C-60X Sighted

[RichCam]

Hi Guys,

In pursuit of this C-60X - Cab 13 - no id plates but it looks like a 1944-45 version. This one is going to be a bit more work to get out of the bush. Here is the link:

http://postimg.org/gallery/2lfqmaow/

I will post more pictures as work progresses.

Regards, Richard

[Bob Carriere]

If I were you I would report the exact location as it seems that the gravitational pull is extremely high in that area ... it sure sits low into the ground.

What ever you do please take off and save the head light bucket(s)

Otherwise nice work Sherlock. Save it if you can.

Bob C.

[Shane]

I have seen 4 blitz trucks from Adelaide to Broken Hill. All chev i think, one was way off the road in a farm land could not make it out. One bloke has got axles and other spare parts and 2 chevs, the other tuck was in the back streets in a transport yard and was painted blue with a crain on the back in a town on the way yo BH. I did have photos but some bugger stole my phone i dont know if it will come up on goggle maps but ill check it out.

[Alex van de Wetering]

Nice find Richard. You don't see a C60X every day, at least not here. A pity that the fuel tanks are already gone; they are the larger ones as fitted to C60X and FAT.
The rims look rather small.....almost like 16inch in stead of 20?

Alex

yeah....as Bob mentioned, save the early cab 11/12 headlight buckets!

[RichCam]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your comments. I will do a more complete inspection of the vehicle next time I'm there later this coming week. I spotted a CMP fuel tank in an old storage building next to where the truck is. As far as the owner knows, his grandfather drove it around the farm and ended up just parking it right where it is now. The plan is to have a scrap recovery company come into the site and remove everything that isn't of value. While they are there, we will have them pull the C60X out onto level ground. I will then be able to determine it's condition. I will then have it loaded on a float truck after we pull it out to the road. I will post pictures of the recovery effort as it occurs.

Is the C60X frame and springs strong enough to transport a carrier? Any ideas on what else could be outfitted on the back of C60X?

Cheers, Richard

[RichCam]

Hi Guys,
Well, the C60X got pulled out of the bush last week and was moved to level ground. It rolls but doesn't have steering capability. It will be loaded on a float and brought to my shop sometime this week. Going to have to increase the size of my storage shed. I'll post more pictures when I get it power washed and cleaned up a bit.
Regards, Richard

[Bob Carriere]

Makes sure you take a lots of photos of the brake linkage and take care of that exclusive master brake cylinder.

Bob C

[RichCam]

Will do Bob. Should be interesting to see all the bits once it is washed off. Cheers!

[RichCam]

Hello again,
I already posted some of these pictures so a couple of these may be a duplicate. I am amazed at the rear suspension and dual drive shaft set-up of the C-60X. The cab is in pretty rough shape but the the drive train and steering is intact and turning. As stated, it has the smaller 16" tires. It will be quite the beast with 20" tires on it. I will hopefully have more information when it is cleaned up a bit.
Cheers, Richard

[Bob Carriere]

Now that is an impresive load....... No OPP in your area I suppose.....

Keep us posted with pictures..

Bob

[warren brown]

My 60x - ex Fred Reeves - i can furnish you with a copy of the resurrection photos on hand .. lets get this truck happening...

[RichCam]

Hello Warren,
I would appreciate a copy of whatever photos you have of your C60X. Are they posted on previous MLU threads or do you have them posted to other internet locations?
Cheers, Richard

[warren brown]

Rich - no worries - Fred Reeves did the proper resto in 1994/95 and I've scanned all his photos of the project. I'll post them, if Fred doesn't mind - I'm sure he'll think it's great. I've had the C60X for about four years now - i've repainted the truck, fitted hood bows and new canvas and repaired the cargo body's floor - replacing the rotten floorboards. The truck was - we think - a RAAF tanker - Mike Cecil asked me to send him the chassis number -which I've yet to do. (sorry Mike!). It's fitted with a Studebaker cargo body - which according to Fred - fitted perfectly on the chassis the bolt holes lined up beautifully! Give me a dayu or so to locate the photos....

[warren brown]

Rich - this is the C60X - the markings are from my Dad's squadron - 460 Squadron RAAF - Lancasters, Bomber Command. Even though I'm fairly certain his squadron never came within ten thousand miles of a C60X - Dad died only a few months before i bought the truck and I marked it up as a personal tribute I guess - so excuse my liberties on this one. The roundel above the headlight I copied from a photograph in the Australian War Memorial archive of a CMP in service with an Australian fighter squadron in Italy. The truck is terrific - I love it! I'll post more when I get home...

[RichCam]

Warren,
Your truck looks terrific! I have only seen black and white pictures of the C60X. and what a wonderful, functional tribute to your father. These museum pieces mean a lot more to people when they can move around. I am eager to see the other pictures......
Regards, Richard

[David Dunlop]

Warren.

Great looking vehicle! Congratulations!

Many years ago, there were three C60X cab and chassis rigs in a local surplus dealers yard: two were MACH of some form and one was a DENTAL vehicle. All in nice shape at the time but sadly they all went to a scrappers when the dealer got out of the surplus business.

If I am not mistaken, here in Manitoba, Canada, one requires a Class 1 license to legally drive a C60X because of the twin, rear axle setup. Bit of a pain because it is basically a commercial license that requires far more frequent testing. A real bummer because those trucks are sooo cool!!!.


