Hollywood Montage

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Ok its time for one of those fast forward bits where all the work gets done in the blink of an eye.
Apologies in advance as I no longer have all my progress photo's, so am making do with the dregs.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

1st pic is december 1996. Brought the truck of Bruce Wiltshire (sadly no longer with us) who had used it for a donor vehicle for his gun tractor. It had been owned by Tim Vibert way back who had fitted it with a bofors 40mm, before it went trough a variety of owners, losing all the good bits along the way.1/2 a seized motor, 1/2 a cab, gearbox/t'case full of water, the only good bit left was the winch and most of the rear fairleads.
Found a cab that was originally the Tooma No2 fire truck, before ending its working life on a farm at Tintaldra, after one too many brake failures. Not a straight panel left, and the drivers door hsd to stay on the farm as it was part of the family history. Pleased as punch to get that home.
Hand stripped EVERY part of the truck, with the exception of the cab floor frame which I had sandblasted, found what I could, made what I couldn't (notable find was an engine cover under a tree in the mountains, and a front fairlead in a trailerload of "Chick" stuff at a swap meet...$20) Bought another truck so I could workout how to put it all back together and had a dozen or so promises of a drivers door ( in as many years) before I had the good fortune to run into Rick.
By this time I had a running 216 but decided to go for a 235 for the better oil pressure system. went through 2 of them to get one runner.
Due to finacial constraint, the truck was put together with whatever bits I could afford to do at the time, so the motor went in after the cab was finished, and I never got to do the test drive of the rolling chassis around the yard sort of stuff, so it was a most nervous yours truly who ventured out on the maiden voyage last weekend, all the way to top gear.
12 years, 2 more kids, a replacement dog, a few grey hairs.
All in the blink of an eye....
Rich

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Not only do we have the "Before and After" pics, couretsy of Keith, I also have this "Before, Before" pic. Think it was in the 70's, pretty rough and ready conversion, but must have looked great from this distance, still have the wooden cutout cab sides on a shelf in the shed
Rich

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Richard Coutts-Smith

Ok its time for one of those fast forward bits where all the work gets done in the blink of an eye.
Apologies in advance as I no longer have all my progress photo's, so am making do with the dregs.

Richard...
In the picture of the engine the fuel pump is mounted upside down...
The sediment bowl should be at the bottom...

[Barry Churcher]

Alex, have you been into that fermented grape juice again? Maybe you were thinking of the fuel filter or maybe a V8 Chebby.
Cheers,
Barry

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Barry Churcher

Alex, have you been into that fermented grape juice again? Maybe you were thinking of the fuel filter or maybe a V8 Chebby.
Cheers,
Barry

Barry...
Isn't that a flat head Ford..??

[lynx42]

Well done, Rich.
Good to see it on the road at last. How did it go? No wheel wobble? No unnecessary noises?
I know the feeling when you get something on the road for the first time. Makes you want to start another!! Maybe not.
How's Mojo? Feeling a bit neglected? Well not for too much longer.
Regards Rick

[BSHEVLIN]

That's a nice centurion tank turret bin on the back of that truck

[Mike K]

Great Job Richard

I recall Tim V had a variety of Blitz's in the late 70's early 80's . He would restore one every six months ... how he did it we were amazed .I have a snap of his C60S ? at the 1981 Corowa , it could be yours maybe .. it was a mockup cab 43 soft-top with a canvas roof . Here it is , with a jib in the back . I have another pic of it somewhere .. taken from the front .

Tims other Blitz that year at Corowa was a neat cab 13 Ford F15 with a 302 Windsor and C4 auto .. it ended up in Tasmania .

Mike

[Mike K]

The F15 'Hot Rod' . at Corowa 1981 .Wouldn't you like those tyres ! In those days the event was held in a different location , they revamped the Ball Park and moved it, closer to the town centre.

Mike

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Great Job Richard

Tims other Blitz that year at Corowa was a neat cab 13 Ford F15 with a 302 Windsor and C4 auto .. it ended up in Tasmania .

Mike

Didn't that one come to a sticky (or wet end) in Tassie?

[Mike K]

ERR yes keith, but I wont go into the details here !

Mike

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

ALEX, you are forgetting perhaps that we do things differently DownUnder?
RICK, no wheel wobbles, but plenty of strange noises, MOJO looking forward to some TLC
Brenton, every farm in this area has a few Cent turret bins, Tim V. off loaded a paddock full of them about 10 years ago, cheap laying box for chooks. Swapped one of mine for a ride in a Cent. (highly recomended), and cut the bit that curves around the turret off, for a tool box (this one). 2 more left, but will find a use for them.
Mike, perhaps we have found Tims secret to quick resto's. One truck does everything? The tray in your first pic is my tray, and must be after the Bofors photo, which would explain the change from dark green to the olive drab that it was when I got it. If you can find the photo from the front, it should have the number 64560 on the front, a blue square with 40 inside as well. Check out my 1st pic with yours, and you will see what I mean. Love to see any more photos of this truck, Tim himself is not too keen to go into his archives to find them, but looks like I ended up with a bit of local history.
I remember a "different" V8 Blitz for sale in Tassie about '82/83, though my memory was that it was a larger engine, but definatley a shorty, this adv. was the seed that eventually grew in to the compulsion to buy a Blitz. truly is a small world at times!!
Rich

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Mike,
just thought to look at the numbers on the back of your pic, and yes they are the same truck. To busy looking at the small details to see the obvious.
Rich

[Mike K]

OK Rich

Well, they rise from the ashes like pnoenix did . This is a background pic of it ..but I know I have another better one somewhere ..

I also found this pic taken during our club XMAS trip to Barooga in 77, we called into visit Col A. at Shepp . He had quite a bit of carrier stuff there at the time , including 2 X 2 pounder hulls .. it was scrounged from Plumbs yard at Benalla I think. Notice the Bandicoot AC hull in the background ?

Mike

[aj.lec]

Congratulations Rich
Always a good feeling on there first run if nothing major goes wrong
some things are worth waiting for

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Great looking truck, Richard!

It proves time flies when you´re really having fun. . .

Hanno

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks Andrew and Hanno.
Yes time has flown past, and it has been fun. Thats the benefit of no deadlines, you get to do what you want, when you want, enjoyed every minute of it.

I think this truck has had more comebacks than Lazarus!
Mike, any chance of a firm date on yor pics? March 19??
Rich

[Mike K]

Rich

Found these two.. it was March 81 - I'm pretty sure . I can recall bits and pieces of that Corowa . Many of the people who were around then, are still attending .

You will notice the very low CH rego number on your truck .. this would have been just after the CH scheme was introduced .. Now its up over 10,000 I believe

Mike

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Thanks so much Mike, that is brilliant.
Hard to beleive that a truck in that condition ended up stripped in a paddock 15 years later.
Rich.