1941 Fords - Rare in Australia

[Old Redneck]

Thank you very good reading. Being a Yank as you fellows call us we don't have 42,43,44 and very few 45 cars. 46 production started up full swing here. Thank again

[meric42]

Originally Posted by Graeme / New Zealand

My post was not specifically a reply to yours. I'm well aware that there were Commercial vehicles produced here during the war. What I was saying that we did not get 40 41 passenger vehicles produced because we were already at war. I have seen a 42 sedan many years ago but that was supposedly brought in by US marines. It had a later RHD conversion with a NZ 46/48 dash.

GB

Hi Graeme, I currently own a NZ new '42 ford sedan and know of at least 4 other survivors. They were supplied to the NZ Army by Ford of Canada and assembled at the Ford plant in Wellington. I have a photo showing them outside the assembly plant with a range of other military vehicles. Ford NZ tell me that there were 162 ford staff cars supplied to the NZ Army for WWII but they cannot provide a year/model breakdown. I believe theat most of these were auctioned off in the '60's.

[mercman from oz]

meric42, you are correct in your observation that pictures 1 & 3 are the same car. This was also pointed out by 41ford1. I guess that I should have looked more closely before I made my comments, however, many years ago when I was talking about old Fords around my hometown of Brisbane, I was told that the Tan car had been pushed over the edge at Mt Tamborine and was junked. Because I had been told this, I didn't even consider that the car in Walter Irelands Wrecking Yard could be the same car many years later. Just goes to show how rare these 1941 Fords are in Australia. Thanks for your input.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Originally Posted by meric42

Hi Graeme, I currently own a NZ new '42 ford sedan and know of at least 4 other survivors. They were supplied to the NZ Army by Ford of Canada and assembled at the Ford plant in Wellington. I have a photo showing them outside the assembly plant with a range of other military vehicles. Ford NZ tell me that there were 162 ford staff cars supplied to the NZ Army for WWII but they cannot provide a year/model breakdown. I believe theat most of these were auctioned off in the '60's.

Hi Meric42 I missed this post last time it was around and now someone else has reactivated the thread I'd like to thank you for the information. I was unaware FOMOCO NZ assembled the 42s for the NZ Army.

cheers
GB

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Truck I suspect is one of the Opel blitz series. Here's a pic of the Desert Fox riding in a staff car similar to the one in Mercmans pic .

Further search of net reveals the unknown LHD car to be be a "Dessert Horch". The one in the photo may in fact have may have been the "Foxs" himself. How many of those things would have been in the dessert?..not many I suspect.

The V8 would likely have been "captured booty". I am at present reading "Destiny in the Dessert - the road to El Alamein" by Johnathan Dimbleby. This book makes mention of the Germans capturing British equipment including vehicles and using them and the Allies doing likewise It was not unusual for both sides to get lost out there in the vast openness. It is said Rommel himself was lost once in a comandeered British vehicle only to have a British patrol travel right past by him.

GB

[Karl Wescott]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My observation on the "woody" photo is that that it was likely taken while in service on the "commonwealth" side.

The funny looking things just below the headlights on the truck sure look like british style "tin can" helmuts.

The soldier appears to be a person "of color". My understanding is due to certain Nazi beliefs this would not be a german soldier, while many of the colonies provided soldiers to the commonwealth without regard to color.

Either side would happily use captured equipment from the other. The other wild card to be considered is that the Germans did have some allies... Italy among others.

[Graeme / New Zealand]

Karl possibly the person "of color" looks that way due to shadows etc. The uniform looks like one worn by the Axis troops. The cap looks German with that "dot" on it possibly the black and red roundel. Of interest the Afrika Korp actually had a unit of Indian troops made up of those who were in dissent of Colonial British rule. They do look like British tin hats that have been hung over the horn. I would love to see a larger version of this pic but I doubt it would be clearer if I blew it up. If the Horch was the captured vehicle in this photo it sure would have been a grand prize because only the "big boys" got to ride around in those.

GB

[mercman from oz]

Thanks Graham for identifying this vehicle as a Horch. It makes for very interesting reading. Thanks.

