Australian Army F250's
 

Hi,
I am seeking Photo's and information on the 1980's Australian Army F250 Light trucks as seen in the picture. I have not been able to locate much about them.

I would also appreciate if anyone that has one in fairly original condition could supply me with some detailed pictures particularly the rear tray.

Many Thanks in advance,

Can't supply too much info, except the comment that the front left tyre is an early, block-letter 7.50-16 Olympic Steeltrek tyre with what appears to be a Hi-way Rib style tread instead of the normal hexgon tread.

Did/would the Army use Retreads?

F250
 

Hi Tony,
Great to hear from you. Good observation. I would think the Army did not use retreads as such - they should have plenty of money lol. I vaguely remember back in the '80s when I first had my Fseries. I went to purchase tyres to replace the Olympics and was offered different tread types depending on wether I did more road or offroad driving. The name of the tyre was the same for each type/pattern just had a different letter prefix such as LT for light truck or H for highway. Too long ago now and cant remember exact details. Just old age creeping up :rolleyes

Thanks foor your reply,

The one in the image is being operated by the School of Armour at Puckapunyal, as indicated by the door emblem (mailed fist over boomerang) and the Unit Sign of 912 on red/yellow diagonal.

The registration number 31-848 has me wondering, though, as it was supposedly issued to a 'Sedan CL Grade 4' by 33 Supply Battalion, Bandiana, on 30 November 1979, one of 14 in the range 31-845 to 31-858. Still, another in the previous group was supposed to be a sedan, too, but the plates turned up on a 15 ton tilt-bed trailer, so who knows what happened between the 'book-issue' and the application!

Mike

F250
 

Hi Mike,
Interesting details. Is the book info available via AWM?.

Thanks for the info,

No, the 31 series aren't in the AWM books, they are held at Bandiana. These have been partially recorded on REMLR, but not completely yet. No listing shown for 31-848, which may not have been "of interest" if it was listed as a CL Sedan! :nono:

This series of F truck were built in Brisbane from 1981-86, so if the ARN was transferred, the Sedan didn't stick around for long. What manufacturer were they? Datsun 200B's?

Tony, have not got a clue other than the description provided.

The plates for 31-848 were re-applied/re-issued in June 1981 to the F250.

Mike

F250
 

Hi Mike/Tony,
Do you guys know if one of these F250's are on display or held by the museum at Bandiana? or are they just too new for that?.

Thanks.

F250
 

Hi Guy's,
I have located a further 2 pictures of one which went to auction in Victoria a few years ago.

Australian Army F250's
 

Hi,
I have received information suggesting that the rear bodies used on the F series were recycled from the AT4 4x2 Dodges and c1200 Inter's. Does anyone have detailed pictures of these so as to confirm the intel :confused
The picture I have is of poor quality when enlarged making it difficult to examine closely. The only other photo I can find is from Bart Vanderveen's book.

Thanks.

Attachment 95251

Attachment 95252

Paint Colour
 

Hi,
Does any one know what colour this paint is? Is it Military green or Army Olive drab(Gloss version)?

Thanks in advance,

New Purchase
 

Hi Guys,
Well in the wee hours of Tuesday morning my new project finally arrived. Its an Ex-Australian army F250. Still has the data delivery plate on it and I also found the conversion plate for the dual fuel. It appears that the vehicle was fitted while in service with LPG. I have been lucky and also got an original bumper with the extra army made brackets through a seperate purchase.
This vehicle will be my regular ride once I get back on the road which should be a lot more of a straight forward task given that most parts can be sourced "off the shelf" still - even the paint!. It will be returned to the original paint colour. The cut down/hinged tray sides appear to be a army modification and I have access to another rear body so I intend to make some sides the same as the originals with the exception of making them hinged as well.

I plan to have the vehicle on the road so I can take it to Corowa 2018.

As per my original post - If there's anyone who has pictures of this type in service the information would be appreciated. I am hoping to make a small information board to stand with the vehicle when displayed.

Thanks,

Attachment 95843 Attachment 95844 Attachment 95846 Attachment 95847
Attachment 95845

Lpg fittment plate
 

The LPG fitting plate.

Congratulations on finding the nice looking truck. They are quite pretty and a F250 is also a good comfortable load carrier.
Look forward to the updates on the restoration.

