Australian 1941 Ford 1 Ton Van

[Tony Smith]

Amazingly for a 67 year old vehicle, the canvas Roadster canopy is not only present, but fully intact and watertight!

[Phil Waterman]

Tony- Looks like a really interesting restoration project, from the pictures it looks to be amazingly complete and as you say good condition for 67 years.

Please keep us posted on what you find as you work on it. Does the engine turn or is stuck from years of sitting?

Cheers

Phil

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Phil Waterman

Tony- Looks like a really interesting restoration project.....
Does the engine turn or is stuck from years of sitting?

Cheers

Phil

While the engine is covered in yet more Red Dust, the good airfilters have kept it out of the engine. It still turns over, although it hasn't yet been cranked or started. The radiator is sound, but the water can't be filled until a couple of rusted out rad pipes are replaced. (The plank between the two pipes is "Not original"!)

The coil has been changed for a modern style, and the distributor is a Post-war one. That will be given the flick, but will be used in the meantime to get the engine running.

[aj.lec]

Congratulations on your find
It looks like a great project

[Jeff Gordon]

Wow what a great find!
Just wondering if the ARN should have a 1 in front of it that has just worn off?
Or is it just a very low number.
A very practical vehicle for long trips, back to the track 2010
Cheers
Jeff

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Tony, Tony, Tony, I fear this project is somewhat beyond you so I suggest that you immediately relocate this vehicle to our shed. It will be lovingly restored and you will even get to have a drive when finished. How is that for a bargain.

Mate, what a beautiful vehicle, onya!! The other thing I can see is missing is the water-bag bracket. Attached is an image Cliff put up before.

Bob

[Mike K]

Tony

You lucky so AND SO.. IT'S A BLOODY RIPPER .

Here's a pic of one I was chasing in 1986.. a 1940 model with the civvy 17" wheels . It lives near Junee .

Another was sold at auction at Young, NSW in 1990 .. nearly as good as yours, it went to Canberra .. then onto Mike Cecil who part restored it .. he sold it onto somebody. I suggest you contact Danny Stanton of Brisbane .. he's restoring a 1940 version... Another is being restored by John Neville ( VMVC member ) , down near Geelong .. and John Belfield has one too .

I think Mike Cecil had some new ute body side panels made up . The canvas tops had a window - so don't know what happened on yours ? The AWM on-line has pics of the 1940 version on service in the Middle East. Hills Hoist has a connection as well - a quiz for you .

hint .... click here http://www.hills.com.au/arbitrage/pages/48

Mike

[Tony Smith]

Well, ..... I can't be sure that the canopy IS watertight as it doesn't look like this truck has seen any water for some time! That's about 1/8" of dust on the dash, and the windscreens aren't exactly crystal clean! Interior is all intact and original.

All that dust has done a good job of preventing the paint from fading, the Army Registration Number 41074 is still legible on the bonnet sides. A check through the AWM records will reveal the original body variant for this truck.