th Armoured Regiment as they made it there home away from home during the second world war and the 2 locals that were in the Boar war. I have no intention of ever getting a licence to sell alcohol, and the pub is not money making venture more a men’s shed but females are allowed, at one end there was a ladies parlour and this will return once I finish building the open fire place.

Any vehicle that I acquire must be capable of replacing my current Ute and doing the tasks that it is currently required to do, a bonus would be to carry more passengers.

Pre WW2 to 1957 is the age range (the pub was delicensed in1957). A story that a local told me was that some time during the war he and his sister were coming home from school and they had to detour through the paddocks’ due to over 80 Army trucks parked along both sides of the road and hundreds of solders having a quite beer.

One day I hope to recreate this.