Ford FCB194 'Austerity' 1756

After the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the traditional high capacity British double deck bus chassis became unavailable. This was due to the British motor vehicle industry having to turn to war effort manufacturing and to the lack of guaranteed safe shipping. In view of these conditions, it was concluded that American and Canadian vehicle makers would be for a time, the only suppliers. The difficulty was that they could only offer 22-35 seat single deck chassis. Ford vehicles were considered the most suitable, due to their cost and the availability of spare parts in Australia.

The Department of Road Transport and Tramways (D.R.T & T) was able to obtain 61 Ford FCB 194 chassis through the local agent, Hastings Deering Pty Ltd between 1943 and 1945. Three were powered with Hercules 6 cylinder diesel, 38 with Mercury V8 Petrol, and 20 with standard V8 Petrol engines, 18 were equipped with two speed diffs.

Arrangements were made with a local body builder, Properts Pty Ltd of Newtown, to construct "Austerity" type bodies to D.R.T. & T. design specifications that would reduce man power and material consumption. They were constructed on a timber frame with metal up to window level, wooden window frames and a duck canvas roof. On the near side of the buses there were two opening windows and six fixed, while on the off side there were three opening and seven fixed. Upholstered perimeter seating was provided for 26 passengers and 28 standing. 55 of these bodies were constructed by Properts Pty Ltd and six at the Leichhardt Bus Workshops. The buses weighed 4 tons, 10 hundredweight.

1756 was constructed by Properts and entered service with the D.R.T. & T. in August 1945 at the end of the war. It travelled only travelling 44,000 miles before being withdrawn from service in January 1948. The bus was sold in February 1948 to Fairbridge Farm School, Molong, in central western N.S.W. and used as a school bus. In 1963 it was deregistered and languished untouched on a property in the town of Molong.

After many years of negotiations the bus was donated to the H.C.V.A. in June 1990 by The Fairbridge "Old Students" Association.

The body was in poor condition when obtained, owing to it being left out in the open for 27 years. Restoration was completed by members with financial assistance from both the NSW Government and the Public Transport Union in 1998. The vehicle remains in the collection as a static exhibit.

Specifications:

Engine: Ford V8 Side valve petrol. 221 C.I.D. 85 B.H.P.

Transmission: Four speed constant mesh and a crown wheel and pinion differential.

Brakes: Vacuum assisted hydraulic. Transmission parking brake.

Body: Properts

Status:

Preserved, on display at Leichhardt.