GPA wanted in Australia to build Half-Safe Replica

[Hanno Spoelstra]

It would have to be a very delapitated GPA to be wasted on such a TV program. The GPA community is very conscious of getting most if not all of the wrecks restored to original condition.
Erik Jostad had a GPA for sale with a similar history ("Tortuga" - see http://fordgpa.xsbb.nl/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=814504), which he advertised for €40.000. It was sold and I would not be surprised if it is converted back to mil spec. Another converted GPA in Canada awaits the same fate.

But as with anything jeep, GPA parts are being reproduced. I would advise them to buy the repro parts they need and do their engineering experiment with that.

[Mike K]

Half Safe was on display in MYERS department store in Melbourne around 1955 . The Carlins' would do this sort of thing in order to raise much needed funds . I believe Ben was signing copies of the book at the time. I'm not sure if his other half was with him at this point in time.

re: the first book - reading between the lines , he did like his booze and I think his missus became disgruntled and fed up with it all .

Ben Carlin died around the same time as the initial Corowa was held in 1980 . I think he lived out his later years in Birmingham UK , but not sure . Imagine if he had lived longer than the relatively young age he made it to ( 68 ? ) and he made it to a Corowa .

Mike

[Jan Thompson]

Alex recently spoke to Boye De Mente. He is aware of the cost involved and has spoken to a few GPA owners in Australia. I visited the Guildford Grammar School with Bob Dimer a few years after Half-Safe was at Corowa and I had a work colleague whose boyfriend went to the Guildford Grammar School and witnessed the vehicle being pushed into a pool.

When there was a suggestion to have the vehicle over at Corowa for our 20th Annual GPA Swim-In we had to raise funds to cover costs. There were a number of generous military vehicle owners who helped by donating money. Budget also came to the party to help with the transport. Unfortunately Bob Dimer is no longer with us and he did all the mechanical work prior to the trip to make is roadworthy. The vehicle received TV coverage and took part in the parade through Corowa. I feel very honoured to have been given a chance to drive the vehicle and have some appreciation of what some of the journey must have been like. There is no way I would want to go into the water in it.

One thing I would like is to see if we can get it back to Corowa in 2019 for our 40th Year.

In 1999 we received successful confirmation of a new Guinness World Record for 'The largest gathering of Ford GPA amphibious vehicles since the Second world War was 16, at the 20th National GPA Swim-in, organised by Jan Thompson, Maureen Bell, Jennifer Bennie and Roger Ross (all Australia), which took place in Corowa, NSW, Australia on 13th March 1999'.

[lynx42]

In 1999, I had the great experience of being allowed by Bob Dimer to drive Half-Safe around Ball Park Caravan Park. Thank you Bob, not too many people have driven a vehicle which has circumnavigated the world mostly under its own steam.

Here are the photos taken that day 13th March 1999.

The line up with Half-Safe as no.1. Have a look at no.2. That is the Wilsons honey-moon vehicle.

img034.jpg

Left 3/4 photo. .

img035.jpg

Check out the driving position and compare the drivers seat position with the previous photo. That is right, right back at the last of the side windows.

img036.jpg

Taken through the rear hatch. It's a long way to the front.

img037.jpg

16 year old son Michael had a ride as well.

img038.jpg

Regards Rick.

[lynx42]

Here are the covers of the two books by Ben Carlin, 'Half-Safe Across the Atlantic by Jeep" published in 1955, and "The Other Half of Half-Safe" published by the Guildford Grammar School Foundation Inc. in 1989. (ISBN 0 9598731 1 2)

img039.jpg img040.jpg

img041.jpg img043.jpg

I have 3 copies of Half-Safe, one for each of my sons and a signed one for me.
Regards Rick

[lynx42]

A couple of stills from the Pathe film clip.

Not much free board.

images.britishpathe.com3.jpg images.britishpathe.com2.jpg images.britishpathe.com.jpg

With Elinore and Ben in Melbourne at the bow of Half-Safe.

Regards Rick.

[Jan Thompson]

Thanks Rick for sharing the photos.

Alex Cullen and Channel 7 are going to San Francisco on 15th February and he would like to make contact with a GPA owner over there. I have put a post on MLU to see if there is anyone out there who can help.

I will catch up with Alex and the Channel 7 crew prior to this so we can discuss any questions the crew may have.

I would like to get a list of possible GPA's which may come to Corowa. I have a couple of entries and it would be good to entice a few others along.

[Bob Carriere]

..... how did he manage the fuel issues during the long hauls..... even if following a coast line most of the way...... how much could he safely carry or was he refueled???

Just curious

Bob C

[Mike K]

Originally Posted by lynx42

A couple of stills from the Pathe film clip.

Not much free board.

Attachment 79099

Attachment 79100

Attachment 79101

With Elinore and Ben in Melbourne at the bow of Half-Safe.

Regards Rick.

They are both smiling for the camera so at least they were still on speaking terms , she must have cleared off just after this movie was done. Apparently she never remarried and she never spoke of the trip to anyone Mike

[Jan Thompson]

A GPA has been sourced and the owner is looking for internal photos to complete the interior. If anyone has some please email them to me: kveinc@optusnet.com.au

I have a few and I am sure there must be others out there.