Monster V8 sells Army to civvies
This sixby has real street cred

OC 2 Coy 1 Comd Regt Maj Chris Wallis seals the deal with Managing Director GM/HEM Engines Bruce Parker with the ALTC streetcar team. Photo by Sgt Sybelle Foxcroft, QUR

By Sgt Sybelle Foxcroft

A GENERATION three 5.7 litre long-stroke V8 engine has been donated to give power to a new street machine currently being designed and built at ALTC.

The street machine, currently regarded as the Army high performance vehicle, is part of a two-phase program called Project Cassowary.

The Chief of Staff, HQ ALTC and design acceptance authority for Project Cassowary, Lt-Col Simon Warne, said the original idea for the vehicle came from the CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy, who had a plan to outmatch the Air Force hot air balloon and the Navy’s Young Endeavour.

“The idea is for Army to have a unique PR recruiting vehicle that will be readily recognisable throughout the civilian community, but still tie into what the Army does,” he said.

“The end result is to draw attention to the Army by building a modified vehicle to display at motor events such as Bathurst, the Grand prix, Army open days and Summernats, so it is a high visibility project for PR and for recruiting.

“Visually, it tranforms a modified current in-service vehicle, the 6x6 landrover, into a street machine because it gives the best balance between the asthetic appeal and being able to show-case what Army can do.”

Managing Director and Head of Mod Nominees HM/GEM Engines, Bruce Parker generously donated the engine. Mr Parker, who served in the military, said he has many good memories with the Army and hopes to continue to help and contribute what he can.

“I believe there is no better training ground, system and management training than the Army,” he said

Mr Parker served with 2 Cdo Coy from 1960 until 1969 and has been affiliated with the Army over the past 41 years, including twice serving as president of the 2 Cdo Association. In 1970 he started his own motor mechanic business, which has grown to what is today, one of two major engine reconditioning businesses in Australia. His company has been awarded the Prime Minister’s Employer of the Year Award several times.

The street-machine will be designed and built at ALTC by RAEME and RACT soldiers. Lt-Col Warne said the CA intended for the project to have a lot of involvement with soldiers and trainees.

“One of the main reasons it’s being done from ALTC is to allow the trainees from all trades, not only from RAEME but also RACT and others, to be involved and help build this motor vehicle project,” he said.

The vehicle will have a rolling chassis, which will be produced by an experienced hotrod building specialist. The Army will finish it off by putting a cabin on it, a wooden tray, and all the highlighting to turn it into a street machine.

Lt-Col Warne said Canberra car festival Summernats in January next year would be the first time the prime mover and trailer would be displayed, followed by the unveilling of the streetcar in June next year.