RL Bedford

[David Ellery]

A couple of pics of my latest purchase a RL Bedford and 1 ton trailer. Both are ex NZ Army. The bedfords a runner but needs a bit of mechanicals to bring up to road worthiness and a new paint job. The trailers wooden floor needs replacing as with the tyres otherwise a good sand down, some paint and she'll be good as new. David....

[Lynn Eades]

So what does it need done to it David?

[JackM]

Hi David,

I was introduced to these trucks, during a "Tasman Exchange" exercise we did in 1980, based at Burnham Camp. Never been so cold as I was then at Tekapo !

I noted that the vehicles had a fair bit of body rust but relatively few miles on the clock.


Jack

[David Ellery]

Hi Jack, Yes Tekapo can get very cold, it would be a good area to be driving these trucks around though. Lynn, this vehicle has been parked for quite awhile as brakes and clutch needed freeing. The clutch needs to be pulled as sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't, broken spring? the release bearing works ok. Brakes need a look at especially for obtaining a COF otherwise she drives really well. Cab panels are ok a bit of rust where you would expect it but not bad at all. So there's not to much to do hopefully and I can get back out on the road.
Cheers David....

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Nice one David
Passed up a couple of these a over the years, which is a shame as I have now developed a soft spot for them. Always reminded me of a Michelin Man with all those curves on the cab. What was the opinion of these as a vehicle overall ? None of my reference books cover these in any way. Does anyone know if they served in the Aus. Army, or even trialled?
Just remembered where I have seen one languishing in a paddock not too far away. Crane jib and no tray.
Rich.

[David Ellery]

Hi Richard, I really like the RL's, used to always see them in convoy heading somewhere when I was a kid. They are also a very nice truck to drive, high of the ground, syncro box and a powerful engine, although hungry for fuel. Everyone I've spoken to who drove them in service has fond memories of them and one comment was they were seen as the sports car of the transport pool. The good thing with those still around here is that they have very low miles on the clock, the not so good part is they rust out badly. David....

[David Ellery]

Heres a couple of pics of a very nice RL that lives around the corner form me. cheers David...

[David Ellery]

RL Cab

[Mike K]

Is that Ross Jowitt's RL ?

Mike

[David Ellery]

Hi Mike. no this truck belongs to Nick Huljich, and is a very tidy truck. Ross put me onto the RL I've got, I haven't seen his RL and am not sure if its on the road yet.
Heres another pic of Nicks RL. cheers David...

[Mike K]

Ross rebuilt the motor in his RL . I am pretty sure its on the road .

This is his latest project .. nice restoration of a NZ army 80" LR .

Mike

[Mike K]

you could eat your dinner off the motor

[Mike K]

cab detail

[jim sewell]

Very nice restoration , a lot of attention to detail , a credit to the owner/restorer.
Well done you have to admire this kind of work.
Regards
Jim S.

[Phil Waterman]

Originally posted by David Ellery
Heres a couple of pics of a very nice RL that lives around the corner form me. cheers David...

Hi David,

I'm curious, for those us from other parts of the world where distances have different relative meanings, what does “just around the corner from me” mean in New Zealand?

(Opps just edited this as I had misplaced you as being in Australia, but distances are still relative 50-100-1000 miles in a MV a different ride.)

You’re right that is a nice looking rig.

Cheers from cold and snowy New Hampshire.

[lynx42]

Your right, Phil, on two counts. It is a credit to the restorer AND just around the corner certainly means something different over here in OZ. Just last month I was in Broken Hill NSW, and was invited to visit a new friend at Pooncarrie NSW, "JUST DOWN THE ROAD". It was 265 km of rough sand and gravel roads through some of the roughest farming country around. They run 1 sheep to 9 acres up there and the rain level is about 5 inches a year. Fortunately they have good artesian water for the stock.
Rick

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Back to the RL for a Moment
Those doors get my award for the most "Complicated Design Award". They really are a work of art. Got a pic. of the door itself in the open position?
BTW, never seen "Sportscar" and "Bedford" in the same sentence before.
Rich.

[David Ellery]

Gidday Phil, Just around the corner in this case means just that, I can walk to nicks place in 10 minutes. Yes distances here in NZ are quite different to you larger land masses, we are an island nation, where I live I can swim in the Pacific then drive across town and take a dip in the Tasman within 45 minutes.
You can drive from one end of the country to the other in approx 2 days although a CMP would take a bit longer
Seasons greetings from sunny New Zealand.

[Lynn Eades]

This is the Mount beach, the country is a little wider here.
This is 15 minutes from where I live,and about 3 hours south of where David lives. Heres another shot of it from ANZAC day morning

[Lynn Eades]

From the top of Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty.

[JackM]

Originally posted by Lynn Eades
From the top of Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty.

Lynn,

You'd better hope that, despite the number of politicians attending the Bali climate change conference, something actually gets done or you're in line for soggy feet !


Jack

[Lynn Eades]

Some questions;
Is global warming a natural phenomenon? or is it caused by man?
How much has the sea risen on the Perth coast in your life time?
Are you aware that Greenland was so called because 1000 years ago it was farmed. Is it farmed now or is it now frozen?
Next question. Where is this thread going?

[JackM]

Lynn,

Obviously my post was offensive - it wasn't meant to be. Just a poor sense of humour I guess.

My apologies.

Jack

[Lynn Eades]

Jack,No apologies needed, No offence taken. As you raised it, I was just trying to walk sofly into the debate without upsetting anyone.
Probably this forum is not the place for it though, as opinions are as varied as the number of people, and it polarises people very quickly.
Have a great christmas Jack