HCVC

By Roger Goodchild

Part of owning and restoring old trucks often becomes an interest in finding out about the working history and who the previous owners were.

I was lucky enough to have a chance encounter that led me to the past owners and history of our 1937 Ford truck.

My brother Warren was out on a test drive as we were taking the truck to the last all Ford Day. Graham Hughes saw it on the road, recognised it and attended the event that weekend and met up with us to share its history.

The truck was originally from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia. It was used to cart boxes of apples and pears from the orchard at Houghton to the markets in Adelaide then later from the orchard to cold storage at Paracombe.

Orchardists Walter Schultz and his son Arnold Schultz bought the truck about 1944. During the Second World War when there was a shortage of fuel and a gas producer was fitted to the right mudguard. The truck had been kept in a shed and used right up until Arnold and his wife Marjorie retired.

By then, daughter Christine was living in Perth and her husband Graham Hughes acquired the truck and transported it across the Nullarbor on the tray of his 8 tonne truck in 1986. He spent the next four years restoring it to original condition.

This vehicle had only done 106,000 miles from new and a new engine was fitted by the Ford Motor Co in 1958 at 87,965 miles.

Graham then stripped the truck back to the chassis and restored the vehicle, obtaining some parts from USA, replaced the wooden tray, including about 18 coats of paint to the cab – all taking about five years to complete.

Graham estimates that more than 1100 hours and $7500 was spent on the vehicle restoring it to original condition and said, “I was surprised with the ease of availability of parts from Antique Auto Parts in NSW for a vehicle of this age.”

“I have done most of the work myself, except for the painting and panel beating of the cab and guards, which was done by Bruce Bousfield, who has done an excellent job,” said Graham.

Both Graham and Bruce worked for Linfox Transport.

The paint used on the cabin is a twin pack polyurethane which was specially mixed to the original colour. The interior of the cab has been re-upholstered by Graham and the seat professionally resprung and re-upholstered.

The main wood beams for the tray are Oregon and the tray is dressed Jarrah. The vehicle obtained a full registration in Western Australia in 1991.

The truck now belongs to the Goodchild family.

1. Before restoration 2. Stripped down to the chassis 3. Working on the cab 4. Crossing the Nullarbor in 1986 5. Original door 6. During restoration 7, 8 Finished

Engine 21 stud, side valve V8 Wheelbase 13 ½ inches Gearbox 4 speed crash box Braking system Fully mechanical Diff: Full floating type, with a radio of 5.14:1 or 6.1:1 optional