unusual bumper bar setup

[cliff]

while trolling through Pictures Australia last night I came across this photo on the Queensland Govt. Library website which shows a 1941 Ford with an unusual bumper bar setup and broken headlights. Taken somewhere in North Queensland in 1945.

I have never seen this before.

PS> this is one of the few Aust Govt sites where you cannot download the photos. I had to print the photo then scan it to my achieves

[lynx42]

Cliff, looks like they have just reversed the brush guard and made it into a sweeper to get rid of those pesky wombats and roos.

regards Rick.

[cliff]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Cliff, looks like they have just reversed the brush guard and made it into a sweeper to get rid of those pesky wombats and roos.

regards Rick.

either that or to shift fallen branches from the road. Oh another thought is if the road is humped in the middle by that much it would remind you to drive to one side so you don't wipe the axle or sump out LOL

[David Dunlop]

Is that a shield on the left fender, just above the bumper?

David

[Allan L]

this is one of the few Aust Govt sites where you cannot download the photos. I had to print the photo then scan it to my achieves

Most pictures (even if they don't have a Download button) still allow themselves to be 'Save Image As' by right clicking in the picture.

Alternatively, if you're using Windows 7 or above, there is an inbuilt Snipping tool - allows you to select a rectangle around the picture (or text or whatever) on the screen and then use 'Save As' in the File command, give it a name and select the file type as JPEG.

[jack neville]

The brush guard springs are still complete, just reversed and slipped up halfway. Can't think of a good reason why.

[motto]

Perhaps the terrain gives a clue for the inversion of the brush guard? Grass up to knee high which could easily mask obstacles presenting a danger to what is below bumper height. Maybe they had a bad experience with a sump or track rod at some time?
It is certainly no longer suitable for water bag use.

David

[Wayne Henderson]

The black square looks like the censor has deleted any identifying unit markings.
This mod would make a good brush guard against some of the ground covered or perhaps the bar is used as a step to aid in working on the motor... it is a Ford and the sun is up.

[Little Jo]

Hi Cliff

Maybe it's a step for short guys so they can get to the radiator to fill it up.

Cheers

Tony

[Jared Archibald]

I reckon Motto was on the right track.

Across the tropical north we have huge numbers of termite mounds. Most are not the size of the one the bloke is standing next to in the pic, but about knee high, and as hard as concrete when it comes to I-beam front axles and drag links.

With the bar inverted like that , it is the perfect height to shave the tops off the mounds to just below front axle height when travelling through long grass.If you hit a particularly strong one, it will stop the truck before doing steering damage.

A fine field expedient modification!