1955 Thornycroft Sturdy Star tip truck

Made in Basingstoke, England, in 1955 is this charming Thornycroft Sturdy Star tip truck.

Delivery date of the ZG/ER4 Tip Chassis & Cab was 24th May 1955, to Thornycroft (Australia) Pty. Ltd. for The Council of the City of Sydney, where this truck was used in the Engineers Department. Chassis number is 56868, with engine number ER4 6128. AT number (Order number, I think) was 2346, and Dispatch number. 890. Another one (chassis 26869, engine ER4 6125)) was sold and dispatched to the same customer on the same day. I wonder if it still exists?

The hydraulic tipper body was made and installed locally, by PWA Transport Equipment (Peters Bros, Wade and Allmon Pty. Ltd.) of Sydney. The hoist is a G-Well PG8L hydraulic hoist, serial number 24351. It served the Council until the late 1960s, when truck dealer David Gilbert placed an advertisement in The Land newspaper for about a dozen of these trucks, selling them all within a week to farmers in western NSW for carting wheat. Mr Gilbert stated that he received "orders for as many I could get!" This truck went to M.C. Pilot, a farmer in Wyalong, NSW.

At some stage it was sold to Merryvale Pastoral Company in Ganmain, NSW, and then, for the past 40 years or so, it was owned and used by the Prentices on their property at Kamarah, NSW.

In May 2023, the truck came to join the other classics at Kelly St Classics in central Victoria, where it'll be very handy around the property.


↑delivery day 8th May 2023.




Below are some archival photos from The Council of the City of Sydney, showing a similar truck operated by the Cleansing Department, towards the end of its life with the Council.

        
Note the different hoist on this tipper.

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