Steyr 1500A rebuild in New Zealand

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speiss2002
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Steyr 1500A rebuild in New Zealand

#1

Post by speiss2002 » 28 Sep 2007, 03:48

Hi all. I am following the progress of my friends 1500A restoration project. He Purchased the Vehicle from the UK in 2005. It had been sitting idle for many years and was in need of a complete overhaul and rebuild. The cab was original to the vehicle ,but is to replaced with a Kfz 70 body. This is to be used in a forthcomeing expedition to North Africa for a TV documentary series.
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speiss2002
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#2

Post by speiss2002 » 28 Sep 2007, 04:37

While the rolling chassis and engine were being stripped down and parts repaired and replaced,the bodywork was researched. My friend was able to obtain copies of the original factory drawings.These were very helpful,but he lacked the time required to scratch build it. Thanks to a contact in the UK ,he was able to have the complete job done in the Czech Rep. by Vladmir Lehar.Shipment of the bodywork to New Zealand will be six to seven weeks .
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steyr body front.jpg
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steyr body rear.jpg
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speiss2002
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#3

Post by speiss2002 » 28 Sep 2007, 04:53

Lehar offered the completed body with all fittings,seats,racks and canvas tilt.The factory grey finish will be overpainted to an afrika yellow brown once the assembled vehicle is road legal.
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FRANCY RITTER
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#4

Post by FRANCY RITTER » 28 Sep 2007, 08:08

Wow !!! 8O :o
Beautiful work :wink:

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speiss2002
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#5

Post by speiss2002 » 28 Sep 2007, 12:06

It is isn't it? We are looking forward to the day of arrival-mid November.In the meantime, some pics of the work on the chassis.
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Steyr engine removal.jpg
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Steyr stripped.jpg
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Reader3000
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#6

Post by Reader3000 » 28 Sep 2007, 12:37

Wow, amazing project. :o I allways admire people who are able to do this kind of bodywork on cars.

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speiss2002
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#7

Post by speiss2002 » 28 Sep 2007, 13:53

So do I. My friend Tony has been doing this kind of work professionaly for the last 14 years.His hobby is Wehrmacht wheeled transport,of which just about nothing existed in this country until he started bringing his "projects" in. Strange how as a country that was heavily involved in WW2 there are so few Axis vehicles here. At the moment the Steyr has priority but there is a Mercedes L3000 recieving the full works rebuild as well.
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speiss2002
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#8

Post by speiss2002 » 29 Sep 2007, 01:59

Vladmir Lehar has a website http://www.leharmilitaryvehicles.cz, where he can be contacted. His collection is an indication of the work he can do. Fantastic stuff.
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zundapp
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#9

Post by zundapp » 30 Sep 2007, 22:11

Looks like tony is moving ahead quite quickly!

We almost sold to him one of two unrestored examples we have here.

Here is our restored example in its new camo and markings ( s.jgPz ABT 512 )
Image

I told him of Lehars work after we had this body made.

I have started a forum for Steyr 1500 and RSO owners and enthusiasts:
http://steyr1500.freeforums.org/

David

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speiss2002
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#10

Post by speiss2002 » 01 Oct 2007, 04:43

They are a very business like vehicle.I wonder how many are out there? Whats she like to drive?

zundapp
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#11

Post by zundapp » 01 Oct 2007, 08:59

Speiss,

Well, they are very much a 1940s vehicle. The gearbox requires double de-clutches for changes up and down. Naturally there is no power steering, but we have the rare desert type 16" rims on ours, so we have alot of rubber to twist to change direction. Its also a bit cramped for my 6' 5" (1.97m) frame! Power is good, compared to a Dodge weapons carrier it is quite similar.
Nice V8 burble from the exhaust, a bit of mechanical clatter from upfront.

Without a load in the rear it can be a bit bouncy! (no shocks except on the ambulance and Kommandeurwagen).

David

spannermann
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1500A

#12

Post by spannermann » 16 Jan 2008, 21:39

Its a pity that the New Zealand vehicle is being changed from its original Lkw (truck) configuration to a Pkw configuration, it appears that this is an an Auto-Union made 1500A and as such AU is credited with only building Lkw versions of the 1500A in WWII,

So it will be a fantasy vehicle only, if this change is followed through,

The proposed Pkw body shown above is also far too early a version for Feb 44 that this AU 1500A is, and a Feb 44 pkw body would have many visually obvious differences to the body design illustrated above.

Can you not leave it as a Lkw, they are rare enough as it is, it a shame to change history.

spannermann

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Tim Smith
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#13

Post by Tim Smith » 17 Jan 2008, 03:40

I wonder how much longer people will be able to run WW2 military vehicles.

Surely a WW2 truck would drink petrol like a Hummer compared to a modern vehicle of equal power?

With oil already past $100 a barrel, in 10 or 20 years, filling the tank of a WW2 vehicle will soon cost a month's wages for the average working class person..... :(

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speiss2002
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#14

Post by speiss2002 » 17 Jan 2008, 08:36

Fair enough, it is a recreation of the more desireable type,but I wouldn't call it a fantasy vehicle.The vehicle chassis number proves that it came out too late for that body style but it will be used more and be able to pay its keep as a mannschaftwagen.The cab will be used for another project in the UK so its not going to waste.

spannermann
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AU 1500

#15

Post by spannermann » 05 Feb 2008, 10:20

Speiss,
Yes it is a fantasy, you yourself call it a recreation which is not accurate because it was not the vehicle type that you are now recreating,
Auto Union is understood not to have produced the Mannschaftwagen version you propoae to make, so it is a fantasy.

This vehicles history;-
In 1944 AU Wanderer made a truck
in 1944 the Germans used this truck in Normandy where it stayed
In 1985 I saw this truck in Normandy
In 1999 I saw this truck in England
But someone in NZ knows better than all this and is changing history to suit personal preferences.

If that is indeed the body you have bought from the CZ Republic, then it is a copy of an early 1943 1500 body, whereas a February 1944 version of this same body has several significant manufactured differences, why do you not get it right and at least have the body style date matching the chassis date.

So now we are apparently going to have ex-1944 truck, with an inaccurate 1943 Pkw body, also painted it seems in Afrika brown (its says so somewhere earlier on) even though the African fighting is over approx 10 months before this vehick was built.

yes, it all fantasy, but then, and I believe unfortunately for history, your friend is the owner !!!!

spannermann.

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