FWD HAR-1

[cliff]

it is coming along very nicely mate.

Cheers
Cliff

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by BEN-RIPPINGHAM
hopefully also a pic of the new bright red toy, i'm sick of these odd-ball trucks so thats why i,ve bought one of those common close cab gmc's as you can see.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by BEN-RIPPINGHAM
hopefullythis new fly-zipper will work or be modified/improved to suit the forum by someone. pics include truck chassis/cab after nut and bolt rebuild and the body a few weeks ago prior to the start of restoration. hopefully also a pic of the new bright red toy, i'm sick of these odd-ball trucks so thats why i,ve bought one of those common close cab gmc's as you can see.

Ben, great work you've done on that FWD! Now, I don't suppose that, after you're finished with the closed cab International, you are willing to turn your able hand to something as "easy" as a Canadian Military pattern truck, would you

Keep up the good work!

Hanno

[cliff]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
after you're finished with the closed cab International, you are willing to turn your able hand to something as "easy" as a Canadian Military pattern truck, would you

Hmmm a little bit of a difference between a International and a GMC-CCKW LOL

still very nice whichever way you go though

cheers
Cliff

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Another HAR-1 is advertised on MilWeb, looks like an ex-snowblower :

And 5 days later, another one is re-advertised:

Extremely Rare FWD HAR1 Cargo 1943 4x4
99% Complete, needs brakes freeing , electrics seeing too, and a lick of paint, most work completed, Runs very well. Ex RAF snow blower so mielage is very low, now fitted with GMC back body, also fitted with hard roof and doors made by the RAF during its service, very rare truck one of only 4 known in the UK. Offers around £2500 or WHY, may px for smaller vehicle. South Yorkshire/
0115 9782413
Paul 19 October '06

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

yep another snow blower! of the less than 10,000 har-1s ever produced i wonder what propotion were cargo and which were snow blowers? anyone?

any aussies out there who know who owns the one at the corowa event pictured page 4 in wheels and tracks 49????

regards

ben

[Luigi Berardi]

Hi Ben ,
I find with Google This jap. homepage
http://www66.tok2.com/home2/tankguy/...06/fwdhar.html
Regards Luigi

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I gather that the Ministry of Supply ordered a number for towing smoke generators.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by David_Hayward (RIP)

I gather that the Ministry of Supply ordered a number for towing smoke generators.

Here’s a new picture of FWD HAR-1 towing smoke generators

IMG_3715.jpeg

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

hi folks

those pictures on that japanese site are of my truck hence the chassis/cab at stoneleigh town and country festival. thanks for bringing those nice pics to my attention though.

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

well, well being sold on by armycars a company in the states of all places. looks like the ex-budge one to me???

[Hanno Spoelstra]

From MilWeb:

FWD Breaking for spares

Parts available include, engine, gearbox, transfer box, axles, chassis, cab, wheels etc. Very rare, all parts in excellent condition.
01995 61555

Terry Till 23 May '07

[Les Freathy]

It was May the last time this thread surfaced, hows the restoration going Ben. Found this shot of a Aussie FWD form the AWM
cheers
Les

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

I found a photo or two of a civvy FWD snow-blower, with a Mack plough I think it was, in the archive I was sent. This would date to around 1963? Will try and dig it out. Excuse pun!

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

Thanks for the pic, never seen one being used in action. the restoration is almost complete and i will post some pics here later in the week. I have spent all my monies on the truck this year and so can't afford the transportation/fuel costs of going to 'far a field'. Therefore i will only be atttending a few local events this season.

regards
ben

[lynx42]

Glen Stones is the owner of the FWD seen at Corowa a few years ago. He Lived in the next town to Corowa but has since shifted to the Gippsland area.
This photo was taken at the MAFFRA SHED. A museum collection of Gippsland cars. The theme at present is Commercial and Military Vehicles. The theme changes each 3 months. Next theme is the Best of British. Sorry if its a bit out of focus.
Rick

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

Thats the truck i enquired about a few threads ago and has appeared in wheels and tracks magazine!
I think then that i can assume at present, discounting the ex-ian furey king truck which is a converted snow-blower that there are only 3 restored FWD HAR-1 Cargo Trucks in the world:

1. The ex-budge one which now resides in the states

2. The example just shown in oz

3. Mine here in the uk

Actually just been in contact with a guy in oz called Dick Carey who owns one, albeit sounds heavily modified by the oz army with blitz running gear and along way off being restored at present.

regards
ben.

[Mike K]

They are a fairly rare machine here in OZ , you see the odd one in a old saw mill, usually in a horrid state . A former VMVC member was restoring one in the late 70's early 1980's , down on the Bellarine peninsula - Don't know what became of it or him . I had a Parts list for a FWD HAR cargo truck , sold it to a chap in Tassie who has one of the trucks - Near Deloraine .

Glen's truck is a beauty - odd colour scheme though , gloss orangy yellow .

Mike

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

Thanks for the info', if you've any detailed pics of glenn's truck really would appreciate it if you could post them here so i can compare the accuracy of my restoration job with his truck. shame you sold that parts book, as could do with one myself.

regards
ben

[lynx42]

There are a few FWD HAR-1's here in OZ. Bob Dimer in Western Australia, drove his on the "Back to the Track" trip in 1995. I have a rough one as well. Two were recently sent for scrap in South Australia.There was one in Stawell, Victoria in 1993. Very rough with a Blitz front end. I have photo's of all of them somewhere. I'll post as soon as I find them. Rick

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by BEN-RIPPINGHAM
Thanks for the pic, never seen one being used in action. the restoration is almost complete and i will post some pics here later in the week.

