You can feel it can't you? The burning heat, swirling red 'bull dust'---and Slim Dusty singing 'The Pub with no Beer!" Biglorrblog has been sent this picture of outback life and trucks by Cam McFadyen in Oz who has clearly been following AtkiPete Lynch's recent post on the "Boys from Ballarat" and in particular the old bonneted AEC in his series of photos. Cam tells me: "Hi Brian,the AEC in Pete`s pics,someone told me it was ex-Channell Transport from Windorah,if it is,this is what it looked like in its day---my Dad took the picture in about 1962,Cam." 1962 eh...mmmm...taking off my shoes and socks that would make BLB nine years old!
Meanwhile, Cam says of this one "Hi Brian,another ex-Channel transport truck,a Leyland Buffallo,at our show this year." Yes I've seen this one before with a picture sent in to me by Chris Mullett. But why on earth was that bonnet so long--what on earth was underneath it--an enormous straight eight or what?
And for a quick pie, in the song "Pub with no Beer" what was the profession of 'Old Billy' the bloke who 'came home cold sober to his darling wife" and confessed that the aforementioned hosterly had run out of ale? And while we're at it--how far did the swagman trudge before he reached it too? Come on now, where else would you get such brain teasers?
Old Billy the BLACKSMITH
50 Flamin' miles
But I can't remember what I had for tea last night??
Old Billy was a blacksmith and the swagman had trudged fifty flamin' miles
Slim Dusty was a great Australian, still playing in little country towns into his 70's. He loved his music and has left us great memories.
Would like to get a copy of that photo Cam, which I would pass on to Ken Whitworth, who restored the big AEC.
AtkiPete has answered this question on the engine in that Buffalo before. I quote......
"It is a Leyland Buffalo , model number is EHB 1R (long wheelbase RH drive) There was also an EHB 3R, EHB 5R and the same models in LHD.
These used the "Leyland / Albion" 900 engine (actually 926 cubic inch) producing 230 HP at 1900 rpm. There was also apparently a turbo version with 275hp at 1800 rpm but this was fitted to the Buffalo. Would have been a great truck.
The bonneted Buffalo was listed with a GCM of 100,000lbs but these were used at much higher weights in Australia."