Billy in his elderly 3 Ton IH Army Wagon kept a town alive, driving on a muddy goat track you have second thoughts in a Land Rover. Billy would have loved what I saw at Welland Steam Rally, an AWD Multi-Drive, on the outside looks a regular road going articulated wagon. At first sight you would not take it on that awful muddy goat track,but yes cats&kittens you can!!!!! its secret is the trailer wheels are driven from the tractor unit via a long propeller shaft. Basically a rigid with driven and steered wheels both ends, all built from standard road going wagon parts, so no hidden horrors for the outback mechanic to deal with.

A great story Paul👍 I was keen to watch this story after speaking with you today.

I'm not ashamed about the tears in my eyes seeing that hero !

@pauldekmetzian2885

2 жыл бұрын

Tears of happiness never hurt anyone. Glad you liked it!

@hellohello8556

7 ай бұрын

😍👍

Good to see the old truck is well preserved, cared for & driven.

I thank you. I drove these vehicles in the 70s and was an Army Mechanic. What a man, yes a MAN. A hard time. I have had these vehicles down to the diff. A very hard day or days. So bad was the noise in the cab and the smell and the heat. My left leg would get burnt from the heat from the motor. No power steering or power brakes (Air over Hydraulics ). No such thing as aircon. A crash gear box (KZread for you young ones). A Big Petrol engine in the cab with you. You would smell an oil leak before the gauge would show you had a problem. The heat did I mention the heat, in northern QLD in summer. We were in the Army, we did what we had to do. This Man did it to serve his community. A Hero does not play Football and get paid Millions. This man is a Hero. I wish he had had the MK5 6x6. Hey Eddy M if you want a challenge to repeat this I am here.

@pauldekmetzian2885

5 жыл бұрын

Hi, thank-you for your comments, they are very much appreciated. I drove MK3's and F1's at Monash University Regiment in the late 70's early 80's and now display Mr Baird's truck and another MK3 that I have with the Victorian Military Vehicle Corps (VMVC).Have a look at these 2 as well. Enjoy!kzread.info/dash/bejne/l5aEsqefcbzgfbDM.htmlttps://kzread.info/dash/bejne/hKOelKlupbHWpKQ.html

@user-gw4sn7fe4f

7 ай бұрын

I must say dad bought 2 in the early 90s we used them on stations to fuel up our dozers and as service trucks the 4x4 became a bull catching pick up truck after you caught the bulls both were excellent trucks in perfect nick just wish we knew how to use the winch blocks back then

Hope that dog found a home in town. What a great story. Real Australia right here. Billy what a champion bloke and hero.

@pauldekmetzian2885

5 жыл бұрын

Thank-you David. Your positive comments make maintaining and showing the truck worthwhile. Cheers, Paul

@Kerry834

4 жыл бұрын

David Passant he’s my grandad. Such a great man

Very well said sir, yes I totally agree that wonderful gentleman proper old school was a hero to your great country, Best regards Sam coyle from Great Britain 👍

Army "Blitz"?? They were Chevorlet or Fords, that's an International ACCO "AA" series ex Army. Tom Cruze was another with an ex Army truck doing outback mail and supply runs in the old days. I think Tom's truck is in the hall of fame at Alice Springs? Typical politician "speak" during the interview, nothing changes. Amazing the old truck held together, nice to see it overhauled and preserved. Excellent video, and thank you.

Just had to subscribe this brings back memories for me I grew up in in booligal and hay wow well done cheers mate 👍🍻🇦🇺

@pauldekmetzian2885

Жыл бұрын

Thank-you very much for the message and I have some more content coming soon. Mr Baird was truely a great Australian. Goodonya mate!

I remember these trucks well as the backbone of the army in the 70’s, absolutely bullet proof.

@pauldekmetzian2885

4 жыл бұрын

Yes indeed Peter. They were, and still are, a great truck. Cheers and many thanks for the comment, Paul

@peterbuckley3877

4 жыл бұрын

Paul Dekmetzian it was a sad day when they army replaced them.

@mottthehoople693

3 жыл бұрын

except....in summer...remember those vapour locks?

@peterbuckley3877

3 жыл бұрын

Mott theHoople that seemed to be a common problem in vehicles of that era, the summers used to be a lot hotter, drier and longer back then.

Our local area used these trucks as fire trucks . I remember fighting fires on the back of a 6 wheeler. I used to drive it around the farm as a teenager . Good memories.

Man o man those were the days. When 12 Squadron RAAF had the Chinooks and old Army Accos ruled. Bill Baird definitely a legend. Did anyone write his biography. Would have been a great read.

