FC army vehicle at Bandiana Army museum

[peterwmh]

I have some photos that I can email interested persons, unfortunately they're too large to post here (ie exceed the 64K limit).  Show's the full car from LH front, the rear end and the dash

Peter

[slim]

Could you email em to me at esposito350@ozemail.com.au      Thanks SLIM

[peterwmh]

Have sent them.

Cheers

Peter

[Craig Alderson]

Peter,

I would appreciate copies as well.

Please email to craig_alderson@yahoo.com.au

Thanks,

Craig.

[slim]

Thanks very much Peter . Very interesting Pictures.Cheers

[craiga]

Peter,

Photos posted for you. Hope you don't mind.


Cheers,

Craig.

[craiga]

Here's the rear shot

[craiga]

and the interior shot, which looks like an FC Standard interior. Peter, did you get the plate details?

[robbzfc58]

blue horn button!  
theres a knob to the right of the ignition...whats it for 

[Effie C]

It looks like whoever put the bumper bars together got the centre sections mixed up between front and back. Number plate surround on front bar but not on rear bar, but I would still have it if offered :o
John M
Thanks for sharing pictures Peter and Craig.

[Emu]

Craig,

I think the use of the little knob is still classified information by the Department of Defence.

Suffice to say it had something to do with the launch of Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles with nuclear capabilities.

Matt

[peterwmh]

Thanks for posting those photos Craig A, I couldn't do it from my PC as they were too large!  No I didn't get the plate details sorry.  I thought the FE bonnet emblem was a bit strange too, but it seemed to suit the FC actually!!

Sorry no idea what that button on the dash was for, I'll be sure to ask the next time I go there.

Peter

[RET]

I'd say that the restoration done on that FC was pretty casual.  In addition to the swapped bumper-centres (over-rider on front not back) and FE bonnet badge already mentioned, I also notice that it has no radio blanking plate, and an FB/EK speedo.

I have seen heater controls mounted in that space to the right of the dash before, but I can't tell if that's what is in this car.  It looks like a HR knob in that photo.

cheers
RET

[craiga]

Peter,

Download this software application http://www.irfanview.com. I cannot recommend it highly enough for general image editing/resampling. And besides, it comes at the right price - FREE!

Cheers,

Craig.

[rip_ute]

Craig. Hear's the plate details.

      FC-215-4918M
      Trim 51-766
      Paint 253-5296

      FC 84042M

Took some photos of engine bay but there all to dark. Has electric wipers and red motor air cleaner.
All these vehicles have been worked on by volinters so this is why there not perfect. I was talking to one of the guys there who said that they have a shed full of  vehicles waiting to be restored but no FE-FC's.

Peter.

[craiga]

Peter,

Here's the results from RET's identification tool.

FC-215-4918-M Vehicle is an FC Standard Sedan, the 4,918th manufactured in Melbourne, Victoria.
51-766 The Exterior Trim Code (51) describes this car as Unknown: .
The Interior Trim Code (766) refers to: Unknown.
253-5296 The paint colour is Unknown colour code 5296 (in DUCO Lacquer)
FC-84042-M The vehicle was assembled during 1959, and was the 83,042nd FC (in any bodystyle) assembled in Melbourne, Victoria.

Your description of it's restoration makes sense and I think explains the use of "non-standard" items.

Interesting that the colours of both the trim AND the paint colour are unknown? Maybe this goes some way to proving that it was a special build Army vehicle based on the Standard model.

Can anybody else shed some light?

Cheers,

Craig..

[RET]

The trim number for an Army Sedan is S1-767, but given that only the factory special orders have the letter "S" in them, I can see why Peter thought it was a "5".  Why the trim number is 766 I can't say, although I'd guess it was either mis-stamped, or it's possible that 766 had been the code for the interior of an Army FC-217, which by the time this vehicle was made should have fallen into disuse.

The unknown paint number 5296 does correspond with the BALM number for the Army colour "Deep Bronze Green".  This and the "S1" code proves the car is an original Army vehicle.

For what it's worth, the air-cleaner is original, the paper element type was introduced in about September 1959.

cheers
RET

[rip_ute]

Ret, yes your right my 5's look like S's but the guy at the museum was reading the numbers out to me because it was to hard for me to see them. My wife was checking the numbers as I was writting them down but it could be 767 because the engine bay was dark. Hope someone can drop in and check the numbers. Peter

[RET]

I'm interested that it is an original Army vehicle.  It's funny isn't it, how there are none of these and in a matter of a couple of weeks, two turn up!  Steve Field's FJ Army ute was on display at the NSW AHD a couple of weeks ago, and it was a very interesting vehicle to look at.  I'll have to make sure I stop in and see this one when I'm down that way again.

cheers
RET

[4hammers]

Oneday (& I mean that), I will restore the FB ARMY ute that I have stashed. It has the special body codes, as it has bodywork modifications. Unlike the sedans, which just have the different paint & trim. I will scan the compliance plate off sometime & put it up on here so you can check it out. Hmmmm, wish it was an FE or an FC!!
Rob J