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Looking like new – BTS Heritage truck display

When the offer came for the Heritage Truck Association Australia Inc to fill what was a surprise gap at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show, it proved to be a successful added attraction for Australia’s largest truck event.

The non-appearance from a few of Australia’s major truck makers at the 2021 Brisbane Truck Show may have left many attendees scratching their heads in bewilderment, but it proved to be a blessing for the Heritage Truck Association Australia Inc.

Generally, the association holds its annual show on the third weekend of May at the Rocklea Showgrounds, coinciding with the biennial Brisbane Truck Show every second year.

Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia (HVIA), organisers of the Brisbane Truck Show, had cross-promoted the Heritage Truck Show, encouraging visitors to the Sunshine State capital to take in the Rocklea event while in town.

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But with Isuzu Trucks vacating its 2021 main floor show position, the baton was passed to the Heritage Truck Association to fill the gap, and its committee jumped at the opportunity. It was an apt outcome due to the association’s existing relationship with the Japanese truck maker.

“Isuzu has been our major sponsor at our Rocklea show for many years, and it’s always had their equipment at our show, but now it’s a little bit different,” explains the association’s president, Trevor Davies.

“We’ve got the older trucks now in their position, which is pretty good. And we thank Isuzu for it.”

Back in 2019 the heritage show had more than 350 trucks parading at the Rocklea oval, with busloads of Brisbane Truck Show-goers arriving to take in the historic road transport exhibits.

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However, while the move to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) on May 13 brought a higher profile, space restrictions meant heritage truck numbers would be limited. Hence, a carefully handpicked bunch of 12 commercial vehicles of the past were on show in Brisbane.

“We presented a broad brush example of what’s in the club, from things unrestored to those that are full of bling,” says Heritage Truck Association vice president John Dodd.

“The idea was to not pick individuals as such, but to give a broad showing of what is in the club.”

Limited edition

It was an impressive selection on show, from a 1948 Chevrolet Loadmaster through to an original Kenworth SAR, a 1986 W925 model.

The appearance of the Kenworth proved to be a masterstroke due to Paccar showing off its new limited edition Legend SAR at its nearby stand in the BCEC.

The ’86 W925 6×4 prime mover was number one of only 30 SARs released in 1986. It had been classed as a “write-off” but with the interior and exterior now fully restored, it more than held its own among the newbies at the Brisbane Truck Show.

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Another Kenworth on the historic truck stand, a ’73 W924, had previously spent eight years with Shell, followed by two years as a clay truck before clocking up 38 years as a truck and low loader combination bitumen tanker.

Elsewhere, a stunning 1962 Mack H673 ST made up for the lack of new ‘bulldogs’ at the show. This particular Mack, one of two imported into Australia for Antill Ranger & Co, was known as a ‘cherry picker’ due to its 2.7 metre cab height.

Of course a vintage truck display would not be complete without a Bedford. The 1975 KMR/XT5 model had a rough life before undergoing a two-year restoration, including full cab refurbishment inside and out, new radiator, clutch brakes, engine rebuild and reconditioned power steering. It looked well worth its original 1975 price of more than $18,000.

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However, the top curiosity piece on display came in the form of an AEC (Associated Equipment Company) Marshall TGM8, which translates into ‘tilt cab general goods vehicle, medium weight, 8-wheeler’. The truck’s full history, its age and the original owner is at this stage unknown, but its last working days were spent on a ginger farm at Yandina, Queensland. Its restoration took eight years to complete and, as John Dodd asserts, “I would say it’s better than what came out of the showroom”.

“The fellow [Kevin Gillin] who did it, he’s a long standing member of the club, and he does absolutely excellent work. Just brilliant,” he says, although Kevin would argue that it was far from a “one-man-band” effort.

Enthusiastic team

John has been with the Heritage Truck Association Australia for close on six years. Now retired, he has been involved in the trucking industry since 1976. However, he’s kept busy with the association, as well as his own pet project, restoring a 1988 Kenworth T600.

“It started out life as a Bunker’s truck and used to run Melbourne to Perth. It has a unit number of 63 and was one of the first three T600 Kenworths that Ron Bunker bought.”
While the T600 didn’t make an appearance this year, there’s always next year’s event at Rocklea. And possibly the chance to be part of the 2023 Brisbane Truck Show.

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“We would love to work hand in glove with the truck show, but it is a commercial decision, and for us to purchase one of these sites it’s out of the realms of our capabilities,” John says.

“But we would welcome the opportunity to work with them [HVIA] in some format.”

“We’ve had that much interest over the four days,” Trevor adds. “The area’s been full all the time, especially on the weekend.

“The major point is the many faces that John and I have known in the industry for that long. You see those faces come through and rekindle old friendships again.

“So it’s great. We’re really happy.”

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