Interesting bloke. The truck a Mk3, has the fibreglass bonnet. The Mk4 had a steel bonnet and removing the battery was a bit harder. The rear diff was painted white for driving on blackout lights. Switch on the consul would isolate all lights and turn on a small light under the rear which illuminated the rear diff painted white. The front diff wasn't painted. The front had two small lights protruding which put a low light on the road ahead. In convoy you could see the truck in front by the lit diff but had to be aware of the lack of any brake lights. The CMF drivers came out on exercises in Nymagee and went out night driving. Most of the trucks were towed back into camp. A packet of about 10 trucks rear ended each other when the first truck stopped. They were all brand new Mk4's. They were a very versitile truck, lightweight with a 20000 lb winch that could be fed either forward or to the rear, 4WD, hi/lo transfer case and brackets behind each seat to hold an F1 machine gun. I wonder who is doing Billys work these days. There would be a record somewhere on this trucks military history and could add the tactical and formation signs. Bandiana transport museum would have something I'm sure. Where is the truck sitting today?

Even though this video was up- loaded to KZread in January 2017, the Country Wide News story was from the last century, meaning back from before the 1990s. Twice within the video people referenced the 20th Century, but we are actually in the 21st Century now. At 12:58 the commentator mentions the politician responsible for NSW roads being Matt Singleton. Mr Singleton was a National Party Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly between Feb 1971 through to Sep 1990. Consequently, this story is likely from the 1980s, and good old Billy Baird has long since ceased driving his second hand 1964 International Harvester (of Australia Pty Ltd), AACO (Australian Army Cab Over) Mark3 4 x 4 wheel drive 2.5 Ton Cargo Truck ~ fitted with 9,000 Kg winch (orig: 20,000 lbs). RIP William Baird

Did you see the Australian Story on Billy? What an inspiration.

@pauldekmetzian2885

5 жыл бұрын

Yes, and truly an inspiration. Thank-you.

Love the f1s

A Great man.

@pauldekmetzian2885

5 жыл бұрын

Yes indeed.

Cool

Thanks Paul for the vid good on ya mate

@pauldekmetzian2885

4 жыл бұрын

Thanks mate, the truck drives very well but stored presently while all this COVID-19 is going on. Thanks for your comment as it is much appreciated. Cheers!

Where is the truck on display ? Thanks for keeping this history alive.

@pauldekmetzian2885

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Ade, Thank-you for your comment. I am in a club called the Victorian Military Vehicle Corps (VMVC) and we regularly attend car shows and public events where this truck is displayed from time to time. It's not on static display as that would diminish its driveability given that trucks must be regularly driven to be safe. This truck is registered, drives to a high standard and is waiting for us to be free of pandemic lockdowns to recommence getting out and about. If you would like to send me your email, I shall be happy to send some photos. Cheers! Paul pdekker@ozemail.com.au

@adelarsen9776

3 жыл бұрын

@@pauldekmetzian2885 It's wonderful you are preserving this truck type. I'd like a little truck here on the farm to assist me in my duties but alas, i only have a Toyota. Well done and enjoy life. Cheers.

21:12 Dig the new treads !

Once a proud country that could produce vehicles like this. That old bloke must be as tough as the truck at 79 as driving one in those conditions is no mean feat.

@pauldekmetzian2885

3 жыл бұрын

Yes Indeed Shane. We certainly have taken a different path that's for sure. Thanks for watching the video as the history stays alive that way. Cheers!

I've driven the Cobb many times, but that was well after it was asphalted. I can only imagine what it would have been like driving that as a dirt road. And you know it gets wet out there, every time it rains. I've seen B-doubles buried up to their hubs because a driver decided to drive off the hard stuff after rain. That's a mistake you'd want to make once or not at all.

THANK YOU for THIS VIDEO JUST SHOW STILL SAME IN 2019 THAT ROADS UNDER SEAL

@pauldekmetzian2885

4 жыл бұрын

Cheers Robert. Roads are exactly the same! LOL (apologies but missed your comment)

Billy 💪💪💪👑👑👑👑

A mate of mine has one of those exact trucks too it has a camper home sitting on the rear of the chassis behind the cab an is looking for a set of cabin doors as his are a little bit rusty but hey can be fixed though

1st: Our Government has cut funding 2nd: The government previous to us made a bad design/system 3rd: We will have a MUCH better plan...but in 8 years Sounds pretty National party. P.S. Billy Baird was an Aussie hero

@Alex462047

12 күн бұрын

They can't seem to strike a happy medium between spending money wisely and getting things done. And each side loves to blame the other for all the hardships.

I don’t know if bill is still alive, which I dint know if he is, he’d be 106.

What year was this great doco/story. Ripping truck & great video guys!

@pauldekmetzian2885

2 жыл бұрын

Hi James, it was completed in the late 80's. Thanks for viewing, it's a great story! Cheers, Paul

Politicians haven't changed much in the last 30 or 40'years hey? 🤔🤥🇦🇺

@pauldekmetzian2885

4 жыл бұрын

Exactly the same! :)

Doesn't look like Aus had driving instruction back in the day. When you get the wrong vehicles driven incorrectly like that, you do get a merry dance !

That's an Australian Army International acco, Blitz only came as Ford's or Chevy....

@pauldekmetzian2885

14 күн бұрын

Yes, the ABC made an error with Blitz, but hey, we take what we can get! LOL

Bloody disgraceful. These people need acton NOW!!!

@jamescarney6894

7 ай бұрын

The story was from the 1980s.