to Champ or not to Champ......

[David DeWeese]

Thanks Richard for your input and Jack for the link to your Champ restoration! Obviously you both know your way around an Austin Champ.

Price is the main factor at this point. Don't want to insult anybody with a low-ball offer, but the owner needs to be educated on what he has, and what it is really worth.

I will get the serial numbers from both, and post them. The story is that someone bought five of these surplus from Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas many years ago. I've seen another listed for sale in Central Texas, so it may be one of the five.

Lynn, forgot to repond to your question from post #4: No Dodges on the property that I saw. The truck next to the Champ was a late-50's Ford.

Thanks again, David

[Lynn Eades]

Sorry David, I meant one in the back ground, in a photo you posted while you were doing the C8, at one stage.

[David DeWeese]

Hi Lynn,

I've had quite a few Dodge military trucks at my shop, but sold all of them except my 1934 KH31 Dump truck.

The '34 restoration will start this fall when things cool down here...hopefully.

Thanks, David

[Mike Cecil]

Richard,

Thanks for the explanation re the back axle: strange how once a problem is identified, it lingers in the memory, whereas the 'fix' doesn't seem to. I've certainly learnt something.

I remember providing Malcolm H the list of the 400 Aussie champ chassis/engine numbers many years ago. A careful examination showed there were a few 'repeats' in the sequence, probably where the Army clerks had transcribed the figures incorrectly. I never have found the '401' (the trials vehicle's) chassis number, just its registration. The Humber 1 ton was trialled at the same time: that vehicle went back to the UK, but the damaged Champ was retained for some reason, and placed on ledger transfer to Army from Dept of Supply.

Mike C

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Lynn,
I guess they rust the same as any 60 year old open top that is left out in a paddock. The sills are do tend to be be rust prone though, as well as the battery compartment/s of course. Ok, around the wheel arches can go as well.....and the fuel tank.....

Jack,
Nice to have another Champee at MLU, think that makes Four. It would be remiss of me not to mention that you have a standing invitation to all Australian Champ Camps. Usually around Easter, 2014 will be near Mansfield in Vic.

Mike,
according to Gus Gowers (Champ Enigma authour) about Fifty of the 400 still remain in "active preservation".
Rich.