Found in a paddock

Little Jo · #1 29-12-10, 05:55

Hi All

I am wondering if anyone can help identify the rear of what looks like part of a military vehicle parked in a paddock. I have been driving past it for about 30years and watched it slowly deteriorate.

I never took much notice of it, until I started my Jeep restoration project and became interested in all military vehicles. I have always wondered what it was, so can anyone help. It is mosat probably now a home for snakes and Red Backs.

Happy New year to all MLU's

Little Jo

Ryan · #2 29-12-10, 07:47

I had a look through the ww2 vanderveen truck book but could come up with no matches for you.
If it is military I'm guessing an office, wireless or workshop body.

But I don't no. It may not be military. The extented body at the front suggests it went over the drivers cab, leaving no room for the spare wheel/tool box. So probably not CMP.

My 2 cents. I'll leave it to the experts.

Ryan

Little Jo · #3 29-12-10, 09:13

Ryan

Thanks mate, the body has confused me for years, the paintwork looked as if it may have been military, but it has faded a lot. A guy I knew who lived near the paddock told me years ago he thought it was the rear of a military command vehicle. Someone out there may know.

Cheers

Little Jo

colin jones · #4 29-12-10, 10:54

Well I reckon its a very early Winniebago

Colin.

Little Jo · #5 29-12-10, 12:02

Colin

We would have to get you to put a draw bar and some wheels under it.

Little Jo

Euan McDonald · #6 29-12-10, 12:48

I have seen one like this in the military museum in Darwin. Maybe Jared my shed some light on it. I have a feeling its from a GMC .

gjamo · #7 29-12-10, 22:14

Little Jo check this thread.
Graeme

http://www.mapleleafup.org/forums/sh...light=adelaide

Little Jo · #8 30-12-10, 07:54

Graeme

Thanks for the link, the body sure has caused some interest over the years. The 2007 photo is the one I am enquiring about and the 1962 photo of an Army truck certainly looks like the one in question, even with the overhead lockers. It is a shame it has not been restored and on the back of a military truck. I have not been able to climb over the electric fence to check for any data plates.

Little Jo

lallat · #9 26-01-11, 08:52

Attached are pics of a similar body to the one in question. This one was removed from an Inter ACCO 6 x 6.
I was told by the late Bruce Wiltshire that these were originally fitted to the 6 x 6 Studebaker. If my memory serves me correct I believe he told me he something to do with the fitting of these bodies to the Studebaker. He had a picture of a Studebaker with the same body fitted.
My guess is that that when the Studebaker was phased out the body was then fitted to the ACCO.
The interior of this one is fitted with benches, underneath drawers and cupboards.

Little Jo · #10 26-01-11, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by lallat

Attached are pics of a similar body to the one in question. This one was removed from an Inter ACCO 6 x 6.
I was told by the late Bruce Wiltshire that these were originally fitted to the 6 x 6 Studebaker. If my memory serves me correct I believe he told me he something to do with the fitting of these bodies to the Studebaker. He had a picture of a Studebaker with the same body fitted.
My guess is that that when the Studebaker was phased out the body was then fitted to the ACCO.
The interior of this one is fitted with benches, underneath drawers and cupboards.

Lallat

Thanks mate, those photos you sent have cleared up the mystery, a peek though the broken side window showed it could easilly have been set up with benches. It is a shame to see it just rotting away. I believe in the past some people have approached the owner to sell, but they would not part with it. The longer it stays out in the open exposed to the weather the harder it will be for someone to restore in the future.

Little Jo

Stuart Kirkham · #11 26-01-11, 10:55

G'day Little Jo

Heres a photo taken during the Vietnam War of the same van body on an Australian army 4x4 Mk 3/4. The other photo shows the interior. This particular van was used to repair instruments of various types.

lynx42 · #12 26-01-11, 12:24

Stuart,

That photo is a photo of one of three Instrument Vans parked at Nui Dat, Vietnam. The three vans were used by 106 Fd. Workshops to provide clean, airconditioned work rooms for the repair of instruments, radios etc. 709 Signals Troup also used them in 1965 for base communication setups with the Australian made E514 transmitter.

It would be good to see one back up on a Mk3. Inter nowdays.

It would make a great camper.

Regards Rick.

Little Jo · #13 27-01-11, 07:04

Hi Stuart / Rick

Thanks for the updates, yep the photo looks just like the inside of the old van I saw, it was even still painted White on the inside. I gree with the earlier comments, could have made a good camper.

Litle Jo

Ryan · #14 31-08-16, 06:08

Do these still exist, especially the one in Vic?
Does lallat still visit MLU?

Little Jo · #15 31-08-16, 14:49

Hi Ryan

The body is still sitting in the paddock. I saw it a few weeks ago and it is a shame it is deteriorating after all those years in the paddock.

Cheers

Tony

Ryan · #16 03-09-16, 13:37

Cheers Joe.

Richard Farrant · #17 03-09-16, 13:58

These bodies appear identical to those built for the British army in 1950's. They were fitted to the Bedford RL FV13110, the body was designed to suit all foreseeable War Office Signals and REME machinery installation requirements at that time. Body builder was Marshalls of Cambridge. It is possible that these used in Australia were built locally to the FVRDE design.

regards, Richard

Ryan · #18 04-09-16, 08:53

Picture in service in Vietnam.

Richard Farrant · #19 04-09-16, 12:08

Here is a photo from a FVRDE publication of 1956 showing the body I described in a previous post, even had double doors in rear.

Mike Cecil · #20 04-09-16, 22:49

Images and information on the van-bodied No.1 Mk.3 Inters in SVN was published in my book Mud & Dust in 2010 pages 191, 192 and 199. Text on page 193.

Mike