The Ansair Flxible Clipper

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Regular visitors to my website will know that apart from being slightly Potty about Magirus Deutz and anything with a Deutz Air-Cooled engine, there is at least one other mania that I suffer from.

Of all the areas of the world I have visited AUSTRALIA stands out head and shoulders above the rest in my own personal opinion.

It is not just the Geography or the People, or the varied weather, but its also the incredible enthusiasm of their Truck drivers, restorers and historians.

The thinking over there is 'letsrestoreitratherthanscrapit', and they have many more shows and events than here in the UK.

For this reason I have found it necessary to devote a complete NEW page to let you all know whats happening in the Australian region.

Deutz on The Dirt Track This amazing picture was sent to me by Jim from Australia. It was taken in 1975 whilst he was travelling as a passenger in a Kenworth heading in the opposite direction. It was Jims first trip in a big truck as he had just started work as a Service Rep for KW. The picture was taken on a 35mm camera, has been scanned, sent halfway round the world and tarted up a bit by myself. I think it was worth the effort. Thanks Jim for taking the time to send this little piece of history.

   Magirus Deutz trucks were on sale in Australia from 1952 to 1972 although imports stopped

   around 1970 as far as I can tell. It is possible that a few later models came in as Fire-fighting vehicles.

   They may have only been available for 20 years but 40 years later they are still remembered and

   some are still at work. There are almost definitely more examples left in Oz than in the UK.

   The early models with the continuously driven cooling fan did have a few problems with the

   extreme climate, but soon models with with thermostatically controlled fans came in, and the

   problems went.

Guy Ellis is the President of The Historic Fire Engine association of Australia. He bought this fine looking turntable ladder unit 5years ago at auction,  after it was retired from  Darlinghurst  division of NSWFB. At 30 year sold it now qualifies for Historic vehcile registration, but really doesn't look its age. This is a fine example of the 'Magirus Leiter' 37m ladder unit as fitted to many other makes of truck.

This is where the Maggie mania started, with a Pluto coe , I believe. Its pretty infectious !! See The Old Jupiter come back to life in these photographs showing large amounts of work.
Here it is nearing completion, and on display for all to see.
The V6 engine from an Ansair Clipper	Another candidate for the Kelvin hospital
and another....	and theres more !!!!
As you can see, Kelvin has built up quite a collection, and I have tried to sort his pics into some sort of sensible order. He's obviously going to be very busy ! Keep up the good work please and keep sending updates and pics through because we really want to see them. Thanks Kelvin.

With the assistance of Peter Lynch in Victoria, I managed to put together the list below :-

This list only refers to the standard range of Road vehicles and does not include Fire vehicles.

The years denote when the model was first available, most were available for a few years after.

RH = Rundhauber= Round Nose

EH = Eckhauber = Square Nose

COE = Forward Control Cab Over Engine

Although my main interest is Magirus Deutz, Australia has another vehicle in its history, powered by the amazing Deutz Air-Cooled engine.

I will admit that until 2008 I had never heard of :-

This striking looking vehicle holds a lot of interest to Bus enthusiasts and there are quite a few still running in Australia.

Here is one example owned by Geoff in Tasmania.

I feel many of you may be seeing this vehicle for the first time, but can assure you that if you mention the word 'flxible' with its strange spelling, to any truck nut in Australia , they will all know something about it and many of them will have travelled on one in their earlier years.

This particular one was originally powered by a rear mounted Deutz V6 F6L614, but now has upgraded to a 714.

Here are a few notes from the owner Geoff, cut /pasted direct from emails.

"Just swung home for a quick bite to eat and a break before heading back out baling hay tonight. Thought I would take the opportunity to send another quick e mail to you. Don't feel at all obliged to use any of the following, but you might find it interesting. I think you are already aware of the link between Deutz, Magirus and Ansair within Aus, so as well as the purchase of the Magirus trucks for Ansett freight runs there were the Deutz engines to be used in the Clipper coaches. 131 Ansair Flxible clippers were built by Ansair under licence from Flxible in the USA between 1950 and 1960, of these 131 the last 61 coaches were factory installed with the Deutz F6L-614 V6 producing 125hp. Between late 1960 and 1961 ten clippers were extended by four feet in the wheel base, six of these were repowered with the larger F6L-714 V6 producing 145hp these were fitted due to the increased weight of the extended coaches. My clipper had its 714 fitted after its Ansett days in the hands of a private operator as a new crate engine, sadly very few of the surviving clippers retain their Air cooled Deutz power." 

"Couple of things I should say for the point of accuracy. The 714 in my clipper was actually fitted to another coach first as a new engine but was removed to fit a Detroit. I must pay credit to previous owner for the past 25 years David Pollard. David is an X pioneer driver, yep he got paid to drive them for a living! It was then that he grew a love for the Deutz. He intentionally sought out a Deutz powered clipper to fit out as a motorhome when he retired from the trucking industry and if it wasn't for his meticulous maintenance and dedication to keeping the clipper and engine as original as possible it simply wouldn't be around to see. 
It should be said that one of the key memories that people have of clippers is the throbbing sound of an approaching Deutz clipper into town, that on a still night could be heard many miles out! They were originally fitted with fish tails to their twin exhaust, but the RTA forced their removal as in some towns at the right rpm the throb was so intense they would shake out the shop front windows!!!! That is a true story! "

The Jupiter which has graced the HCVCA forum on MANY occasions, now purchased , re-wheeeled, started and run by Geoff. About BLOODY time this one turned a wheel :)
A modified Pluto with some sort of third axle added. What plans ? a tipper maybe >
Another Pluto but this time a 230D16 with a sleeper cab. Most likely the first back to the road ?
A 210D18 shown here on the left at the Melbourne Fire workshops, and on the right as it arrived after its journey to Tasmania. Geoff could be a very busy man over the next few years with all these trucks and even busier if he doesn't stop buying . He has the Deutz air-cooled bug BAD !! All these trucks are runners and are testament to their German builders. Watch for updates .

