Kiwi CMP to be restored

[Ian Tozer]

Thank you all very much, yes we were aware of a significant find when I saw the plates and worked out what I was looking at.

The panels include the faint outlines of hand brush painted "Mickey Mouse Ear" camoflauge pattern that will be mapped and redone as part of the restoration.

It has 17,200 original miles on the clock, with the rectangular pattern dash.

Photos will be collected again this weekend and posted Sunday (Kiwi time)

The truck has an aura about it that gets everyone who stands near it, there is just something different about it.

We have labelled it "King Rat" at the moment, it fits and when you see the pictures you will understand the reference to a Rat Racer hot rod.

Apart from the rear tray the only parts missing are the water condenser from the left front guard, the holes are still there and the rifle metal racks in the cab.

Both of the wooden blocks where the butt of the .303 sat were still fixed in the cab and will be used to model new ones for the restoration, or may be used as is which is more than likely.

The most mind bending part for me was seeing and hearing her turn over and run at the weekend, just a rewind on the alternator, some new wires and lubricant and away she went.

A head job and valve grind and we are happy campers with the motor.

This truck has been waiting for this.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Michael Mouse's appendages-style camo seems to confirm that this was a British-assembled truck that was then shipped out subsequently. There might even be some form of assembly plant detail somewhere..

I have to say that this is an amazing find and it clearly has been almost around the world.

[Ian Tozer]

Well that was something out of the blue for the weekend.

Here are the picis of the King Rat.

As I said the door markings and Mickey Mouse pattern are vey evident. The highly interesting part that isn't as clear in these pictures is that these were painted on by hand using a brush, overlapping round circles were used a close look at the fourth image will show this effect.

[Ian Tozer]

Now comes the next part. I will return next weekend with a rather suprising find.

Through a friend I got told of (and visited) a local gentlman who has 3 1942-1943 Chev C15A cab 13 CMP's in his shed, in working condition and as original to still be driveable, with rifle racks, rear vision mirrors intact etc. 2 are original motor 6V and one has been dieseled and is 12V.

"Don't Worry" he says, "I have the original motor and parts over there under a tarp." Priceless.

Along with two complete 2J1 bodies. That is complete to the tyre racks, toolboxes, mud flaps and seats. He then apologised that the wood was rotting but shouldn't be hard to fix.

He took the bodies off and left them under an awning off his shed when he converted them to flat deck trays, funny the things you keep on a farm.

He bought these in the late 60's from Otago and ran them on his farm up to a few years back when they were put into the shed.

Then he apologised again and said that he had had a fourth one on his old farm up to last year when he gave it away to someone who had pestered him about it. He said "Should have kept it, you could have had it or free. Now where did I put that beer so I can cry in it.

These trucks are so mint that all of the seats and springs are fine, the rear sliding windows are good. The only thing is the top hatch was removed and plated over, but that is not a biggy.

I have seen more rust in a 10 year old Jap Rice Burner than these three trucks have together.

Pictures and further plate details will be forthcoming after next Saturday when I visit him with the obligatory beers for a session of "Blokes in the Shed" looking at trucks. All of the trucks have their plates.

We have started to talk about sorting one of these fine machines and a body to be restored, my wife is really excited as well about this prospect so things are looking up al around.

Oh, anybody want dimensions etc for the bodies give me a yell, I will be getting as many pics as possible next weekend.

So between that, working in a major Mass Casulaty Accident scenario with our Fire Brigade helping the Ambos do some training (Chopping up rice burners is a great tension release) as well as attending two nasty accidents overnight, my weekend has been fairly normal. NOT.

A shed with three running CMP's in it, and it wasn't a dream.