Dodge T-110L5 GS 3 ton 4 x 2 Lorry with dropside body : Australian Military Forces

Modified Dodge T-110L5 with serial number 91023907 and Australian Army registration number 120662. The vehicle has an apparently genuine odometer reading of 44848 miles. According to a plate located in the cabin, it is believed this vehicle was modified by Harden and Johnson Pty Ltd in Melbourne some time after March-April 1943. According to a chalk inscription on the rear of the cabin this vehicle was overhauled in November 1943, presumably by the Army. It carried the NSW registration no. SD-917 and bears a registration label expiring in February 1986. The right door bears the marking 'P A (?) Sampson' and a phone number in the cab.

This Dodge T-110L5 was part of a batch of these vehicles which arrived in Australia in March-April 1943. It was later sold as surplus and is believed to have been used in southern New South Wales (NSW) until 1986 when it was accessioned into the Australian War Memorial's (AWM) collection. This type of vehicle is derived from pre-war civilian models and was mass-produced for military use. They were used by the Canadian Army and the British Army, the latter having approximately 3000 vehicles. Substantial numbers were used by the RAAF in the Middle East, probably from British stocks. The Australian Army also used at least 1600 (identified batch numbers running from 120201 to 121834) with many modifications made to the basic vehicle and at least a third were converted to semi-trailers or buses. Two basic types of tray bodies have been identified; a standard tray with 4 or 5 vertical side bars (Stake body) and a longer tray with single or double drop sides. Many of the vehicles, including this vehicle, were also fitted with sand tyres. Anti-aircraft, radar, infantry and supply units used this type of vehicle. Several were used in the Darwin area to supply remote radar and coastal artilley sites and at Cowra, NSW, for transporting prisoners of war.