Fans of White trucks travelled to Kyabram in Victoria for the Australian White Truck Muster in March.
Jim and Ida Hitchcock’s one-owner 1974 9564 stood out among seven impressive White 9000s at the sixth Australian White Truck Muster at Kyabram Victoria.
Once part of the Jim Hitchcock Haulage fleet, their 9000 has clocked up 6.5 million kilometres and still has its original plates.
For three years the couple spent evenings together in their shed restoring the 9000 from the chassis rails up.
“Every night we did something on it, Ida and me,” says Jim, who lives in Nowra in New South Wales.
Held in conjunction with the Kyabram Vintage Engine Club’s annual display, the muster ran from March 21 to 22 and was the sixth organised by Ray and Michelle Grima since 2005.
Ray was thrilled to attract 58 vehicles from the White family including Diamond Ts, Diamond Reos, Western Stars and Cletrack crawlers.
Whites had centre stage, but nearby another 70 trucks were polished and on show.
“This certainly is the largest amount of trucks we’ve had here since we’ve been running the White Truck Muster,” Ray says.
Ray displayed a rare unrestored White 802 from his own collection. It was made in the late 1930s.
Four of his Road Commanders were also at the muster, including three 1978 models which previously carted coal in NSW for Clutha.
Peter Fox took his rugged 1976 Road Commander, which still works throughout Victoria today.
Other White trucks on show included Super Powers, 3000s, 4000s, a 7564 and Road Bosses.
Many trucks had been expertly restored including Philip Mathie’s Mustangs.
Aldo Marson’s 1968 Diamond P5000D was attached to a 1952 Tooronga tanker in Esso livery.
The newest truck was a Western Star 6964 recently sold by Hartwigs Trucks Shepparton to Rhype Livestock Transport.
The oldest was Bryan Rankin’s Model 20 White which dates back to the early 1920s.
Bryan is searching for parts but hopes to have his White restored in time for Kyabram’s next White Truck Muster in 2017.
You can see the full pictorial report in the May issue of Owner//Driver.
Photography: Tamara Whitsed