Hi Darrell,
If you mean because of the MCH permit stuff, then don't take my word for it: it needs an application and consideration by MCH staff, so it would be best to go though the process rather than simply assume its a 'no go' based on my comment. They are reasonable people.
Australia had 171 Lynx supplied under the Canadian Mutual Aid (CMA) scheme, and their only overseas (operational) service was with 1st Aust Armd Car Sqn in Japan between 1946 and 1948 (as part of 34 Aust Infantry Brigade, BCOF). The unit started off with a mix of 18 Staghounds and 8 Lynx, but it soon became obvious that the back roads in the area of operations around Kure couldn't handle the larger Stags, so these were returned to ordnance vehicle park and replaced with Lynx. The Sqn ended up with 25 Lynx on issue and 1 Staghound (the Stag only for training purposes). All were returned to Australia, except possibly one Lynx that was written off. It was possibly the one that tried to mix it with a steam locomotive at a railway crossing.... and lost! All except about 10 Lynx have disposal records that confirm they were disposed of in Australia. At least one was designated as a hard target.
The Lynx supplied to Australia were of two rear body configurations: the early vertical rear grill and the later horizontal rear grill. In October 1944, a modification was authorised for all the early type to be converted to the later configuration using one of two Ford-supplied retrofit kits, either the C19SR-16604 or C19SR-110895. In theory, all Lynx were then converted to the latter type rear grill configuration which gave much better cooling performance, but I doubt that the ones held in vehicle parks ('Command Depot Stock') were high on the priority list, and possibly escaped conversion.
Like everywhere else, Australia had trouble with the axles, to the point where serious consideration was given to changing the axle assemblies for F15A axles. Trials were carried out, but did not eventuate in a conversion program.
They are an interesting little vehicle, and one of the few WW2 AFV types operated by Australia that actually saw operational service. Don't know of the one Rick mentioned as heading to the UK a few years ago, but one nicely restored example went to Canada in the 1990s.
Mike C
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