Australian M816 wrecker build.

[Howard Smith]

John - I am going as "whole hog" as I can... BUT that doesn't include switching to RHD! The purchases of M816's in '71 and '73 were factory LHD - and hence the "Caution Left Hand Drive" stenciling on the rear.
There are other Aussie LHD's - mostly WWII yank stuff.
Here in the States RHD isn't a problem - both my Land Rovers were imported without issue and have never had any problems driving them either.

I can convert the gauges to metric but that question hasn't come up yet in my research - I think Australia went metric from the early '70's to late '80's but as far as military purchases from overseas - not sure.


Pick attached is of "Shakey" at the Puckapunyal Tank Museum. The other wrecker is a M543, Vietnam era, also LHD.
Seen in this pic is the subframe (4"tube) above the drag winch rollers - an inservice mod, when the Mack troop carriers entered service, to switch over to Holmes tow gear from tow bar (Hollebone) and Whiffletree.