Australian International K5

[motto]

There have been very few of the ex-army K series Inter's restored and it would be great to see one up and running, out and about.
There is only one thing I would ask of you Matt, please don't paint it up gloss!
Gloss paint on an army vehicle that only ever saw service in a flat finish looks garishly wrong and totally ruins the restoration in my opinion. I don't understand why people do that as I feel it makes the vehicle appear more pimp-mobile than HMV.

David

[Matt Austin]

Good call, David. I was thinking of even getting it going and registered, and leaving it in its current paint, for the time being at least. I come from an historic aviation background, so I'm not a big fan of glossy WW2 machinery! With due respect and credit to the gent who restored the truck a couple of posts up.

A nicely-used look would do me, without looking too rat rod-like.

Cheers,
Matt

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by motto

There have been very few of the ex-army K series Inter's restored and it would be great to see one up and running, out and about.

Absolutely, they've been sadly neglected in MV circles and it would be fabulous to see one at Corowa, particularly an Australian ragtop conversion. Here's another one in a yard near you Matt.

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[Tony Wheeler]

This may be another one which has had a roof and rear cab transplant.

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[Tony Wheeler]

Various early Inters in the same yard. The little one next to the K-Series would make a very cute pickup.

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[Tony Wheeler]

This one is in Victoria and I'll be visiting again soon so I'll have a closer look for parts, eg. dashboard.

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[Matt Austin]

Fascinating, thanks Tony. Those pics are proof that good stuff is still out there. I'd certainly be interested in seeing if any spares might be available, locally or further afield. Among other things, a seat would be very handy!

I had a breakthrough, when talking with Keith Webb and Mike Cecil, and I thank these gentlemen for going out of their way to help me. These are fascinating vehicles, and I was very happy to learn that many of the military records had survived. Rather a mundane topic, and knowing the bureaucratic mindset (a little too well!), I was impressed that they'd been considered worthy of retention, when the postwar disposals were complete.

Mike asked for various details, and he was able to find that the Army registration number was 43362. So now I know what to paint on the bonnet and tailgate. Before I do, I'm going to continue some non-invasive examination to see if any of the original numbers remain. Given that the truck is still in its military paint, I wonder if the original numbers have faded beyond recognition?

The fact that a few trucks of this type are turning up in not far from me, I wonder whether they were surplussed locally? These vehicles were ordered by the AMF not the AIF, so they didn't go overseas. I'm wondering if they were used at the recruit training base at Kapooka, which was quite busy during the war years, obviously enough? It'd make sense that there would've been a good number of trucks set up for troop transport.

Turns out that this vehicle was sold back to IHC, probably at the end of the war. I wonder if IHC bought a batch from Kapooka, and sold them locally? I'm looking through Trove to see if I can find any postwar advertisements for surplus material being sold from Wagga.

It's a fascinating study, and I hope to do it justice.

Cheers,
Matt

[motto]

I have to admit that the fellow who rebuilt the truck in Stuarts pictures did a fabulous job of restoration, especially when you look at the photo of what he started with.
What I find hard to understand is why you would go to all that trouble and then completely undo the authenticity of the project with a high gloss finish and lacquered timber tray.
I once took my somewhat used looking 42 WLA Harley to the Hanging Rock Vehicle Show which usually attracts 2,500 plus vehicles and parked it among all the gleaming, polished and presented later models.
Guess which motorcycle attracted more attention than most of the rest put together.
There is a mystique about something that's obviously 'been around a bit' that is worth preserving. You definitely have the right approach Matt in trying to preserve the originality of the truck that has come into your care. More power to you.
My 2 cents worth.

David

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Matt Austin

I'd certainly be interested in seeing if any spares might be available, locally or further afield.

This K-Series was one of a pair which sold on ebay last year for about $150 each, in a town about 70 km from me. I bought a blitz wreck from the same guy and he told me the Inter buyer was a collector, so he may be good for parts. Next time I'm down that way I'll drop in ask the seller if he still has contact details. I'd give him a ring but I no longer have his phone number.

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