Greece to Normandy Convoy '09

[jim sewell]

What is the availability of spare parts either NOS or second hand in Europe , ( Turkey, Greece , Italy and France) for WW 2 vehicles that we will be using on the Gallipoli to Normandy run . Vehicles that are participating are Chevs , Fords, Dodges, Studebaker, Jeeps and a Harley D. Some of the Chevs have 1950's motors fitted ie 235's .
Were any Chev trucks imported into Europe after the war as in the 1950's ?

It would be handy to know of any sources that maybe available in case of emergencies .
Thanks
Regards
Jim S
C15 Wireless Van

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

SO.... the Big Question - who's going along to document this marvelous enterprise? Lang, I do so hope you left some room for our Keefy on this - he's rather good at it, y'know!

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

SO.... the Big Question - who's going along to document this marvelous enterprise? Lang, I do so hope you left some room for our Keefy on this - he's rather good at it, y'know!

Geoff, both myself and a producer went to great lengths to pitch this to TV networks here last year and they couldn't have been less interested.

It frankly disappoints me how complete crap is funded for television while interesting and significant events such as this are ignored. And it's not as though the organisers and crew are amateurs either.

[Lang]

Jif,

Keith did his best but as he said, hit brick walls.

We have a few HD and SD cameras with us and if we shoot a million hours there might be something mixed with original historic footage that can be done.

Making movies is the last priority so I suppose we will see what we have at the end - at least something to bore the grandkids with.

Lang

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Lang

Jif,

Keith did his best but as he said, hit brick walls.

We have a few HD and SD cameras with us and if we shoot a million hours there might be something mixed with original historic footage that can be done.

Making movies is the last priority so I suppose we will see what we have at the end - at least something to bore the grandkids with.

Lang

Keefy, I'm so sorry about that... this seems to be almost ideal for you! You're quite right ref your judgment about the trash that the networks DO show these days... this would appeal to a great percentage of the Silent Majority, methinks...

Lang... I saw your Peking-Paris thingy on Discovery and thought it was wonderful - I'm only sorry I didn't record it. I haven't seen your Vimy episode yet but am watching for it... it WILL show up again eventually! The thing is, with those in mind, why not this adventure too? It doesn't make any sense...

[Snowy]

For everyone involved, have a good and safe trip, and looking forward to hearing about as many of these historic australian military vehicles returning home as possible - so our grandkids can get to drive them not just watch them on a screen.

Steve.

[Lang]

Originally Posted by Snowy

For everyone involved, have a good and safe trip, and looking forward to hearing about as many of these historic australian military vehicles returning home as possible - so our grandkids can get to drive them not just watch them on a screen.

Steve.

Steve,

A number of the vehicles are going to be sold (including mine). I don't really have a problem with common types such as these leaving the country because we live in a global village.

Information from someone who works with the the Moveable Heritage people who issued our export permits indicates there are nearly twice as many veteran, vintage and classic cars coming into Australia as are going out. One of our vehicles was a protected object and must be returned.

Several of our members have brought in historic vehicles from overseas (I have brought in 5 and if I sell my Normandy Chev it will only make 2 I have exported. I have also brought in 7 rare vintage aircraft and exported 2).

I think people who are worried about a few dozen vehicles a year going out of the country should look at the hotrod people who are destroying thousands of historic vehicles a year!

[Snowy]

Lang,
I appreciate your reply and thanks for taking my comment sincerely. Earlier in this thread you said "I am working on a very rare Australian built vehicle. Should be nice and comfortable." for this trip, yet you've just said "A number of the vehicles are going to be sold (including mine). I don't really have a problem with common types such as these" and that it's not coming back. But I'm confused, it's gone from "very rare" to "common" in the same thread?

You mentioned at a club meeting some months ago as a counterargument to me that vehicles are coming into the country all the time, and you raise it again here in your reply. This doesn't sit as easily with me as perhaps others who look at their vehicles from a dollar value aspect, I even hesitate to say it's somewhat disingenuous. Why? Because these imported vehicles don't have an australian military history. They are just some other countries' vehicles, not our vehicles. Not our history.

One of the great pleasures of owning an australian historic military vehicle - to the distinct envy of HMV restorers in other countries - is that we are so very very lucky that we do have records of them, sometimes of their use, and often of their subsequent disposal. How many of us have visited the AWM and experienced the excitement and thrill of finding our vehicle listed in the well-thumbed journals, or detailed in a report? I have, and friends have done that for my other vehicles too. For example a four-page army report on the testing of the two australian army Weasels has recently emerged for the sole surviving example we are rebuilding. To me that's what makes these vehicles special. That's just not possible for any import. Or since you mentioned it from left-field, hotrods. If importing ten hotrods meant more to me than the export of one jeep then surely I would be hanging out on a Hotrod Board, not posting on this Board.

Before each Anzac Day the call goes out at club meetings to supply enough vehicles for the marches and there never seem to be enough to meet demand, the diggers have to wait in line while the jeeps or Blitzes go around and around. I'm lined up for three marches this Saturday myself. A few more jeeps would not go astray here, we don't have a surplus.

Now I will declare like you I've imported four vehicles myself from overseas so perhaps some may consider me hypocritical or even selfish, but for vehicles that have a tie to our military history and have left our shores, they're... gone. Never to grace our Canungras and Corowas, our historic displays, our swap meets, our Anzac Day marches ever again. So yes, I am saddened at such a mass export. We may own these pieces of rolling history in a financial sense, but we are all just temporary custodians as they pass through our hands for future generations of australian HMV enthusiasts to enjoy.

Anyway - I've got that off my chest as it's been bugging me for some time. Have a good trip and looking forward to your report at a club meeting.

Steve.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Lang

Jif,

Keith did his best but as he said, hit brick walls.

We have a few HD and SD cameras with us and if we shoot a million hours there might be something mixed with original historic footage that can be done.

Making movies is the last priority so I suppose we will see what we have at the end - at least something to bore the grandkids with.

Lang

Perhaps it can be moved to the second-last priority I think the most interesting approach will be if people can keep some sort of video diary - not just of sights and scenes but also of their expectations from the beginning and their impressions of the trip as it unfolds... that way we may be able to create something from what is shot... and remember to shoot from tripods where you can, avoid zooming and hosepiping!

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

Perhaps it can be moved to the second-last priority I think the most interesting approach will be if people can keep some sort of video diary - not just of sights and scenes but also of their expectations from the beginning and their impressions of the trip as it unfolds... that way we may be able to create something from what is shot... and remember to shoot from tripods where you can, avoid zooming and hosepiping!

Oh ferchrissakes, Keefy... just go with them and show them how it's done!