Military Vehicles

Museum Restoration Projects

 

"Get admiring glances and waves from opposing traffic and abuse from following traffic."

 

1944 CHEVROLET CARGO 1½ TON 4x4

Purchased in August 1999, from the previous owner in Whangarei who has been responsible for the restoration to date. Restoration included a complete strip down to the chassis with each component been checked and painted. All running gear has been checked and worn parts replaced. The engine has been completely reconditioned and is in perfect running condition starting always on the first compression.

 

 

Restoration work needed to complete this vehicle now centers on finishing the deck, the sides have been completed with a little work required on the tail gate. The original wooden hoops are all intact and with the purchase of the canvas will see this project finished. This vehicle will be on permanent loan to the Confederate Air Force as a Museum Exhibit but although legally road worthy will only be used for the occasional mission into town for Museum promotional purposes for the Confederate Air Force and The Auckland branch of the Military Vehicles Association.

1942 GMC  C.C.W.  2½ TON &

1942 DODGE WEAPONS CARRIER

Both of these vehicles were obtained in the mountains in the far north of New Zealand by a friend and I who originally were only interested in the Dodge but were greeted by a farmer who seemed to take delight in removing money from city boys by flaunting a GMC in front of us that he definitely did not want to sell. The GMC is in very good condition body and chassis wise there is some panel rust but it is very minimal. The engine runs well without any knocks or strange noises however it can only sustain operating oil pressure for about 2 minutes. The plan for this vehicle is to completely dismantle to the chassis, steam clean, sand blast, paint and reassemble.

 

 

The Dodge is in a sad state of repairs the panel work is in good condition as is the winch and supposedly the engine which we have not heard run yet. The chassis has been cut and the wheelbase at some time has been extended so this will be a major task when the time comes. we have since purchased another weapons carrier with an excellent chassis, combat wheels, combat tyres and a reconditioned engine. The body panels are in poor condition so we guess we will be making one out of the two. Like the Chev the GMC and the Dodge are destined to be Confederate Air Force Museum exhibits here in New Zealand.

1942 WILLYS JEEP

This Jeep was found in the jungle of New Guinea in 1976, it is an original follow me jeep from one of the airfields during WWII. Progress on its restoration is now a lot more advanced than the picture shows with final painting expected before December ‘99 The owners plan is to paint the jeep in USN colours and it will be exhibited in the naval section of the Museum with the model of the U.S.S Yorktown. A further jeep is being purshased and should arrive before the end of the year. The last Museum exhibit, a 1942 15 cwt Bedford (MWD) 4x2 at first glance looks beyond repair but a closer inspection reveals a very restorable vehicle.