Vehicle parks in Oz

[cliff]

The vehicle is front is a rare Australian airborne GMC converted from GMC-CCKW352's by Holden in Melbourne for both the US Army and the Australian Forces. The US one's had tipper bodies on them whereas most or all of the Australian ones were just straight cargo bodies. If anyone has any information on these vehicles Please let me know.

Caption
ID Number: 114586
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. 1945-08-25. VIEW OF 10TH ORDNANCE VEHICLE PARK SHOWING JEEPS AND TRUCKS PARKED AMONG WRECKED OIL TANKS.

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by cliff

The vehicle is front is a rare Australian airborne GMC converted from GMC-CCKW352's by Holden in Melbourne for both the US Army and the Australian Forces. The US one's had tipper bodies on them whereas most or all of the Australian ones were just straight cargo bodies. If anyone has any information on these vehicles Please let me know.

Caption
ID Number: 114586
Physical description: Black & white
Summary: BALIKPAPAN, BORNEO. 1945-08-25. VIEW OF 10TH ORDNANCE VEHICLE PARK SHOWING JEEPS AND TRUCKS PARKED AMONG WRECKED OIL TANKS.

Cliff, I found the front half of one of those .. in a wrecking yard at Laurel Hill , near Batlow in NSW. The yard owner let me grab the Aust. brass ID plate from the cab. The cab had a crude pram top like folding bow set up.. it was very crude how they ( GMH ) cut the cabs down.. I believe that they were hard top cabs cut down. Silly me.. I gave the I.D. plate to somebody . My pic of it appeared in a W & T article years ago ..

Mike

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Cliff, I found the front half of one of those .. in a wrecking yard at Laurel Hill , near Batlow in NSW. The yard owner let me grab the Aust. brass ID plate from the cab. The cab had a crude pram top like folding bow set up.. it was very crude how they ( GMH ) cut the cabs down.. I believe that they were hard top cabs cut down. Silly me.. I gave the I.D. plate to somebody . My pic of it appeared in a W & T article years ago ..

Mike

Yes these Airborne GMC's were cut down full cabs and the rear deck also split in half as did the chassis behind the cab. One truck disassembled made up two C47 plane loads. This is one vehicle I am very interested in and I'd love to see a real one one day.

The photo below is of a 1/35 scale model I made at one stage.

[Keith Webb]

The AWM has quite a few pics of North Ryde such as these Wireless Signals and Portees:

[jim sewell]

Upon seeing the line up of these vans I feel a little sick as I have been trying to collect enough parts to make one , where did they all go to ?
Smaller wheels to be fitted next.
Regards
Jim S.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by jim sewell

Upon seeing the line up of these vans I feel a little sick as I have been trying to collect enough parts to make one , where did they all go to ?
Smaller wheels to be fitted next.
Regards
Jim S.

Nice work Jim! Looks like you have the WO73 as opposed to the WO12 version. I had a borrowed WO12 for about a year in 1976 which had 20" wheels. With the 6.5 diffs it was a pretty good highway truck although it ran out of puff on hills somewhat. It had the cab wall removed and another added near the rear wheel arch with a long range fuel tank and passenger seat similar to a gun tractor.
I've always been fond of that shape and have a No9 FGT now.

[jim sewell]

Thanks Kieth , yes it is a WO 73 , what is the difference between the WO 12 and the 73 ?
Have been getting this ready for Lang's trip overseas and will fit the 20'' rims wth the 8.25x20 tyres and coupled to the 6.2 diff to try and obtain the best ecomony as possible.
Regards
Jim S.

[Lang]

Originally Posted by cliff

Yes these Airborne GMC's were cut down full cabs and the rear deck also split in half as did the chassis behind the cab. One truck disassembled made up two C47 plane loads. This is one vehicle I am very interested in and I'd love to see a real one one day.

The photo below is of a 1/35 scale model I made at one stage.

Cliff,

Jad Dennis in Brisbane has just collected the final bits for his airborne GMC and it is expected to be on the road next year. He has just about everything from a real original, not modified from a standard GMC to fit his project.

Lang

[cliff]

Originally Posted by Lang

Cliff,

Jad Dennis in Brisbane has just collected the final bits for his airborne GMC and it is expected to be on the road next year. He has just about everything from a real original, not modified from a standard GMC to fit his project.

Lang

Lang I'd love some photos especially of the chassis splice if possible. No hurry just want to add to the data I have here on them.