MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > MILITARY VEHICLES > The Softskin Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 31-07-11, 03:21
jeff davis's Avatar
jeff davis jeff davis is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: maple ridge b.c
Posts: 537
Default MA Jeep Drive

Laurel and Hardy Jeep Drive vvery good shots of the erly Jeep in action
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_0Ea...yer_detailpage
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 31-07-11, 04:16
Mike K's Avatar
Mike K Mike K is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 5,865
Default Aussie MA

There is a Willys MA being restored in Sydney . It was found on a fruit orchard, they had fitted a semi type trailer behind it and chopped the body .

We were talking to TOM ROLFE ? from the AMVCS at Corowa who is invovled in restoring it .

Rare vehicle .
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 31-07-11, 04:24
warren brown warren brown is offline
warren brown
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 558 bourke st surry hills australia 2010
Posts: 177
Default

That's a really great find Jeff! I really don't know what that jeep is - a Bantam BRC 40-type thing? It has that early Camp Holabird prototype look about it. It has that tapering, pointed bonnet (hood) and free standing headlights like a Bantam. But the front end is really odd with that unusual, fine grille behind the brushguard - and if you freeze frame during some of the bouncing shots - the car doesn't seem to have a front differential - it looks as though it might have a transverse leaf spring like a Model T Ford - it sure is springy in the front end. I'd love to know what it is!!!!
Warren.
__________________
C60X
M3A1 Scout Car
Willys MB
Ford GPW
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 31-07-11, 04:39
warren brown warren brown is offline
warren brown
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 558 bourke st surry hills australia 2010
Posts: 177
Default

Yes Mike - that MA is finished now. I understand it was at a recent Corowa where it won an award - Best MA? Tom did a great job of it. I remember seeing a photo of it nearly 20 years ago - a ruin under a tree.
__________________
C60X
M3A1 Scout Car
Willys MB
Ford GPW
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 31-07-11, 05:36
warren brown warren brown is offline
warren brown
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 558 bourke st surry hills australia 2010
Posts: 177
Default

The jeep looks a bit like the Bantam Mk II prototype - the side grab handles are roughly in the right spot, but the mudguards (fenders) are too angular compared to any photos I've seen of Bantams, Willys Quads, MAs or Ford Pygmys.
If you can freeze frame have a look at the underneath at 1:35 - 1:37, it looks like the car has double transverse leaf springs - one on top of the other. At 3:08, you can see the lower spring hanging down quite clearly.
However - if you freeze at 0:21, right at the beginning - the rear wheels protrude outside the body - the track is wider than the car.
This film was made in 1941 - I don't imagine the US army handing over jeep prototypes to Laurel and Hardy - so my guess it's a mock-up of the up and coming latest in military technology - the jeep. But it's pretty darned convincing!!!
__________________
C60X
M3A1 Scout Car
Willys MB
Ford GPW
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 31-07-11, 05:45
Mike K's Avatar
Mike K Mike K is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 5,865
Default Right

Quote:
Originally Posted by warren brown View Post
Yes Mike - that MA is finished now. I understand it was at a recent Corowa where it won an award - Best MA? Tom did a great job of it. I remember seeing a photo of it nearly 20 years ago - a ruin under a tree.
Roger that . I cannot see the U Tube as I only have dial up. Many years ago I found a Bantam BRC grill down here in Vic. It was a part of a large collection .

I used to talk to the old guys in at Stokoe Motors in the 1970's . Don White and the other chap worked there on the counter. Stokoe's were Australia's first Jeep dealers . Anyway , they used to tell me stories of the US army and Marines arriving at Port Melbourne with MA,s and Bantams etc., driving up and around the docks.

When the yanks left, they took all the cars with them ... but apparently one or two escaped . There was a orphan Ford GP found in Vic too . Lots of jeep guys from the VMVC or cross country jeep club went to look at it in the early 70's , bit nobody wanted it cos it was DIFFERENT . This was a genuine left behind GP , not a recent import .

Mike
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 31-07-11, 06:07
warren brown warren brown is offline
warren brown
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 558 bourke st surry hills australia 2010
Posts: 177
Default

Mike, I'll try and get a screen grab from Youtube. Not sure how to do it yet - but I'll find a way.
__________________
C60X
M3A1 Scout Car
Willys MB
Ford GPW
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 31-07-11, 06:59
Idunno Idunno is offline
Carl Barredo
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: california
Posts: 16
Default

Howdy Guys
Twenty-five years ago I had a chance to buy a replica Jeep that was built by famed race car builder Frank Kurtiss, who built the Jeep in the early 1940s for Hollywood, because Jeeps were not available due to the war.
The one I looked at resembled the MB/GPW style and was built on a Ford Model T chassic and running gear.
I didnt buy it at the time because I was trying to buy a Australian LP2A carrier instead.
Maybe the Jeep was updated back then to appear more "modern" if it even was the same one. At any rate I regret not buying that replica and I have no idea where it went.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 31-07-11, 23:12
Keith Webb's Avatar
Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
Film maker, CMP addict
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: HIGHTON VIC
Posts: 8,218
Default Ma

Quote:
Originally Posted by warren brown View Post
Yes Mike - that MA is finished now. I understand it was at a recent Corowa where it won an award - Best MA? Tom did a great job of it. I remember seeing a photo of it nearly 20 years ago - a ruin under a tree.
Not only that it was the star of the DVD with an interview with Tom.
__________________
Film maker

42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains
42 FGT No9 (Aust)
42 F15
Keith Webb
Macleod, Victoria Australia
Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 01-08-11, 00:54
warren brown warren brown is offline
warren brown
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: 558 bourke st surry hills australia 2010
Posts: 177
Default

Keith - I must buy the DVD!! Is it out yet?

Years ago, when I was the editor of the AMVCS magazine, I visited Darcy Miller's (MV Spares) factory in Sydney. At that time , he had, believe it or not, an MA, a Bantam and a Ford GP lined up together. I photographed them and published them at the time. I'm sure I have the photos somewhere - even if they're in the magazine. Give me a day or so.
__________________
C60X
M3A1 Scout Car
Willys MB
Ford GPW
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 01-08-11, 02:02
Keith Webb's Avatar
Keith Webb Keith Webb is offline
Film maker, CMP addict
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: HIGHTON VIC
Posts: 8,218
Default 2010 dvd

Hi Warren, yes the 2010 Year of the Jeep DVD is available, still working on the 2011 Year of the Oil Leak and European Vehicle...

Here's a preview of the YOTJ opener: Link


Quote:
Originally Posted by warren brown View Post
Keith - I must buy the DVD!! Is it out yet?

Years ago, when I was the editor of the AMVCS magazine, I visited Darcy Miller's (MV Spares) factory in Sydney. At that time , he had, believe it or not, an MA, a Bantam and a Ford GP lined up together. I photographed them and published them at the time. I'm sure I have the photos somewhere - even if they're in the magazine. Give me a day or so.
__________________
Film maker

42 FGT No8 (Aust) remains
42 FGT No9 (Aust)
42 F15
Keith Webb
Macleod, Victoria Australia
Also Canadian Military Pattern Vehicles group on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/canadianmilitarypattern
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 13:39.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016