Model T truck returns home to the North West

A 100-year-old Model T Ford truck which began its journey in the Wee Waa district decades ago is home again after a busy life with multiple owners across the region.

The Model T, the first restored vintage vehicle in Narrabri 53 years ago, was the state of the art light truck of its day, the product of modern assembly line manufacture pioneered in the US by industrialist Henry Ford.

The Model T trucks first rolled off the assembly line in Canada in 1917 – Model T car manufacture had started in 1908.

Previous owner, Narrabri vintage car enthusiast Harvey Black now again owns the venerable vehicle, decades after first buying it.

Harvey originally bought the truck at Cuttabri on Boxing Day 1969, and brought it home ‘on the back of Mrs Price’s truck.’

The Model T subsequently was sold by Harvey to Graham Murrell, Gunnedah, in the early 1980s.

The vehicle’s history in the North West predates those transactions by many years.

“This particular Model T first arrived in the region in 1923, bought by the property Doreen Station, west of Wee Waa as the farm’s first truck,” Harvey said.

“In those days, the vehicle arrived as a bare chassis with engine, and was finished by a local coachbuilder who built the timber body works.

“We had several coachbuilders in this area back then, they built sulkies, wagons and coaches.”

The model T four cylinder, 19 horsepower truck has two gear sticks, eight forward gears and four reverse gears.

“The truck will carry a ton, or 12 bags of wheat, at a time when the alternative was to drive a dray,” said Harvey.

“The Model T truck sales literature at the time noted that you didn’t have to feed it and it was available in the middle of the night if you needed it.”

Ordinary T model trucks had two forward gears worked by a foot pedal, low, neutral and top gear and another pedal for reverse.

The hand throttle and spark timing was on the steering column.

“Various options were available including an express worm and wheel and I was able to get that express set which made it faster – increasing its cruising speed from 25 to 35mph,” Harvey said.

“Then I was able to get parts for Ruckstel two-speed differentials from Rowena and Pallamallawa and built one out of the two, and that was fitted to the truck, and later still a Moore overdrive gearbox which went on the front of the differential was found and fitted.

After putting in several years as the farm truck at Doreen, the truck went to a new owner at Pilliga.

“Jack Radford owned it for some years and in 1947, Les Burke at Bona Vista, Cuttabri, bought it,” said Harvey.

“He used it extensively and cut the top off it so, as he said, it would fit through the bush better.”

Mr Burke eventually stored the truck in the back of his shed where it stayed for perhaps 10 years.

“Then I bought it from him on Boxing Day 1969,” said Harvey.

“Terry Sadler, Ron Ireland and I picked it up on the back of a truck and brought it home.”

The Model T had a new lease on life and was a more or less familiar sight at community events.

“I restored it and it was used in the Narrabri Festival procession in October 1970 and I used it for everyday transport for the next 10 years,” said Harvey.

“I also used it to carry Humphrey B Bear and Miss Wendy in the annual Walkathon fundraiser for the Wee Waa and Narrabri sheltered workshops.

“We had a celebration when it turned 50 years of age. Now of course, it’s 100-years-old.

“We drove everywhere in it – my wife Claire and I on the front seat with my son Stuart on Claire’s lap and daughter Elizabeth between us.

“I was probably a bit cramped but that never occurred to us – it was workable.

“It is an open cabin, no doors or window, but we cruised along to vintage and veteran rallies all over NSW.”

Harvey sold the Model T to a friend of his in Gunnedah, Graham Murrell, who was interested in further restoring it.

“Graham restored the truck and registered it with his local group. He subsequently sold it to another Gunnedah buyer who had an extensive collection of Ford vehicles,” said Harvey.

“That owner passed away and his family offered it to my wife Claire and myself knowing we were keen on it when they were finalising the estate.

“So now the Model T is back in Narrabri as of now and only one block away from where it was first restored.

“What of the future?

“It will last longer than me. I am learning how to handle it again. There is no foot throttle, it’s all on the steering column. I am learning its foibles and shortcomings.

“It was the first restored vintage vehicle in Narrabri back in 1970 and I think it is important it came back to Narrabri.

“I plan to hang on to it and it will ultimately go to a member of the family.

“It is registered for the road, through the Namoi Valley Antique Vehicle Club, and I will meanwhile be taking it to various activities.

“In a past life it has been up Mt Kaputar twice but I don’t think it will be doing that again.”