Fireman Sandy - that makes 7 (again)

[jawapro]

Hello everyone - long time no sqwark!

I've still got 7 G60s, although I finally finished scrapping Spotty Ronald. I now have another one.

This old girl had been used as a firetruck at a place called Lorinna before becoming a farm truck for a Scottish bloke named Sandy.

He loved the old girl, but one day it was parked at the house on the battery charger. Apparently he didn't leave it in gear - because after a few hours of behaving herself, she decided to go for a walk.

She rolled backwards down the bank to the stables, where she apparently reversed nicely and almost parked, and then started rolling forwards.

Sandy said he almost caught up to her here - but wasn't quite quick enough.

Down the hill gathering speed and heading straight for the neighbour's house!

But there was a tree in the way - which saved the neighbour, but didn't do the truck many favours.

The left hand side is a total mess, and I think the cab is warped because the passenger door doesn't shut anymore (that's the left side for any US readers).

According to Sandy's gumtree ad, she's a 64 model. She's certainly got the three vents and the old school steering wheel.

I'm not sure how damaged things are - but it's the steering wheel and column that I was after. The wheel is fine, but I'm not sure about the steering box. There is a disconnect between the steering wheel and the wheels - but I'm not sure where yet. The impact broke the springs on the left hand side, so she's currently sitting straight on the axle.

So my next project is to strip this sad old girl down and see what's salvageable.

As it happens - one of my mates had done some work on Sandy property a few years ago, spotted the old girl, and took some photos to show me - so you can see what she looked like before the incident.



But the good news is that I have 7 G60s again. Hopefully briefly.

[Esteban]

What an interesting story Robert! Thanks for posting it.

I'm sure you'll find plenty to do with the parts that you'll save from Fireman Sandy.

[RiverPatrol]

Good to hear that your'e still addicted. Thanks for rescuing Sandy. At least some parts will live on.

Silly G60 had to learn the hard way not to go on a walkabout alone.

[dawkinsdisciple]

Jesus... You have a sickness man, seek help!

On another note, good to see another Taswegian G60 aficionado, just a shame mine is still currently at the other end of the country. Good to know there's someone scraping the countryside down here and collating the parts, I might come knocking someday and sure as shite can't fit any wrecks at mine! When I actually get mine down here, at some point...

[jawapro]

Pulled the bonnet and left guard off today. She took a pretty serious hit!



The cab is bent - no wonder the door doesn't shut.



And I don't think the chassis is supposed to have that dent either...

It does make me feel better about scraping it though.



Sticker from it's life as a fire truck.



The final service by the Tasmanian Fire Service was done in March 1999.

The doors don't appear to have locks - is that normal on 1960s trucks? Were you able to lock the car?



There's also this switch mounted in front of the gear sticks with a hand written note saying "Turn Radio OFF before using this switch or starter". I haven't worked out what it's for, but I haven't dug around much yet. Tonight was about peeling away some of mangled bodywork to get a better look at things.



My new favourite toy - a pair of large bolt cutters. Because I don't finish work until 6, my neighbours might complain if I run the grinder into the night - so I figured this would be slightly quieter. Gives you a decent workout too.

[Esteban]

The doors don't appear to have locks - is that normal on 1960s trucks? Were you able to lock the car?

There's also this switch mounted in front of the gear sticks with a hand written note saying "Turn Radio OFF before using this switch or starter". I haven't worked out what it's for, but I haven't dug around much yet. Tonight was about peeling away some of mangled bodywork to get a better look at things.

Robert, we need some pictures of the cabin, and the rear. Is it possible that it was a canvas top model, medium wheel base (2500 mm), and then converted to a UTE?

Canvas top models didn't come with locks on the doors in those years. That could explain.

The switch mounted near the gear sticks is probably a battery disconnect. I installed one on mine but around the corner of that position. Very handy to have one.

Please have more pictures coming. Certainly you have a Patrol with a very interesting history!

[jawapro]

I don't know what utes of this era would have looked like - so hopefully someone can tell if it was a factory ute or a conversion. If it was a conversion, they did a nice job.

Some images of the cab.





The roof has an inner and outer skin - although one section of the inner has been removed. Quite possibly to mount flashing lights and/or radio antennas on the roof.





Drivers side door and rear of cab. The drivers side handle has been broken and replaced - but it still works the same.



Passenger side of cab



Join of roof to back of cab

[RiverPatrol]

There are definitely some useable parts there. The seats and floor mats are in great condition.

Interesting build. The rivets would make me guess that it's custom, but the roof and the rear panel of the cab have the right curvature in the right places. This is a very early ute. I have seen other early Patrols that had panels riveted on.

[jawapro]

It has the hinges and clamps for the windscreen too - which my later Utes don't have.

That may have been normal for the early ones though.

[jawapro]

On another note, good to see another Taswegian G60 aficionado, just a shame mine is still currently at the other end of the country. Good to know there's someone scraping the countryside down here and collating the parts, I might come knocking someday and sure as shite can't fit any wrecks at mine! When I actually get mine down here, at some point...

Where about in Tassie are you? I'm based in Devonport but most of my G60s live on my parent's farm because they have more space.