Cheers Ken

F250
 

Hi Ken,
Thanks. I have always had a soft spot for them. I had two civilian vehicles years ago and sold then when I started a family. Always regreted them being sold :doh:. I spotted this a month or so ago and the 'stars aligned' so to speak. Will be a good tow vehicle too so I can trailer my Jeep to Corowa etc and yes it is very capable with loads.

You have a nice collection of vehicles :thup:. Mainly into the Blitzes I see. I have a semi trailer Blitz which I hope to eventually restore :rolleyes.

Thanks again,

Brett, I noticed that you say the paint is also available off the shelf. I have been trying to find that colour for years for my ex army Ford D400 that needs a touch up. Every paint shop so far is big on promises but when it comes to the crunch can't reproduce the colour, so where are you going to get yours?
I had a 1970 civilian F250 with the Canadian 240ci motor which kept breaking piston rings at about the 40,000 mile mark. Other than that I couldn't fault it.
My D series which has the same motor seems to break them at about 20,000 mile, at least your F250 engine should be ok.
Ken

Hi Ken,
The paint is/was Protec paint 342 Camoflouge green (see the picture). I get the paint local but I am sure there would be someone nearer to you. I will ask my paint shop if they know of someone close to you when I go to get some paint later today if you let me know where you are located. Otherwise I will be travelling up north to Hervey Bay in the first qauter of 2018 and could bring some up with me.

Wow - I thought the canadian motors were a lot stronger than that! I wonder if there is something inherintly wrong with the design or its just that particular motor?.

The F series of vehicles were a particularly robust vehicle and it suprises me that the military didnt use more of them.

This is the paint.

Protec have branch stores in Bris and Townsville, and also have retailers throughout the state. 342-1166 is usually in stock at the company stores in 1l, 4l and 400ml aerosol. If you contact the factory/head office in SA on 1800 076 466 they can have the paint sent out to your nearest agent.

35 Collinsvale St,
Rocklea QLD 4106
(07) 3717 3800


33/37 Bolam St,
Garbutt QLD 4814
(07) 4775 7933

The Protec paint is ok, there is a supplier in Toowoomba.
I thought the CL vehicles were gloss olive, which the paint shops don't seem to be able to supply. That gloss colour may have changed by 1983.
The D series paint colour is F196 and a local ex-army 1970 International C1500 has the number 296 stamped in the paint section.
On the engine subject I think the Canadian 300CI motor is good, and I have never understood why the army procurement department never stood up to the bean counters and demanded the bigger engine. You only have to look in the AWM ARN files to see the number of engine changes the D400s had.
It was interesting travelling in army convoys between Gympie and Rainbow Beach in QLD in the early 70s. The Studebakers and the International MK 3s cruised through the hills, but the D400s were having the guts revved out of them and constantly changing gears up and down the hills.
What motor do you have in the F250?
Ken

Great buy and very interesting to see an military vehicle fitted with a dual fuel system. A hybrid in a sense, many years before today's hype.

I do know LPG is - or was? - popular in Australia, as it used to in the Netherlands. I have owned and driven many vehicles fitted with LPG systems (including an air-cooled VW Beetle), and always liked the fact that LPG burns much cleaner than petrol. Pity to see LPG no longer seems to fit in today's environmental thinking, even though it is a much cleaner fuel than petrol (let alone diesel).

Anyway, I should not distract from your thread. I wish you a speedy recommissioning and many miles of happy motoring!

Hanno

F250
 

Hi Hanno,
Great to hear from you and thank you. I agree with you - LPG is a good fuel source and I think people have been discouraged by misinformation. This is my second dual fuel vehicle the first being a truck. I found the power only marginally less and the advantages out weighing it.

It is interesting that another government department did the fitting of the LPG and not the Army. What I don't understand is why it was done given the defence force are not (really) limited by fuel.

I would like to see LPG make a come-back and totally agree it is far cleaner and much more enviro friendly not to mention the $$ savings.

Again - great to hear from you and never a problem -there's no distraction :thup2:

Thanks & Regards,

F250
 

Hi Ken,
Sorry missed you reply last night. Interesting info about the D400's. I think you are right about the Gloss olive. I had several batches of the 342-1166 mixed and doesn't come close in gloss yet the tin of Lustureless does which confused me and the paint shop. I will have a look for the F196 paint code when the shop opens again.

I found the Falcon ute of the same era appears to be the same colour which makes logic. I wonder if the F stands for a fleet code?.

My vehicle has the standard spec Falcon 250 crossflow 4.1ltr motor which is adequate :rolleyes but I haven't tried it on gas yet which might be a let down.

Thanks again,