Blitz Chassis and Truck info wanted

[Jason Linders]

Thanks for that Keith i also found the gearbox number.

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

Thanks for that Keith i also found the gearbox number.

Which is...?

[Jason Linders]

3G47582F AND WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE BLITZ TYRES

Thanks

[Jason Linders]

And the numbers under the hood
8(?) 23 12 55 and then near the bottom looks like
179

[Keith Webb]

Originally Posted by Jason Linders

3G47582F AND WHAT IS THE SIZE OF THE BLITZ TYRES

Thanks

Should be 10.50-20 for yours. Originally it was fitted with 'runflat' tyres and the body was not designed to carry a spare.

[Keith Webb]

I have found your ARN: 132272

It was issued through Victoria Barracks when new in 1942, written off and disposed of by the Board of Survey, March 22nd 1960. Incidentally the previous ARN, also a gun tractor was written off the same day, and I have this listed as being at Meandarra Qld.

[Ken Smith]

I am interested in this no provision for a spare. Mike Cecil in his AMEP series states that the rear floor is timber planks and there is no spare tyre mount .I wrote to Mike in 1992 and queried that statement as I have what appears to be a spare tyre mount welded in the rear compartment from new and mine has a steel floor, I didn't get a reply and as Mike is a good researcher I wondered are there early and late bodies? I can't find a Holden body number or where there has been one but there is a little copper/lead tag about 1 inch by 1/4 inch soldered under the lower right of the rear door opening.
Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.
My rear body section is Chev as it turns out.

Cheers Ken

[Keith Webb]

It depends whether yours is a No8 or 9. They both have wooden floorboards in the rear but the No9 does have provision for a spare on the right side, and it also has a ramp carried on the outside of the vehicle. The No8 is considerably narrower inside due to the lockers on both sides of the body and therefore only has a single door on the back as opposed to the two doors on the No9, which also has a step in the roof.

Feel free to post some pics of yours here.

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

I am interested in this no provision for a spare. Mike Cecil in his AMEP series states that the rear floor is timber planks and there is no spare tyre mount .I wrote to Mike in 1992 and queried that statement as I have what appears to be a spare tyre mount welded in the rear compartment from new and mine has a steel floor, I didn't get a reply and as Mike is a good researcher I wondered are there early and late bodies? I can't find a Holden body number or where there has been one but there is a little copper/lead tag about 1 inch by 1/4 inch soldered under the lower right of the rear door opening.
Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.
My rear body section is Chev as it turns out.

Cheers Ken

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Ken Smith

Imagine trying to lift a CMP 20 inch wheel up on to the roof, I think something or somebody would have got broken but I guess when you are in the bush you just had to get on with it.

Yes it would certainly be a bit of a struggle but nothing out of the ordinary for young fit Arty crews used to hauling 25 pdrs through mud and scrub!

I have an idea with runflats they sometimes just carried a spare tyre, to be fitted on the rim when time permitted. I've seen photos where the tyre on the roof looks too thin to be on a rim.

As Keith says the problem was rectified with the No.9 gun tractor, which yours would seem to be Ken. We'd love to see some pics if you can post here.

Cheers,
Tony

[Tony Wheeler]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

I have found your ARN: 132272

Nice work Keith! This is quite close to my FGT8 ARN 132257, or remains thereof! I'll be interested to see if Jason finds any trace of Desert Stone on the panels, as found on mine. This colour was discontinued here in mid '42 so it should give us a fix on production date.

Just to inspire you Jason here's a few pics of the colours and markings appropriate for your FGT8 when the time comes. Factory camo at the time was Khaki Green / Light Stone. E1 tactical sign indicates E Troop, Tractor 1.

[Tony Wheeler]

They also had a stencilled Formation Sign, this one turned out to be NT Force.