just bought a jeep

[wayne lane]

After a bit of chasing around scored this jeep from remote outback south Australia. Been sheded for almost 50 years dragged out about 12months ago in a big farm cleanup and almost got pushed into the farms tip lucky it got sat to the side while other things were going on and I was lucky to score it. Something particularly interesting about the jeep I have a little sketchy information given the unusual plaques on the bonnet indicate it was credited with being the first motor vehicle to explore and exploration mapping of lake eyer south Australia by a well known explorer warren bonython. This would be why the extra water cans and fuel tanks are fitted and the fuel tanks just happen to be off a Bren gun carrier. I'm sure to understand that what I have found is a lost piece of unique lost Australian history

[maple_leaf_eh]

Good find! There is a parallel thread about some TV station wanting to build a GPA Halfsafe replica. Your example might be in the same class of historic vehicles, even if it is 'just a Jeep' now.

My advice would be to start researching, and get documentary confirmation of its status. Fix, clean and repair but do not attempt to restore it to wartime condition.

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Nice find Wayne,
No reason to doubt the authenticity of this Jeep, shame that Warren only died a few years back, otherwise it would have been the easiest bit of research.
If you restore it to it's exploration phase you will have one hell of a talking point, interesting/historical/unique. Restore it back to it's military origins and you will have yet another green Jeep, that will for some reason be worth more $.
The usual restorers conundrum for you and you alone to deal with.
(but blue is a nice change...)
Rich.
PS, just noticed the seating arrangements, 3 abreast, hate to have been the piggy in the middle.

[Ian Fawbert]

Wonderful! What a great find Wayne.

As the others have eluded to, and I grant its your jeep so do what you wants but this is too nice of a jeep to restore- and too rare of a historically significant vehicle to restore or restore to its original military spec.

If you want one to restore to military spec, let me know as if be happy to work something out with you as a trade for a very complete GPW I have which is half restored.

Anyway, thanks for sharing! It is very neat to see such a different, complete and unique vehicle has survived!

Cheers,
Ian.

[Mike Cecil]

Nice, unusual find ..... do you know the chassis number? It may lead to knowing the original army reg number (just to add to the history).

Mike

[Wayne Henderson]

Dust it off carefully, keep everything, too good to wreck by restoring it.
Jeeps are everywhere but this is history.
Contact some museums and do research before you do anything.
It's your choice but the world doesn't need another green jeep.
Brilliant vehicle to score.

[Richard Farrant]

Hi Wayne,
A good historical find, needs preserving as it is. Did you find this at Marree?

regards, Richard

[Peter Phillips]

Great save! Did this adventurer have other members with him when he travelled? Maybe they're still about? I can't say that I've ever seen a 3 seater before. There's got to be some news or magazine articles about it somewhere. I'd love to watch this transform into a runner again. Probably won't take much to get it working based on your dry climate; unless something major is broken.

[Tony Smith]

Have a look at THIS SITE. Scroll down to the bottom of the page (or read the story, it's worth a look!) and view the video. At 5:15, you might see something familiar! (For me, I'd like the vehicle at 14:32 )

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Woohoo!
Well done Tony.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Great find, both the jeep and the video clip!



Is this the former owner?

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Is this the former owner?

Attachment 79421

Yes, that's Warren Bonython who steps out of the red plane and drives the jeep.