[meric42]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

While there were something like 691896 units of 1941 Fords produced in the USA, there were only a handful ever produced in Australia. All started off as Sedans, & some were cut down into Utes. That is because these models would have been released here around mid 1941, when Australia was already involved in war efforts. As a result, they are extremely rare in Australia. Even the 1940 models are rare in Australia.
The Cream Sedan in the first picture is the only one that I ever saw on the road, and this was back in the Sixties. I never ever saw another one on the road. I have been since told that this car was pushed off a cliff many, many years ago. Gone.
The dark coloured 41 was taken in a wrecking yard in 1974, and would have been scrapped. Gone.
The grey car was taken in a wrecking yard in 1989 when the contents were auctioned off. It is believed that this car was saved. This was the first time that I had sighted this 1941 Ford and I have not seen it since. Maybe saved?
The Green 1941 Ford was a recent import from South Africa and is now owned by an early Ford V8 Enthusiast living in country Queensland. This is the only 1941 Ford Sedan survivor that I am aware of.
After a lifetime of following early Ford V8's, these are the only four 1941 Ford Sedans that have come to my attention

It appears the the car in pictures 1 and 3 are the same car. I notice that they both have: an external sun visor, the extra mirror on the front left fender, the three pieces of trim on the rear of the front fender and the same piece of what appears to be '42 - '46 fender trim attached.

Just my observation

[Toni Stieger]

I am looking for a super deluxe bumper someone?

[Fordors]

Here are some detail shots of the 1941 Ford Type C11ADF British Command Unit woodies built by Ford Canada-

[mercman from oz]

Thanks for posting these excellent photos that show these Woodys in full military dress. The top photo shows the car with the 6 lug wheels, and sand tyres, while the lower car has the regular 5 lug wheels and uncut front and rear fenders.

[Fordors]

I should have given credit for those photos to Lorin Sorensen's Silverado Publishing, "Famous Ford Woodies". RIP Loren.

[mercman from oz]

This is the fully restored 1941 Ford Woody that is featured in the latest V8 Times magazine.

[pooch]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

While there were something like 691896 units of 1941 Fords produced in the USA, there were only a handful ever produced in Australia. All started off as Sedans, & some were cut down into Utes. That is because these models would have been released here around mid 1941, when Australia was already involved in war efforts. As a result, they are extremely rare in Australia. Even the 1940 models are rare in Australia.
The Cream Sedan in the first picture is the only one that I ever saw on the road, and this was back in the Sixties. I never ever saw another one on the road. I have been since told that this car was pushed off a cliff many, many years ago. Gone.
The dark coloured 41 was taken in a wrecking yard in 1974, and would have been scrapped. Gone.
The grey car was taken in a wrecking yard in 1989 when the contents were auctioned off. It is believed that this car was saved. This was the first time that I had sighted this 1941 Ford and I have not seen it since. Maybe saved?
The Green 1941 Ford was a recent import from South Africa and is now owned by an early Ford V8 Enthusiast living in country Queensland. This is the only 1941 Ford Sedan survivor that I am aware of.
After a lifetime of following early Ford V8's, these are the only four 1941 Ford Sedans that have come to my attention

4th pic with the large sunvisor..... was this a period accessory ?

There were 2 of these exactly the same at Bathurst swap this weekend.

[mercman from oz]

To the best of my knowledge, the Sunvisor on the 1st and 3rd car (which incidentally is the same car) is what was available in Australia when these cars were new. I am not sure about the Sunvisor on the Green car as it was imported from South Africa with this one fitted. I personally can't recall seeing this Style on our local cars.

[Cgray1991]

I may have just bought that green 41 posted above. Trying to find out more about them. It's much sader now though

[rockfla]

Funny, dad has a 41 Four door and can't practically give it away!!!

[meric42]

Originally Posted by Cgray1991

I may have just bought that green 41 posted above. Trying to find out more about them. It's much sader now though

I have just bought a '41 Business Coupe from Oklahoma and am currently getting it shipped to me in NZ. Feel free to contact me for information if you need. Post some photos when you can

[Cgray1991]

Has matching plates to the green one above. Looks like I've found it bought it off the older guy a few weeks ago. In Australia QLD still