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#1
17-01-04, 05:02
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1940 Dodge Staff Car
I have a 1940 Australian built Dodge staff car which I wish to take to Normandy 60th. Currently painted up in US Army colors (Americans had lots of "reverse Lend Lease" Australian built non-combat vehicles in Australia).
I wish to paint it and set it up as an Australian middle east vehicle up to El Alamein date. Looking for photos of Australian, British, NZ or SA cars (Dodge, Ford, Chev) in this theatre to get correct markings but particularly fittings such as roof racks, lights, wide wheels etc. Lang Kidby 
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#5
22-01-04, 08:03
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Thanks for the photos. Should be some Middle East stuff out there.
Just arrived home from Adelaide with the Dodge. It has been sitting in a museum for 14 years. Just had to free up the brakes and I jumped into it and apart from 2 radiator flushes along the way it sat on 100kph and I covered the 2,300km to Brisbane in 2 days. I now have 2 months to do the upholstery, brakes, radiator etc etc before putting it on the ship for India in time to drive to France by June! Lang
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#6
22-01-04, 11:27
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drive?
Quote:
Do I understand correctly you will drive the Dodge from India to France?!?  If you manage to do so, you will surely get the "drove longest distance to attend the show" award!  Good luck, Hanno
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#7
22-01-04, 12:45
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Yes, my ever suffering wife plus a good pal and I are setting off from Mumbai (Bombay) in mid-April and the Gods Willing we will get to Normanday about 6 weeks later.
I am going to leave the military markings off until we get past Turkey!!! Lang
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#8
22-01-04, 14:39
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Will leave off the military markings 'til after Turkey
Yeah, and you would'nt want them on in Afghanistan or Iraq either!
Um, I'm thinking it might it might safer for the vehicle (and you too, of course!) to ship it to Egypt and drive it through Libya to Tunisia and then across to Europe from there. This would have more interesting history to see on the way. I hear Gaddafi is now open for the tourist trade, and you've the perfect vehicle to travel through Alamein and Tobruk.
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#9
22-01-04, 21:45
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Quote:
Would I be correct in thinking that you flew the Vickers Vimy replica from UK to Aus about 10 years ago? You obviously like an adventurous journey! Look forward to meeting you in Normandy, I will have two Aussies accompanying me in my Bedford QL. regards, Richard
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#10
23-01-04, 03:59
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Yes, Richard, a bit of a glutton for punishment - flew a 1927 Avro Avian UK-Australia in 98 as well.
We went to Normandy 45th (I bought a GMC workshop body and resold it afterwards). Had such a great time thought it was due for a repeat. Bedford QL eh! I find the English trucks pretty interesting because they all are so unbelievably ugly they have a unique character. That plus measuring your speed with a calendar makes them short trip options for me. The pure 100% English trucks also have Lucas electrics which makes them suitable only for a true masochist. I have owned several CMP "Blitz" types and love them in the bush but the cook nearly broke her neck when she was catapaulted into the roof on a big bump on the beach at Fraser Island and has refused to play unless the toys are improved hence the GMC's and Dodge Weapon Carriers. I also have had a jeep in the collection since I was 16. Lang
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#11
23-01-04, 06:27
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Re. Dodge Staff Car
Hello Lang
I only heard today that the car had gone to Brisbane and will then travel overseas. I've just read all the poststhat fill in some details. This will be of interest to our members of the National Military Vehicle Museum in Port Adelaide where the car had been housed. It always attracted a lot of attention. I'll write a small article for our magazine but postcards on your travels would also be welcome. All postal details on our site at www.military-vehicle-museum.org.au Bob
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#12
23-01-04, 06:42
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Bob,
Sorry I didn't get to see you and the museum this week but all hands to the pumps on the Dodge preparations to ensure it would get me to Brisbane before this weekend (and another truck meet of course). Wll keep you posted on its travels. Lang
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#13
23-01-04, 23:00
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Quote:
There is a saying about beauty being in the eyes of the beholder, or something like that. There is just something about them, not only that, they are a beaut to drive. As for Joe Lucas, well.....no wonder he was called The Prince Of Darkness !! Richard
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#14
25-01-04, 05:32
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Richard,
I did have a QL very briefly but found it did not stand up to the CMP vehicles in off road performance and ability. They are pretty rare in Australia as you probably know and I have been told most of the few of them in the country came out after the war for the "A" Bomb testing the British did in our desert - come and clean up your mess you b.....s! Don't know if that is actually their origin or not. My very first military vehicle at age 14 was a Morris C4 which, as you say was quite delightful to drive, probably one of only handful ever to come here - how and why I do not know. My father had a car dealership and traded the then worthless vehicle so I got it in exchange for two week's pocket money. It was in perfect roadworthy order. A couple of mates and I made a raft from 44 gallon drums and floated it 3 miles across the bay to South Stradbroke Island off the Queensland Gold Coast - probably 1961 or 62. The island was (and still is - National Park now) totally deserted. About 20 miles long and two miles wide with forest covered sandhills up to 500 feet high and a 200 yard wide surf beach the whole length on the sea side. We would go over every weekend with a can of fuel and a battery then spend two hours with 4 sheets of marsden matting (PSP