ACCO Information Required

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - a mate of mine has aquired a 1963 Mk3 Acco 4x4 No. 1505. It has a rebuild plate dated 1970 Maribyrnong. Any information would be useful.

Bob

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Bob, correct me if I'm wrong, but that would be an AACO then, not an ACCO.
Seem to be a few of these for sale at the moment, and coming back down to a more realistic price, it seemed to go through the roof a few years back. Always wanted one of them, but it came down to a choice between one of these beasties and a matsterpeice of Pommy engineering.
AULRO.com has a bit to do with these, probably a good spot to start.

Rich.

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Lets try an International 4x4 whether it be ACCO or AACO.

Bob

[Dianaa]

Bob

Is it an International Harvester "Truck Cargo, 2 1/2 Ton 4X4 GS with Winch, Aust. No.1 MK3?



If Yes then it is neither a Australian "A" series Cab Over (AACO) nor an Australian "C" series Cab Over (ACCO) although many people mistakenly call them AACO or ACCO. The civvy AACO is very similar to the army variant in the cab, has the same fibreglass bonnet but has rubber mounted windscreens and a vertical bars in front of the radiator. The ACCO has the same metal bonnet as the Mk4 but has step through doors and a single full width windscreen. (Not to be confused with the ACCO B series etc which have tilt cabs.

- ARN - Date/Contract - Model - Census - Nomenaclature - Engine - Chassis - Body -Tyresize - REMLR No.- Notes - Disposal -Vehicle Name
171-446 1966 - Mk.3 - 6389A -Truck Firefighting, 2 1/2 Ton, GS, WW, Tank & Spray AGD282.10925 -1505 - 12.00x20 - Chassis replaced with 564 - -

The re-build plate may in fact mean that it saw overseas service. Borneo or Vietnam in particular. On return to Oz most of the trucks went through the re-build line and most lost their Mk3 nose for a Mk4 nose. The interesting thing is that the chassis replaced the chassis 1453 on 171-415 which had known SVN service and so is likely that both trucks were in the re-build line at about the same time and so highly probable that they both returned from SVN at the same time.

The pic above is a Mk3 with a Mk4 cab and nose. The image below is mine the day the drop side hinges were replaced, still an ongoing project though.


Anything else you want to know?
Diana

[Mike Cecil]

Bob,

Reference the ARNs quoted above:

171446 was converted to an F5 fire fighting truck in 1973. It was a GS vehicle before that and, if it served overseas, was in that configuration. It was rebuilt in 1970 as job number 166/70 as a GS, and converted later. Disposal was 1985.

171415, which was also a GS, was also rebuilt in 1970 as job number 167/70, and for some strange reason, it received the chassis from 171446 during that process.

I am unable to cross-check if either of these ARNs served in SVN, but will be able to do so next week when I get back to the office. I seem to remember that the Fire Fighting variant was a later conversion (hence the late 'F' series nomenclature), and did not see service in SVN, but again, can check data next week and post a more definitive answer then.

Regards

Mike C

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Mike - this is great information. We are getting more from you now whilst you are roaming around the US of A than when you were at the AWM.

My friend will be very happy with this information as he is dedicated to fire appliances. He is a South Australian Country Fire Service life member, is in charge of a yearly truck and stationary engine weekend in Milang, SA and was instrumental in the establishment of a fire appliance museum in Milang.

Bob

[Dianaa]

Originally Posted by Mike Cecil

Bob,

Reference the ARNs quoted above:
<snip>
I am unable to cross-check if either of these ARNs served in SVN, but will be able to do so next week when I get back to the office.
<snip>

Regards

Mike C

Mike

I know it's not quite this thread, but are you able to confirm if 88" RCL Land Rover ARN 112-723 served in SVN? I came across a comment on the internet suggesting another website made a statement that it did, but the link to the site is now broken so I am left with a hint that it did but no confirmation. (Maybe I don't want to know if it didn't!)

Also my Mk3 ARN 170-437, but considering it still has an original Mk3 cab I rather suspect it didn't go to SVN. One thing that is odd about the truck is that it has personal markings on the drivers door over the deep bronze green and under the olive drab, so definitely applied early in service. I thought door markings on soft skinned vehicles was a no no? At least in RASC/RACT or infantry. Any idea what unit it may have been? There has been a suggestion of one of the reserve cav squadrons 8/13 VMR or 4/19 PWLH out of Watsonia in Victoria.



The markings are a pair of daggers or Scottish derks points togther. The words above "The Derkers" and the words "Brash" and "Walshy" below and either side of the daggers.