Australian Roadster cab utes
 

I have a 39,40 and 41 Australian Ford utes with roadster cabs.
I was not aware that roadster cabs were continued into the Ford jailbar model.
This one has popped up on Gumtree for sale.
It certainly looks authentic although some oddity around the rear panel.
Can the front sheet metal be swapped perhaps onto a 41 cab?
Is anyone able to add any other evidence that the roadster continued onto the jailbar model.

Hi Jack, just looked through my Ford and M/H photos but could only find full cab versions of the Jailbar Ford. But I do remember seeing a few photos of canvas topped ones but I think they may have been Indian pattern.

I'll trawl through the stuff I have as it is all on a new PC and a different version of windows which I am not used to. :giveup

You may be onto something there Cliff about this vehicle being the remains of something other than a roadster ute. Not sure what though.
Information on Australian roadster utes is very scarce. I have never seen a manual or drivers handbook specific to them. Photos are not even common and those that I have located don’t reveal an awful lot of detail. I have searched a lot of sources for what I do have but have never seen a 42 ute other than above.

Just went through most of my stuff and no record or photo of a roadster cab jailbar in either 2, 4 or 6 wheel drive Marmon Herrington conversions. All are full steel cabs except for coachbuilt vans etc.

As it has been a long time since this vehicle was new perhaps at some time a farmer has added a 41 roadster cab to replace a rusted out 42 cab? :doh:
It appears as if the rear panel has been home made as well.

The only 42 Ford with Roadster cab I'm aware of was the
"Tractor, Artillery Aust No.10"
so a 3 ton. Only a trials vehicle(s) made by Ford. Project abandoned.

Doubt this is the cab.

Mike

Mike were there any photos of this vehicle? :)

Does anyone remember the little Dutch 4wd left hand drive 42 roadster cab of Bob S. He had it at a Military Jeep Club of Queensland swap meet a long time ago. I think there was also an article in a vintage truck magazine recently.
Ken

He had it a Corowa at couple of years ago Ken. Different cab style and MH 4WD set up.

Cliff,

I've seen only written records. There probably were images taken at the time.

Mike

I have only seen one or two pictures of it, would love to see and drive this in person.

This was one of many Fords in chassis/cowl configuration which were converted by Marmon-Herrington.

http://www.mapleleafup.nl/marmonherr...nei.html#ld6-4

“A picture of Bob Schutt's Ford/Marmon-Herrington 1942 LD6-4 (½-ton 4x4). Bob says is was built for the Dutch in late 1941 or early 1942 and destined for the Netherlands East Indies.
It is likely this truck's intended use was as a Light Anti-Aircraft Machine Gun Truck (see above). It probably ended up in Australia as some shipments in transit were diverted after the Japanese invasion of the NEI.”
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