53 Series Powered Trucks

Hi all,

This being my first post I hope I get it right and thank everyone in advance for your attention and assistance.

I am curious to know what make and models of vehicles were sold/delivered new in Australia with 4-53 and 6v53 Series Jimmys.

Growing up around them and working at Detco for a couple of years when I first left school, I know I have seen them in Diamond Reos, early KW's, RFW's and buses but there must be others.

I would be grateful if anyone can shed some more light?

DD
Welcome 2 the 4m

off the top of me head sum factory fitted 53 screemers
Bedford KM
Dodge
Diamond T
Reo
Diamond Reo
International BCF?

Sum of the big boys had screemers mainly 71 n 92 Series
az in KW Peterbilt White etc

cya

Neals Motors (Chrysler/Rootes Distributors) did GM Commers in their South Melbourne truck workshop. Don't know if it qualifies as factory though I did see a few brand new ones being converted - for overnighters? You could tell them coming towards you as the cabs sat up 3 or 4 inches higher than the Perkins and Knocker powered machines.

Here is a GM powered Commer for sale in NZ a few years back.




Here is one we see regularly in Qld. 6V53, 9 speed RTO Road Ranger, No. 5 Eaton 2 speed diff.





The difference in height is the Australian one has kept the really nice original Commer fairly flat floor and right across seating like the overnighters while the Kiwi one has the floor chopped with the engine sticking up into the cab more.


Lang

IH Loadstar dunno what else

Paul

Thanks to everyone for their response, a few like the KM Bedford and Loadstar I had forgotten while others were unknown.

I would appreciate anyone letting me know of one for sale!

White (the ones before the 4500 and 9000)

Paul

Hi DD

I have a Bedford KMR XT5 that has a factory fitted 6V53 Detroit and RT610 box from pommy land.
I believe that some were retrofitted here in Oz, other forum members may have knowledge of this.

My truck left the factory as a single axle prime mover but has been lengthened to a tipper.
When we start the restoration of the truck, we will be shortening her back to the original length as a prime mover.

These are fairly light on the ground now, I found mine in a barn in central Tassy after a 2 year search and she had been there for 28 years.

Cheers

Jason

Thanks Jason and best of luck with the build, I certainly look forward to seeing the results!

Diamond Reo's came factory fitted with 8/53 although the first ones were labelled Diamond T they were sold as Diamond Reo
Dunno that anything left the factory floor with a 4 53

Paul

I thought I had seen some with 6v53's.

When I was younger, living in Sydney, there was a tipper operator at Taren Point that had a couple in yellow. I'm not sure whether they were 6v53 or 8v53 but boy did they look and sound great!