GMNZ carrier T78088 turns 71 tomorrow

[Jim Baker]

My LP2A carrier turns 71 tomorrow. I first restored this in 1977. I pulled it apart to rebuild it in 1993. By that time the engine was so worn that we had to tow it to start it and the rust was coming through again. When I started on this I had no access to a sand blaster so I cleaned it up with a disc grinder and hammer and cold chisel so all the hard to get places needed some attention. I towed it to the sandblaster and 10 years later I towed it back again! Kids work and mortgage intervened in the mean time. The sandblaster used a 2 pot undercoat the second time knowing that it could still be a while before a top coat is applied (we live right on the coast and salt spray plays hell with anything steel) He was right, a top coat didn't go on till last year. The incentive to finish was to have it at an ANZAC commeration not far from where I picked it up from. The local school had closed and the district moved the memorial from it to beside the local hall. I just have to finish bolting bits back on now. I will add some photos of its life in my ownership.

[Jim Baker]

I am hoping there is a photo of my carrier before restoration started in July 1976. Here's hoping

[Jim Baker]

Yep it worked!! now here's one of me and my carrier running over a Valiant car. It was not the best one to pick on as they were made of good metal, but it was available phot taken August 1981. It was hard to squash but eventually we managed.