All

I came across an oddity yesterday, and discussed it with Ben S.

In amongst the HQ records there is a number (like dozens) of base model cars, all credited as sold by United Motors Adelaide which suggests all FLEET order. Most are 6cyl Belmont utility, most are M15 3spd but there are a few that are Belmont sedan/wagon/van plus a couple of autos. they all seem to have front disc brakes but no other mechanical options. A few rare ones are listed with QD engine numbers but those may be data entry errors (records are full of these for engine numbers).

The records use a coding system for the mechanical options. For the engines in HQ, 2 is QD/QE, 3 is QL/QM, 5 is QR/QS, 7 is QT and 6 is QU.

These wierdo cars all have a 4 which doesn't exist in HQ for engine coding.

Been scratching my head to figure out what it might be. If the couple with QD engine numbers are correct then its some odd high comp 173, but that doesn't gel. It is possible they are special order 130ci (ie QA prefix) engines maybe?

Attached is a BODY ID plate for one of them, it also has an error on the BODY line where whomever typed it put LJ instead of HQ. It was 4511 Golden yellow which was a fleet colour used by a number of companies including:

Allen Bros. (Asphalting) P/L (SA).
Ansett Freight Express.
Aveling Barford Trailers.
Department of Main Roads (no idea what State).
Emoleum Australia Pty Ltd (NSW).
Hertz Rent-A-Truck.
Mitre 10 Group (QLD).

There are a few more companies with Golden Yellow but a different formula. My money is on maybe Ansett or the DMR if that is in South Australia.

Any thoughts? Anyone seen one of these vehicles in South Australia?

Edited by user Wednesday, 26 July 2023 11:34:53 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

No, those aren't in the Service/Warranty report. It doesn't mean these didn't have that engine though as these were fitted to South African assembled vehicles with both the M15 3spd and Trimatic using GMH bellhousings. I did think of that as I remembered in the last 10 years Toyota imported Tanzanian spec 6yl non-turbo diesel Landcruisers into WA for mine use as they didn't want the unreliability/complexity of the V8 diesels in mine applications. I can't see how a Chevy 6cyl would be more reliable than a 173 though. My guess is possibly QA (130) or QB/QC (138) or some other wierdo version of a 173 different to QD or QE.

I found a few more of these that weren't credited to United Motors Adelaide. They are both still in South Australia though, in Port Pirie and Crystal Brook, both north of Adelaide up towards Port Augusta.

And I found a 3rd car with a QD engine number, so it means it is getting harder to dismiss the QD engine numbers as errors.

The only things I can think of that vary any 173 in HQ away from the standard 173HC or optional 173LC are:

K45 - heavy duty air cleaner.
L61 - economy carburettor.
M01 - Heavy Duty clutch.

Problem is all of those are part of the BO2 Taxi package and thus I'd expect to see a lot more of them especially on sedan and wagon and in other States. The bulk of these are Belmont utes and in South Australia.

I did some more searching and did find some at Pagewood. All Belmont utes, but all with front drums and with 3.90 rear axles. One of them a Trimatic - imagine a HQ Belmont ute, all wheel drums with a trimatic and a 3.90:1 rear axle - yuk! All sold through distributors, basically the dealers that were Fleet and Government order sellers. There are a lot more QD engine numbers on these Pagewood cars.

And there is also some vans with the same NSW fleet dealer code, but built at Acacia Ridge (as Pagewood wasn't building van bodies at that time). They are all autos with 3.9 rear axle and front drums.

What I'm starting to wonder is if these Fleet vehicles had an early introduction of ADR27? These 4 coded cars seem to disappear mid 1973 which is about when ADR27 compliant engines appear.

Edited by user Wednesday, 26 July 2023 12:57:18 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified