Aussie WW2 staff cars

[Lang]

Hanno

I can't drive two. What about a visit to Australia (if you have had the jab by then) in July and help me get the two to Darwin?

Looks like I can keep the black one black. Have found a few photos of them black with senior officers on board. Attached is an American one but mine will be Australian marked (with Holden body of course)

Lang

PS Is that a rolled up camouflage net over the general's car in the parade photo?

[Mike K]

A few more

[Mike K]

More pics..............

[Mike K]

.................................................. ...

[Mike K]

.................................

[Lang]

Thanks Mike

A few 1942 models in there. I am sure they are mechanically identical and even much of the body the same only a bit more modern looking in the front and no running boards.

Lang

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lang

Hanno

I can't drive two. What about a visit to Australia (if you have had the jab by then) in July and help me get the two to Darwin?

Hello Lang,

That sounds like an exciting trip, and what a great offer! You were saying 3,000km to the start and another 3,000km home from Darwin. Plus another 1,500km for the tour itself? That makes for an epic trip.

Let's play it by ear to see how and when we get "back to normal" (or rather: adjust to the new reality). For what it's worth, currently in Holland we are locked up at night like we were during WW2 and supplies of jabs are lagging behind the schedule ...

Cheers,
Hanno

PS: I've started reading up on the trip here: https://www.backtothetrack2021.com

[Lang]

Yes Hanno, I doubt your ability to travel in the 6 months remaining before the start. We will send pictures!


Lang

[Lang]

Picked up the first Chev and blew the turbo intercooler hose off the Nissan Navara for the second time in 10 days. Limped into Ipswich and had the incorrect hose clip replaced with the proper one. Thankfully it only took 10 minutes. With 200hp and 600nm of torque this little ute is really outstanding for towing - didn't know it had the Chev on the back.

[David Herbert]

It is surprising how big a bang it makes when you blow a turbo hose off. I did it and my first thought was a tire blown but then realised that nothing had happened to the handling but I didn't have any power. They go much better with the hose back in place !

Nice Chevy too !

David

[Lang]

Yes David a big bang!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Lang

Yes Hanno, I doubt your ability to travel in the 6 months remaining before the start. We will send pictures!

Please do! I'd better start to plan for the next event...

[Lang]

Got the second one home today.

[Matt Austin]

Absolutely fantastic, well done Lang!

Of course, my 1940 Pontiac came after I sat on my 1940 Chev for the last five years, and my wife suggested I buy a runner rather than depending upon my almost-nonexistent mechanical skills! I did so, being very happy with the Pontiac, but disappointed that it doesn't have military history.

So Lang, I hope you don't mind if I vicariously live out my staff car dreams through your posts!

Cheers,
Matt

[Lang]

Thanks Matt

I think you are going well with the Pontiac. I would not be too precious about the staff car history. The only thing that makes them special is the colour (and as I found out the black ones were used by the military though whether impressed, borrowed or on strength I have no idea).

I was trying to get some history from GM and GMH sites and from what I can see the black one has a normal non-military set of codes on the data plates. This does not mean it was never used by the military but leans toward initial civilian ownership whether impressed later or not.

The green one has a government delivery code but this could be for any department including the services so no proof there. I don't really want to be trawling through the AWM records searching for it. It looks to have a sand colour as the base coat on the firewall but GMH had a similar colour on offer for general sale.

Whatever, I am going to choose the best of them, mix and match (not motors) to get the best and sell the other one. If the black one wins it will stay black and if the green one wins it will probably have its American markings removed and receive Australian citizenship.

lang