| TERMITE HEAVEN by Col Anderson -VMVC Early in 1942, when the invasion scare menaced our country, large quantities of military vehicles and equipment were shipped north from Melbourne on flat-top trains, mostly along the Goulbum Valley line to Tocumwal. We lived at Mooroopna, near the line and opposite a signal where all the trains stopped briefly. Each train whistle sent a young lad scurrying out to see whether the load was Grant Tanks, road graders, or Marmon-Herrington gun tractors. One day he was fascinated to find a train load of new vehicles. Half were 1941 Pontiac soft-top utes, the other half were Dodge one ton, or 30 cwt, cargo trucks. This schoolboy was impressed with the latest American car-type styling of the Pontiacs, combined with the austerity bodywork and canvas, and of course, all that khaki! Over 30 years later, when I became interested in collecting military vehicles, I remembered those utes, and wondered what became of them. No-one seemed to know. No mention of them in Observers, and I began to wonder whether I'd dreamed them up, or mistaken the make. In 1976, a friend from Echuca rang to say he had come across a Ponitac Army soft-top ute near Deniliquin NSW. He said The body is made of masonite and looks like a cheap packing case, and was I interested ? What a silly question!!! Next weekend I set off with the trailer for Deniliquin. Found the owner, who took me out 20 miles to his farm. There it was, a 1941 Pontiac ute. So I was right after all, here was the proof. Badges on the dash stated "Body by Holden” and "Field Service Finish". Although complete, the ute was in a very sad state, having spent its final days roo shooting. But I couldn't leave the poor thing behind, so I loaded it on and brought it home. Later, I received information and photos from a GM Historian. These vehicles were, in fact, built by GMH at Fisherman's Bend on 1941 Pontiac and 1941 Chevrolet chassis and were nicknamed the "Masonite Utes “. They were used by the RAAF and US Army forces in Australia. They are unique to Australia, as the Pontiac Division never made a Commercial vehicle in the US. Recently, I acquired a second ute from a Corps member with a slightly better body (the ute not the Corps member). This one was found in Geelong. So with the aid of a band saw and some bits of wood and masonite, restoration of the vehicle is well on the way. A full mechanical overhaul was undertaken. A "wanted" ad in The Age" produced no less than two reconditioned motors. The body required new sills and much welding and panelbeating. The first ute, from Deniliquin, provided many useful parts, as did a 1941 sedan found at Pyalong, near Seymour. Any ^parts5 cars are invaluable when restoring old vehicles. Work is progressing well and the "Old Indian' should be on the road for Corowa 83 and Canberra, and I hope it will prove to be a reliable everyday vehicle”. ************ ********** UPDATE: - The 'Old Indian" DID make it to Corowa in 1983 and two or three times since. I spoke to Col at Corowa '99 and he said the 'Old Indian" was one of his favourite vehicles. Ed. ********** ********** PONTIAC - First produced by the Oakland Motor Car Co in 1926, took its name and hence its emblem from Chief Pontiac, the powerful Ottawa Indian leader of the eighteenth century. He united four or five tribes around Detroit and attacked the garrisons there. Pontiac was defeated at the siege of Fort Detroit in 1763. The makers of the Oakland hoped the new car would improve on the record of its namesake. It did. The Pontiac proved so popular that in 1931 production of the Oakland was halted and all facilities were concentrated on making Pontiacs. Chief Pontiac profile is a familiar sight on Pontiac steering wheels and mascots. |
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