sheet) getting through the soft sandhills onto the beach. Didn't know much about sand driving or deflating tyres then but when you have a pair of strong 15 year olds with shovels it adds to the fun. We would then spend the weekend racing (in a C4?) up and down the beach on the wet sand, camp beside a sandhill for the night, before taking her through the sandhills again to be hidden under bushes for the next time. The only other vehicles on the island were about half a dozen Blitz 3 ton tippers collecting mineral sand (rutile and ilmenite) - shoveled on by hand from patches on the beach! One very hot day we were at the end of our stamina trying to get the Morris off the beach because we had left the steel matting about 10 miles south of where we were trying to cross the sandhills. We had dug it out about 20 times for about one vehicle length progress each time and still had about 300 yards to go up the steepest part of the sand track. Along came a Blitz loaded with about 5 tons of mineral sand, no muffler of course, that had rusted off years ago. (They kept the rust out of the chassis by spraying the old sump oil over everything - cab axles body. They looked a pretty sad sight but once the sand stuck. layer after layer the coating was like inch thick toffee, totally protective) Anyhow the driver who obviously knew us by sight from us sailing past him on the beach as he shovelled sand - these guys had muscles in their eyebrows - took pity. So, tied on behind a grossly overloaded Blitz (don't know if it was a Ford or Chev) its engine valve bouncing with a two foot long exhaust pipe making to teenage ears, a fabulous roar, the Morris seemed to rocket up the track. By the time we got to the top of the sandhill, the Morris had been excommunicated from my heart. I just HAD to have one of these four wheel drive miracle machines. I did have pretty soon after that! Lang
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#15
25-01-04, 09:35
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Tony,
Just had a Normandy Expedition board meeting and both Bev and Glen are keen on your North Africa suggestion. I did contact the Libyan Embassy and taking a vehicle in is absolutely no trouble. My shipping man is getting prices for a box to Tripoli. Initial discussion was about the loss of the Gallipoli visit on 25 April (ANZAC Day) but I am not really keen on sitting with a bunch of 5,000 backpacking Aussie and Kiwi kids who really know nothing about what went on. I would prefer to be there on a day when I could wander around unhindered. So plan "B" is underway to ship to Tripoli with our AIF painted staff car and be in Tobruk (a much less embarrassing military milestone) for ANZAC Day then Alamein the next day and on through Egypt, Jordan and Syria to follow the exploits of the Australian Light Horse in their drive upon Damascus in WW1. Can't go anywhere near Palestine/Israel if we hope to get through Syria. Would love to go to Beersheba to see where the last great cavalry charge in history took place (we claim this but I think the Russians did a bit of horsing around in 1943. The debate centres on whether it was an Australian mass charge on a defended Turkish position a la Light Brigade or flanking attacks on German supply columns by Russian mobile cavalry groups) Anyhow Israeli stamps in the passport are out. Route then hooks up with original at Gallipoli and on to Normandy. Hope this works out, thanks for the suggesion. Lang
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#16
25-01-04, 09:52
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Quote:
When you get over there thank as many kids as you can for their interest. Patriot Bob
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#17
25-01-04, 11:03
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Palestine
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It's a pity you have to miss it.
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#18
25-01-04, 12:12
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Bob,
I don't think you will find anything disparaging about the Australian or New Zealand military in anything I write (I spent 15 years in the Australian Army). The reference to the kids still stands. It just is not my style and while Gallipoli holds great national significance I think it has been hijacked by the movement who are there to demonstrate their "Australianess or Kiwiness' as the case may be, to the world rather than the actual event. I am a nationalist and a fervent republican but let the kids sing Waltzing Matilda and use "beauty, bonza, Blue" in loud voices (which they never do at home) in practise for their arrival at Earl's Court, to show their pride, take a group photo at the Lone Pine monument and hop back on the bus. Gallipoli has achieved something by providing a focus for this pride as Vimy has done for the Canadians. I prefer to look around without the crowds to try to make some sense of that first day which was a total disorganised shambles costing 2,000 ANZACs dearly in the first 24 hours. Australians tend to forget (most don't even know) more British soldiers died on 25 April and triple our score over the whole campaign - even the French lost more. You will get into an argument in pubs that the French were even there. And what about the Turks who were forced into the war, largely by Churchill, Kitchener and the rest of the crew so the Czar could have Istanbul and warm water shipping routes in return for keeping pressure on the German eastern front. All wars are unjust, young men die bravely and whether we use their sacrifice to build monuments, make statements or learn lessons is largely up to the individual. Lang
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#19
26-01-04, 00:01
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Kids and Staff Car
Hi Lang
I also totally agree with what you say, I just looked at the other side of the coin as well. I am the eternal optimist and even if it demonstrates one iota of goodness, let the kids pose for whatever reason. They are there, that's the main thing. We also disagree about another matter. Although being German born, but registered as a British subject by my Welsh Royal Air Force Flight Sergeant father, I am a Royalist but also a Nationalist. But to the important stuff. I down-loaded the Staff Car thread, did some edits and submitted it to our Club magazine, The Olive Drab. Our members will be interested. The article was purely about the car and your proposed travels, none of the above stuff. Please keep us posted on your travels and adventures. Happy Trails Bob
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#20
26-01-04, 06:13
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Will keep you posted, Bob.