The Melbourne truck 'Car 103 200D19'. I saw this beauty in 2009, but the very latest News is that its Twin sister Car 102, has a new home in Papua New Guinea ! Whats it doing there you ask ? I cannot really believe this myself BUT... This truck has served Melbourne for 30 years solid, and now at the age of over 40 it has been bought by a man called Ronald (more than twice that age !) to go to work again !!!! Lae in PNG was badly hit by recent Fires and one of Ronald's friend's house was totally destroyed due to lack of Fire equipment. He vowed this would not happen again and bought the Maggie to help. He is going to set up a New Lae Volunteer Fire Service. As amazing as this sounds, it is true !! I have heard from another source that the truck was fully serviced and overhauled Nr Melbourne before its trip to PNG. It has arrived and the locals are learning how to operate the 44m ladder unit. I have managed to locate an operators manual for them in Germany and wish them all the best of luck in this exciting venture.

Isn't it amazing ???? Click > HERE< or the pic above for more details !!!

Whilst in Melbourne I paid a visit to the Melbourne Fire Brigade Museum on Gisborne St. My main reason for the visit was to see the retired Magirus Deutz units. I was informed that they were no longer on the premises, but now housed at Newport, west of the City, and not open to the public. I thought  I was out of luck, but the man on reception immediately called Newport and asked if they could let me visit. I was pleased by their response and drove over there, to be met  (by name) at the gate by a friendly volunteer. I was shown into a storage building and in front of me was: Car 103, a 1971 200D19 44m ladder unit. Car 150 , a DLK 23 12 Low profile ladder/basket unit. In another shed, there was a 210D 18 with some form of pumping unit. I was shown round all 80 vehicles and was concerned that they are not accessible by the general public. There is a team of enthusiastic volunteers who are keeping the collection together. Most of the visitors are birds which necessitate all vehicles being covered with tarpaulins. I feel privileged to be allowed access to this staggering collection and thank the volunteers for their hospitality. So a big thank you David Russell, Barry Beer and the others whose names, I apologise, I did not get. Barry told me an interesting story and acted out his dramatic method for getting to the heart of the Fire first. He also explained about the 'Lift' ability of the ladder of Car 103. The machine carried 2 x extension bars which when fitted to the foot of the ladder reached down to the ground. The ladder is fitted with a small folding platform and which rides up the ladder and enables access to the ladder without climbing aboard. Have I got that right Barry ? See the pictures below of these very hard-worked beautiful machines.
Car103 200 D19 - NSF	Car103 200 D19 - Head On
Car103 200 D19 - OSF	La France on left, 15m less ladder, but bulkier.
Car103 200 D19 - Drivers side	Car103 200 D19 - Crew View
Car103 200 D19- slippy wood seats help dressing	Car103 200 D19 - Ladder support frame.
Car103 200 D19 - NSR The Famous name	Car103 200 D19 - OSR The Famous name
Car103 200 D19 - OS view	Car103 200 D19 - the mighty F8L814 Deutz
Car103 200 D19 - Extension Rod for 'Lift'	Barry climbed to top of ladder to be first at fire.
Car103 200 D19 - Magirus Data Plate	Car103 200 D19 - Show Display Board
Car 150 DLK 23 12- Short Nose PA cab	Car 150 DLK 23 12
Car 150 DLK 23 12	Car 150 DLK 23 12 - Cab O/S
Car 150 DLK 23 12 - Cab N/S	Altona 210D18 - awaiting restoration

Model : Uranus      Build Year : 1957     Owner : Robert    Location : Somewhere in Australia       Status:  Recent Find

Message received recently.... 'Hi roland enjoy your site. Have just come by a Uranus and intend to restore it Am interested in following its history It was made in 1957 How many were made.Would there be many in Australia Thank you Robert' Well, Robert you are very lucky to have found this V12 Beauty,......... Many people are interested in its history and how the hell it got to Oz !...... Not many were made..... And yours is about as rare as a 'Fishes Tit' There are people in Germany looking into details of your find and I will report on their findings.

Model : 3 x Jupiters ?      Build Year : 1955 approx     Owner : Ron     Location : North Bexley, NSW. Australia       Status:  Work in Progress
Donor vehicle 1 - Mid Fifties Jupiter	One of the F8L714 V8s in Rons stock.
Donor vehicle 2 - Late Fifties Jupiter	Donor vehicle 3 - Mid Fifties Jupiter
1 set of shotblasted chassis sections	Assembled chassis painted up.
Ron is in NSW downunder in Australia. He has managed to find 3 Old Maggies and is on the way to getting a Rundhauber Jupiter on the road again. He has taken on quite a task but one day NSW will hear the sound of another carefully restored Magirus. G'day and Good luck Ron, keep us up to date.

Model : 270 Pluto      Build Year : 1970 approx     Owner : Cliff     Location : Hawkesbury NSW. Australia       Status:  Donor vehicles obtained.

Cliff is in  NSW Australia. He remembers when he used to accompany his Dad in His Maggie back in 1972. He has spent the last 4 years accumulating the above selection and intends to produce one show vehicle. Currently he is trying to locate a pair of genuine headlights.  Can anyone help please ?