Blitz's near me

[zemsi]

Hi Lionel

Blitz is actually a German word and means "lightning, flash, thunderbolt" etc. The term "Blitzkrieg" has been also used for the early German WW2 attacks on France, Holland etc.

Until I went for the first time to Australia, for me a Blitz truck was always a German Opel Blitz. They were the backbone of the WW2 German Army. Opel belongs to GM since 1929. That's probably why the term "Blitz" swapped over the pound.

Greetings
Chris

[Lionelgee]

Originally Posted by zemsi

Hi Lionel

Blitz is actually a German word and means "lightning, flash, thunderbolt" etc. The term "Blitzkrieg" has been also used for the early German WW2 attacks on France, Holland etc.

Until I went for the first time to Australia, for me a Blitz truck was always a German Opel Blitz. They were the backbone of the WW2 German Army. Opel belongs to GM since 1929. That's probably why the term "Blitz" swapped over the pound.

Greetings
Chris

G'day Chris,

Thanks for the interpretation Chris - the backbone of both sides war efforts are different trucks named a blitz ...I think is called irony.

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

G'day Chris,

Thanks for the interpretation Chris - the backbone of both sides war efforts are different trucks named a blitz ...I think is called irony.

Kind Regards
Lionel

I think it was the Brits and Aussies 'taking the piss' really.

They were also called 'Blitz Buggies', 'Blitz Wagons' and 'Desert Blitz.'

[Willanthry]

In my search for parts for my own Blitz, I've also come across several Blitzes and other trucks in this part of the world; the trouble is, for most of them i found them too late! There's a Ford Blitz out near Mossgiel that has been sitting there for an age, but according to the bloke whose place it's on, has been sold to a fellow who is "gonna do it up" eventually. The bloke pops out occasionally to make sure it's still there, but doesn't take it away!

There were also several more Blitzes that made their way from the direction of Ivanhoe on the back of Scrappy trucks, some in fairly good nick, and another that was a mere 15km away from me, and I didn't know about it until it too had been sold to the Scrappies!

Down at Willanthry, where i got my Blitz, there's the remains of a Studebaker 6X6 (no wheels, no engine) that had been a firetruck, and a bit further up the road there's a Diamond Reo in not too shabby nick that was also a Willanthry fire engine. So all in all, these trucks are everywhere, but you really do have to look out for them!

[hrpearce]

Another truck has turned up near me

[motto]

Hi Robert.
Reos such as the one that you photographed are a Studebaker US6 by another name. They are appear to be identical to the Stude except for the identification they carry.
Studebaker built trucks are identified in four places. Nomenclature plate on the dash, Badge in the center of the horn button, chassis plate attached to outside of chassis l/h side below battery and the word Studebaker cast on the manifold twice in large letters with the company logo between.
The Reo has the first three but the manifold is blank.
What the relationship was between the two companies I don't know but the different manifold suggests that they were sourcing their parts independently.
The scattering of Reos in among the Studes in Australia also suggests that the were indiscriminantly mixed up in delivery and certainly in service.
David