For me it all started one Sunday afternoon in February 2006 when standing in the backyard checking out one of our truck
club members latest acquisition, an ex Queensland road train International Transtar prime mover, with it’s huge V8 Detriot diesel
and 15 speed Roadranger gearbox, driving back to the tandem rear axles in the extra long wheelbase American chassis.
He said what do
you think. I said I would prefer to be liable for something a little smaller, older and simpler to work on, like an Austin A30 van.
He said ‘I have one hidden in a shed.’
Two weeks later we were in my truck heading to Orbost to bring the van back to its new home
in Heatherton. My memories of A30’s had faded over the last 30 years (my first car was a Volkswagen) so the first sighting was a bit
of a shock. Sitting under the carport of the old house in the back streets of Orbost with its faded grey paint, red oxide primer patches
and many little dints it looked more like an abandoned kitten than an A30.
With its new battery the engine fired up and I drove
the van onto the trailer, gently tied it down and of to Melbourne we went. (Now that I have driven the van on the open road
I realize what a shock it must have been for it, hanging onto the trailer behind the truck at 100kph plus would have been quite an experience
for the little car.)
I am lucky that I live on a five acre farm that has a dirt track so I could drive the A30 around to get the mechanicals
working ok.
I replaced all the rubber components in the suspension and fitted new king pins and shockers which fixed up the
front end wobbles on the bumpy dirt track down the back. The engine ran fine, just a couple of oil leaks fixed, and a new exhaust
and some new engine mounts. I found the diff made noise over 60kmp and was replaced. The gear box has not been touched as yet.
The
bodywork was the most expensive and took the most time. Seats, floor covering and all trim was replaced, not to original as I have
used cloth seat coverings, modern car carpet and modified the Countryman seat style conversion rear seats. I also changed the sliding
windows to fixed rubber mounted side windows to make it look more like a commercial van. (this fits with the Historical Commercial
Vehicle Clubs trucks).
All body panels and glass were removed and repaired or replaced, some minor rust in the body was fixed
and then repainted with all new rubbers fitted.
At this stage some eight months after starting the restoration I could not wait any
long and after a bit of trouble with the young bloke doing the roadworthy understanding the A30’s technology finally got MYA30 registered.
Since then I have been using the van as my main form of transport clocking up 2000km in the first month, sorting out a few minor bugs
but nothing that has stopped me so far.
The van fits neatly into my fleet of vehicle between my scooter and my trucks and will be used
as much as the other vehicles. I will use it at all our truck shows as it is a true British commercial vehicle, not quite as big as
the Fodens and AEC’s but just as unique and attracts just as much interest. (More amongst the general public as it brings back their
memories of 30, 40 or 50 years ago).
Almost every day using the van I get passers by waving or shouting comments, all good ones luckily.
I do find with the original engine it is a bit slow at the traffic like starts, although it cruises good at 80kph, its pretty busy
at 90kph which is much more compatible with today's highway speeds. (May have to slip in a 948cc engine with a higher speed diff.)
I
am looking forward to my first big trip which is planed to go up to Bundaberg, a 6000km return trip, carrying my camping gear and
keeping to the back roads.
The A30 has turned out very much like that stray kitten, within less than 12 months it has wriggled itself
into prime position in the fleet, it is using up all my money and most of my time, and was my introduction to the A30 Club, which
is using up the rest of my time. Luckily time is to be used and spending it with MYA30 is a very pleasant way of using it, I hope
we can grow old together.
Graeme McIntosh