Took the Dodge on an Australia day run in Brisbane with 230 other vintage, veteran and classic cars. It caused a good deal of interest and ran sweetly. I have high hopes for a successful Normandy mission. Lang
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#22
24-02-04, 10:37
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Quote:
Looks OK?!? Your Dodge looks GREAT to me! (And that's quite a thing to say for a Ford man  ).Have a safe journey, would be great to read a trip journal here someday, even better if we run into each other in Normandy. Cheers, Hanno
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#23
24-02-04, 12:52
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Awesome...
...Dodge Lang. I was a Ford man but seeing that dodge I had to get a new Cummins diesel powered Dodge Ram.
Seriously should be much cooler than a dark green car in the desert too. Out of curiousity did you have the rad inspected or redone in anticipation of the heat or have you been running in Oz in similar conditions as a test?Have fun, send pics of this really neat adventure. Cheers Sean
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#24
24-02-04, 21:11
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Thanks Hano and Sean.
The only trouble I had on the delivery drive from Adelaide was overheating. Radiator was blocked and because the original radiators can not be reamed out with a rod and the solder was getting hard and brittle I decided on a new core. Nearly fell over at the cost but fitted a 3 core type from a V8 engine with original tanks top and bottom (you can not tell the difference). Also got hold of a six bladed fan from a 1953 Plymouth to replace the original 4 blade. The radiator people put it through their computer and say it is a complete overkill and the car will be running most of the time on the thermostat. The drive up from Adelaide with the blocked radiator never went over 205 degrees in 37 degree temperature - do you like that, farenheit and centigrade in one sentence! Lang
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#25
25-02-04, 03:22
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That Should do.....
....just fine. I was schooled in both Metric and standard and mix my measurements constantly, so you are speaking my language.
Sean
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#26
25-02-04, 05:31
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Aqaba
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Previous posts have indicated the historical importance of various geographical sites which may, or may not, be accessible to you (Lang) as a "tourist". Don't forget that Aqaba was the site of TE Lawrence's (Lawrence of Arabia) charge from the landward side which successfully captured the town and the Turkish guns, which faced the sea. Even though that event was in WW I, there are enough ghosts lurking about to give you the shivers, and to put history in perspective. That was my impression in 1985.
__________________
PRONTO SENDS
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#27
25-02-04, 06:28
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As we are missing out on the Alamein/Tobruk section my interest is still held by the eastern area we are going through.
Yes I have been to Aqaba and Wadi Rum and find Lawrence very interesting. You are probably aware the Australian Light Horse (mounted infantry) were the main strike force of Allenby's army and we will be following their drive upon Damascus. If you have read Lawrence's "Three Pillars of Wisdom" (a good read and not as academic as the title sounds) you will find he was really pissed at the Australians who turned the assault into a sporting horse race against his Arab army. The debate still rages over whether it was an Australian patrol or Arab patrol to first enter the city. Lawrence never did decide whether he loved us or hated us! Of course we will be a little more current when we get to Syria. The Australian 6th Division fought against the Vichy French here after the debacle of Greece and Crete and scored a much needed victory. If my Dodge did go overseas and was in the 6th Division it would have been in Syria where we are going. I have nothing to prove this is so but it is a good story! Lang
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#28
26-02-04, 16:14
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One way to get overseas.....
...... is to get her up to speed and aquaplane all the way over.
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#30
27-02-04, 00:24
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T.E Lawrence
Hi Lang
Just wanted to sat good luck with the trip! out of interest how are you getting the Dodge back? same route? by the way the book Lawrence wrote was the Seven pillars of wisdom,not three! Lawrence was a Welshman born only a few miles from where I live.he left Wales when he was about eight.Seven pillars is a good read and I'd reccomend it to anyone who hasn't already read it.
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