David

[RichCam]

Hello David,
Yes, you are correct regarding Commercial licensing. In Ontario, because the vehicle weighs more than 4700 kg, it has to be registered as a commercial vehicle requiring an annual inspection, daily log/inspection documentation and yellow vehicle sticker. One has to go through inspection stations when they are open even when empty. Luckily, I have a commercial vehicle here at Commercial Pallet (so the C60X will be added to my CVOR) and I have a D licence. I won't be cruising down the 4 lane provincial highways past the inspection stations!
Shame to hear about the C60X's that were scrapped. I am tracking down 1 more ghost story about another C60X parked in the back forty of some older gentleman's place. I think I can see the outline using google maps. I'm not sure how friendly he is........guess I'll find out.
Regards, Richard

[chris vickery]

If you have not already done so, you may have to look into this further. Commercial vehicles which are plated under antique status are exempt from daily inspections or yearly inspections.
As for driver licensing, I am not clear on that. You are good to go anyhow with a class D, but I would suspect that the provision of antique status may exempt a person from this provision as well (vehicles over 4500kg) being used solely as personal transportation. At any rate, your truck does not have air brakes so at least a person could get away without the Z endorsement.
I do know that the inspection portion is fact, as I just looked it up on the MTO website.

[warren brown]

Hi Rich - sorry for the delay -been extremely busy this week. Attached are two photos - the c60x when I picked it up and partway through its rejuvenation at a local show. As you can see, the truck was all there - but some years of sitting in the weather was beginning to take its toll. Apart from painting it - canvas - floorboards etc - I just changed the oils, greased it, check the brakes - it runs beautifully.I've found the resto photos - I had them electronically but I'll scan them in again. Cheers W

[RichCam]

Warren,
Thanks for posting your pictures. Your truck looks stunning and I'm glad to hear that you run it. These vehicles need to be run to demonstrate their true capabilities. Whatever other pictures or images you have of the C-60X, I would appreciate a copy to assist me in my restoration.
Guys,
How many C or F-60X's do you think are out there in the world?
Regards, Richard

[chris vickery]

Richard

Several years back there was a house type body which I think may have been from one of these trucks sitting in a yard in Manitoba.
As I recall, the body was in excellent condition as it was up off the ground.
Rob Love may be able to help and confirm yes or no as to its original configuration.

[Grant Bowker]

Originally Posted by RichCam

How many C or F-60X's do you think are out there in the world?

C60X - I'm not sure but it has to be less than the quoted production of 2,710. (mine is very rough but better than in a scrap yard.)
F60X - I expect none unless there was a prototype that somehow survived. (the Ford 3 ton 6 wheel trucks were the F60H, 6x4, last axle not driven)

[Brian Gough]

Richard,

There is a very nicely restored C60X with a wrecker on it in Collingwood, Ontario, owned by Gary Cailes. I don't have Gary's contact info, perhaps someone who knows him would PM you with it.

Brian

[David Dunlop]

As far as I know, Chris, the MACH Body you spoke of in Manitoba is still alive and well: at least it was back in 2002. The paint work was pretty much gone the last time I saw it - basically complete surface rust. I knew the original owner very well and in the early 1980's, he opened it up for me to have a look at. It was virtually complete inside. There was a large lathe across the front with a stock feed hole on one side wall. All the lighting and blowers were in place, several other floor tools I cannot remember, work bench, stock stowage bins and racks and a large generator box with gen set inside, on the right side (rear corner I think). Underneath the box, the muffler system for the gen set was in excellent shape. As were the two rear tail light brackets and lamps.

He was using the rear stairs to access a building on his property but even they were in great shape after sitting outside since the late 1960's.

The Body Tag on the lower left rear corner of the box was still in place but had been hit by something and flattened in just the wrong spot one could not ID which MACH Body Type was stamped on it.

I asked the owner if he had purchased just the box, or if it had been part of a complete CMP vehicle. He said it had been a complete vehicle, but not a CMP. It came out of the Army with a Diamond T Cab and chassis set up under it. Somebody in a town south of him, just below the Trans Canada kept bugging him for the Diamond T and he eventually sold it, putting the box up on old fuel drums, which was a good thing since his land there floods from time to time in the spring.

I know I have pictures of it somewhere. If and when I find them I will post.

David

[chris vickery]

Hi David

This is exactly the body I was thinking of...
I was pretty sure it was a CMP body and I think they mounted them on all kinds of trucks.
It would be a nice set up to go on a C60X chassis if one had a C60X chassis...

[Alex van de Wetering]

The Lindsey bodies on the Diamond T, although they look the same, are slightly longer than the ones used on the C60X, so putting a Diamond T body on a C60X would not be as easy as it seems.

David, your description sounds a lot like a Diamond T Machinery "M". There is one on display at Shilo (?). Could it be that the body was a saved in the meantime, along with a 975 chassis?

Richard; to me it seems that someone tried to strengthen the frame on your C60X ; The plate holding the rear bogie assy to the frame looks somewhat different and some strips were welded along the frame rails it seems (?).

As far as survivors go....F60H about 3 or 4? C60X maybe 50-75 worldwide?

Alex

[rob love]

The van body is still out at the surplus yard. I may be out there in the next few days.....if you like I can take a measurement of the length.

[David Dunlop]

I did measure the body with Jim at one point. Cannot for the life of me remember what it came out to, but do know the math didn't add up with the available frame space on the C60X units sitting at Princess at the time. I had been hoping to use one of the MACH assemblies to put under the MACH Body when Jim indicated he would be willing to sell it.

Rob: After hearing all of George McG's wonderful stories of grunting his way throughout the restoration of his Deuce, I was definitely not interested in finding and working on a Diamond T. In hind site, biting down on the C60X project, never mind chewing it to completion, would have been challenge enough! Especially when I so easily confuse beer and tea mugs!

David