The American Truck Historical Society (ATHS) is all about old trucks, and that’s what come to all their events, including their latest get-together at Echuca.
Some of these trucks have been totally refurbished, nut and bolt, but many turn up warts and all.
This year we thought we’d take a closer look at a few of these oldies that still wear their battle scars proudly, as well as a mint V8 Mack, and we’ll wrap up with a rebuild that may offend a few purists – but hey, it’s not their truck!
Founding joint organiser of the Koroit Truck Show, which is on again on January 25, Graeme Morris arrived at Echuca in his White Road Commander. With motive power being a VT903, Graeme says, “She is a bit of an old rattler and nothing flash, but it’s reasonably presentable and not a bad old truck. In fact, she drives like a dream.”
Graeme Morris with his White Road Commander. Image: Graham HarsantSo why did Graeme buy a White?
“I drove one many years ago on interstate and when this became available I couldn’t resist. The cabin needs bit of work but it’s presentable. One day, when and if the time becomes available, I’ll do a bit more work on her. It’s good to have a toy.”
Graham was accompanied on the trip from Koroit to Echuca by young Will McCosh who works for Graeme Morris’ son, Anthony, at Warrnambool-based company, PTS (Progress Transport Services). Will arrived in his dad’s International T2670.
“Dad’s had the truck for about 30 years now,” said Will. “He used to run Sydney- Perth, Brisbane and all over the joint with a flat top and tarps, as was the go back in the day.”
The old girl has over 2.5 million kilometres under her belt and the original 250 has been replaced with a 350 Big Cam Cummins and these days runs a 15 speed ‘box. The cab was tricked up prior to this year’s Crawlin’ the Hume, with new paint work on the chassis to come.
Jason Nind’s 1981 K123 cabover KW. Image: Graham HarsantWe’ve met Jason Nind before – when his boss won Rig of the Show at Castlemaine a couple of years ago. At Echuca, Jason turned up with his own toy, a 1981 Kenworth K123.
“I bought it as a hobby about two-and-a-half years ago and finally got it on the road last year. I don’t have anything else – no kids, no wife, no girlfriend. Just me and the truck.”
Jason should have enough money to do this up then, because wives and kids take up a lot of cash.
“This is an expensive hobby, but at least she doesn’t talk back,” laughs Jason in reply to my comment. “The truck is powered by a 400 Big Cam Cummins running through a 13-speed gearbox, AirGlide 100 and SP40 3.5 ratio, so it was a quick truck in its day.”
Jason bought the truck from a bloke in Finlay who wanted $28,000 cash. So Jason arrived with $25k, which the guy turned down. Long story short, he ended up buying it for $18,000. Obviously Jase is a good wheeler and dealer!
The truck is a piece of rolling history. “I don’t know a lot about the truck other than it was brought from Kenworth, Footscray as a stock truck. It was originally blue and white and had an A-model CAT in it.”
How to remind the old man that his truck is bequeathed to you. Image: Graham HarsantHow do you continually remind the old man that he’s to leave you his truck in his will? Get the truck tattooed on your leg is how! Joe Wood owns the 1967 W-model Kenworth, and Alec is the tattooed son.
“The old man always said he was going to get a tattoo of Popeye, which is on the side of the bonnet, but he’s scared of needles. I came home one day and told him that I’d done it, but also included the rest of the truck.”
Now, Joe also has a daughter. “Yes, and she will no doubt get the house, which is fully paid for,” laughed Joe.
We gently pointed out to Alec that if he inherited the house he could re-mortgage a fraction of it and use that to buy a truck.
“You can sleep in a truck,” quips Alec. “But you can’t drive a house!”
Guess it’s kinda hard to argue with that logic.
The day-cab truck was imported from Seattle by Blue Circle Southern, and Joe has owned it for the past 30 years. It works every day, doing tautliner work around Melbourne. Joe did interstate for six years, removing the passenger seat and replacing it with a bean bag for a bed. “It’s called, ‘Drive-all-the-time’,” said Joe, who, in a concession to getting older, recently added AirGlide 460 airbags for a more comfortable ride.
At 27, Alec’s earliest memories are of being in the truck and going to work with dad, “because day-care wasn’t a thing back then. This truck has been a part of me my entire life.”
Father and son Joe and Alec Wood with Joe’s 1967 W-model Kenworth. Image: Graham HarsantTim Bickley arrived in what seems to be the flavour of the month in truck renovation, that being a V8 Mack Superliner, and be in no doubt, Tim has done a great job with his.
“It’s a newly finished project. I’ve had the truck for 15 years so it’s taken a while. We added four foot to the chassis and I bought the bunk out of the US in 2008 off another Mk2 superliner. Lines and scrolls and the name on the door are to come next week.”
The interior is as good as the outside and you can hear the truck coming from miles away when Tim blasts the train air horns situated underneath the driver side steps. Tim is a farmer and the truck pulls grain tippers and hay, so this truck is more than just a show pony.
Trevor Davis is known around the traps as Trevor Slowspeed, a result of his ownership of a beautiful but sluggish 1927 International. Life however is about to speed up a little for Trev, with his acquisition – followed by a nut and bolt restoration – of another International, this time a 1960 AA 150 which he has been working on for close to two years, and unveiled at Echuca.
Painted in a deep purple, the truck certainly drew plenty of looks, with 99 per cent approving. The 281 cubic inch Inter engine has been updated with the addition of a turbocharger putting out 8lb of boost, and a Holly 600 carby sitting atop the block.
“She goes up hills now,” said Trev.
Trev ‘Slowspeed’ Davis now moves a bit more quickly. Image: Graham HarsantIn a stroke of genius, he bought a bunk off an old Ford F150 and reversed it, placing double doors at the rear and windows on three sides. The result is an air-conditioned home-away-from-home that he can open up to enjoy the view, and get in and out of with ease.
A McGrath trailer is waiting to be colour matched and then ‘Slowspeed’ can haul his ‘27’ and a 1918 International (still to be rebuilt) to truck shows – and get there quicker!
Warts and all, or done up to the nines, the ATHS events are ones not to miss!
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