Ben,

Just recently I saw a film clip showing an FWD in action with a Canadian unit in NW Europe. Will see if I can make a screen shot and post it here.

Would love to see pictures, or even better, your truck in the metal sometime!

Regards,
Hanno

[Les Freathy]

OK guys dont know where it is or when but have been told it was in the UK. who owned it and more important where is it now
Les

[Les Freathy]

You will like this one Ben, a section of FWD issued to the Polish army in Italy as a artillery supply unit

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

wow guys, well impressed with all your contributions, thankyou!!!

The last picture of the polish trucks lined up is very interesting and i was at one stage going to mark my truck as that which represented the 'wojtek bear' artillary group which can be clearly marked on the side of each of those trucks carrying the shell.

However that would have meant buying a 25 pounder to tow behind my truck making it even slower! and covering it in that disruptive camo' pattern which to be honest i don't have the courage to do to my my freshly retsored truck.

Anyways here (HOPEFULLY) are some pics of my truck taken yesterday with my gorgeous daughter 'Rosie' modelling next to.

i love the forum, but find posting pics such here such a ball-ache! if anyone can sort out my pics attachment thingy i'd much appreciate it, thanks in advance.

regards
ben

[cliff]

Ben when I download your attachment it seems to be bedded in a Windows Word document and not just a photo by itself. This may be your problem.

Under the type box that you type your post into is 4 little check boxes and under that is a blank area with "Browse" beside it. Click this "browse" button and a choose file box appears. Scroll through this and find the photo you wish to post (this area is in your own computer showing your picture files). Click on the photo and if it is the right size for the site it will automaticly upload and display in your post.

Max pic width for this site is 700 pixels wide

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

There we are fella's thats what a huge pile of money and effort looks like painted green, give me a few more weeks and i'll have marked it up like the first vehicle of the contract which it belongs too which came off the original data plate, can't remember the technical details, but below is the picture of the truck i'm talking of first vehicle of first contract.

opinions then please on my efforts, this resto' has not been easy !!!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

End of a story. We´ve seen it on here, from being bought and restored, to being put up for sale: Ben´s FWD HAR-1 4-TON Cargo Truck is for sale on MilWeb: http://www.milweb.net/webverts/46000/

FWD HAR-1 4-TON Cargo Truck

b.jpg

This truck is probably the rarest surviving american truck of WW2, there only being 2 other original cargo trucks of this type in the world. This particular truck is the only known survivor of British Contract S/M2330 of 1943 which is clearly displayed on the remnants of the original data plates. This truck has undergone a (fully documented)complete 'ground up' restoration over the past 5 years and displays the markings of the first unit of contract S/M2330 which only comprised of 1,664 trucks. These trucks have been documented as seeing extensive use with both British and Polish forces (see Wheels & Tracks No.5 / Sikorski Museum Archives) throughout both Italian and Northern European campaigns.

Clearly a great deal of time and money have been invested by myself into restoring this truck into the remarkable condition it displays today. Every attention to detail during the restoration from the correct type/grade nuts & bolts to the fit of the bespoke canvas-work has been made with this truck. The truck also comes with a complete spares package including spare engines, gearboxes, axles etc.

£15,000.

Ben Rippingham 07799 113016 (after 5pm weekdays)

[BEN-RIPPINGHAM]

Yep thats right she's up for sale, not an easy decision to make and believe me... if it wasn't for the substantial new project i've the 'possible' opportunity to own this truck wouldn't be for sale at all!!!

Don't get me wrong i do have to sell to afford this 'possible new project' but don't really want to sell this truck and although i'd like a new challenge, the thought of never having to see the back of this truck is possibly almost as appealing!!!

Either way:
* if i sell it = great, new challenge....?
* If i don't sell = great, I get to keep the truck I've always wanted to own!


Its not cheap, hopefully nobody will be interested to the tune i'm asking for the FWD and that will have made my decision?

regards to you Hanno and everyone,

Ben

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by BEN-RIPPINGHAM

Yep thats right she's up for sale, not an easy decision to make and believe me...

Ben,

I understand. Either way, I hope she continues to get the care she deserves after you rescued her from oblivion. A job well done!

And if you take on another challenge, we count on you giving us a full account on this forum.

Thanks and keep up the good work.
Hanno

P.S. what happened to that LAAT?

[lynx42]

Ben,
There are at least 9 more FWD's over here in OZ.
Three have recently gone to the scrappy. (Two in South Australia and one that I didn't know about only 100km. from me, late last year. )
I have one, (mine is unrestored), and so does Glen Stones at Swan Reach, Vic. Glens is one of the best restored trucks you'll ever see. Bob Dimer in Western Australia has a fifth wheel on his. He drove it on the "Back to the Track" trip from Alice Springs to Darwin in 1995.
The RAAF used them as tippers during WW2and post-war.
(I had noticed that you stated only 2 in the world in your Milweb advert.)
Good luck with the sale. Pity I can't afford it, as it will take me forever to get mine to equal yours.Are you going to let us in on the possible new purchase????
Regards Rick