More awesome Kiwi Oshkosh tractors on Biglorryblog. Now Rufo is getting in on the act!

 
Rufo continues:"The second is another of the cab-overs that we haven't seen so far on the blog.They all seem to be carrying IN/IQ rego which is about 1976-77 issue. The cabovers all originally had 6-cyl CAT 1670 series motors which I believe is an automotive version of the venerable D6 tractor engine. A lot of these donks were used to repower various makes in NZ in the 60/70s.They were quite a big motor physically,and IH R190s and White 2000s that were so repowered had to have a 15 inch extension added to their bonnets.On the Oshkosh the engine stuck out the back of  the cab some way not unlike the 8LXB Gardners fitted to Atkinsons and ERFs. Notice that it is pulling a Dommett self-tracking semi trailer.These self trackers were quite popular from the mid-60s but I think this style of self tracking system
has been outlawed now.There were three-axle versions later on. As far as I know all these Oshkosh were acquired as a 'job lot' from Wigmores Ltd (WA) who had been the Australian agent for Oshkosh for many years but were better known as the WA dealers for CAT equipment.Wigmore's Oshkosh business never really thrived and in the early 70s they ceased dealing in Oshkosh and roadtrucks altogether.These were unsold (and most likely unassembled) units still in hand.I personally think that Australian transport giant Mayne-Nickless, who had been the majority shareholder of the Freightways Group since its formation in the mid 60s had a hand in the aquisition of these trucks,although why they didn't put
them to work in their Australian operations I am at a loss to explain.Furthermore,I always believed there were only 12 trucks in total.Two Fs,10 Es."

"Also another pic of John Predergast's cabover....Rufo."