Gen 2 Standard

History

The first Gen 2 109s, in service from around 1960, were what the Registry of Ex-Military 4×4s (REMLR) describes as "more-or-less civilian" vehicles, while the Gen 2A ¾-ton units supplied from 1963 to 1966 went mainly to specialty conversions — ambulances, fire tenders, survey and workshop bodies — before the definitive Gen 2A ¾-ton GS (census 6028) arrived in numbers around 1966–67. The Army-pattern GS trucks differed substantially from civilian 109s. The chassis gained extended front spring mounts and rear shackles for extra ride height, an extra outrigger carrying a duplicate 10-gallon fuel tank, longer shock absorbers and 7.50-16 tyres, while the 2.25-litre petrol engine ran twin fan belts. Exterior fittings included the characteristic brushguard ("bull bar"), bridge-classification plate, blackout light, pioneer-tool brackets, NATO trailer socket, twin fuel fillers and a canvas strap for the folded windscreen — the canvas-tilted, bull-barred silhouette the registry model reproduces. Some 109s carried an Army-specification PTO winch made by Bamfords of Victoria.