Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[badhuis]

I have just "inherited" a 1961 Commer Walk Tru from a friend. It is the one with the extended nose, 3 litre 6 cylinder and manual four speed.
This was used from new by a local fire brigade, as people / tool truck. I saw this van on the forecourt of a scrapyard in the mid eighties and saved it, then passed on to my friend. It was in quite good condition and he used it only for a handful of small trips before storing it in the shed.

I have no real use for it, do not want to make it into a camper. There are quite a few WT campers here in Holland.
What I am thinking of is to convert it into a beaver tail lorry - that would be very useful. But there are a few problems:
1. the rear axle ratio is bad. Top speed is only approx 50 mph. I would like to have a top speed of 60 mph. In the past trucks used two spead axles (Eton springs to mind???) - would that be a real option? where might I find something like that?
2. the rear wheels are too big to fit a beaver tail platform. In conjunction with number 1 I suppose.
3. Must cut off the van rear - close off the drivers compartment at the back. A slight problem might be the sliding doors..! These are wonderful as the car can be driven with the doors open and I am going to keep that.
4. Not sure if the chassis is long enough.

Is there a forum somewhere for older trucks / vans?
I would love to know what rear axles could be useful from more modern vans.

I will upload some pictures, have some from the mid eighties when found but must find these first!

[Rick]

Sounds interesting, I don't know of any forums specific to older vans and trucks (other than here I'm afraid!!! )

RJ
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[badhuis]

Ten (or thirty) years later, it is a Goodbye to the Commer Walk Tru.

It has been in one barn or another for about 30 years. Because there was no real plan for it. I did not want to camper-ize it. Food truck options stayed options only, not something I would do. The market for these vans is about non-existent.

An acquaintance had a picture of the van at his workshop. Someone took an interest in it and we made a deal. He will use the van for transporting his old motor bike(s) also using the van as a sleeping place when he is at meetings. Excellent!

The Walk Tru was picked up two weeks ago. It only just fitted to the Mercedes transporter! That combination was not a happy sight I have to say.... luckily they only need it to move it about 20 kilometers.









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a car stops being fun when it becomes an investment

[peter scott]

Good news! Well done for your part in its life.

Peter
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http://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Rick]

That sounds like a great result!

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Rootes75]

That's a great way to use her, glad she's found a good new home.
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]

In the first photo I see what I presume to be another Commer...the Commer Imp. These may have looked like a modified Hillman Imp but in fact they were a specially designed van. One of the criteria was that they needed to be tall enough to take milk churns!

[badhuis]