COLLECTORS and restorers will go to extraordinary lengths to find vehicles and parts.
Military enthusiast Rod Mills, of Harkaway, southeast of Melbourne, showed his colours when he took delivery recently of a unique vehicle.
This vehicle was made in the US in 1985 and spent time in Saudi Arabia before finding its way to his home.
Rod bought the iconic Hum V from a central NSW grain farmer, who had seen plenty of others during a trip to Saudi Arabia.
"The grain farmer was originally in Saudi Arabia to look at Korean war jeeps, but he saw an opportunity to get a few of the Hum Vs here," Rod said.
"Mine was one of about 20 delivered to Sydney.
"It had been used by the US Air Force as a military police vehicle on a base in Saudi Arabia, so it had seen some action."
Rod said that when he took possession of the Hum V, it needed some work.
"It was basically all there, but, like many other Hum Vs in Saudi, it had been abandoned in a paddock and looted of quite a few parts," he said.
More than 10 years and a conversion from left to right-hand-drive later, Rod's Hum V is now a head-turner when he takes it out as part of his membership of the Victorian Military Vehicle Corps.
"It certainly attracts quite a bit of attention," Rod said.
"I have had it in places such as St Kilda and people have applauded from the footpath."
Rod and the Hum V are a regular site at many VMVC get-togethers, such as the annual Anzac Day parade in Melbourne.
However, he also likes to take the intimidating vehicle for regular private drives.
"It's actually very comfortable to travel in and easy to drive," Rod said.
His trips have included crossing the Simpson Desert, but Rod said fuel use could be an issue.
The Hum V's engine is a 6.2-litre V8 diesel which averages about 24 litres per 100km fuel consumption.
"It has an 80-litre fuel tank, so a good supply of jerry cans is necessary," Rod said.
The particular model of Rod's Hum V was made to be fitted with a 50-calibre Browning machine gun.
"I obviously don't have the gun, but we occasionally use a replica which looks quite impressive," he said.
Being a military vehicle, Rod's Hum V has many unique features.
These include an aluminium body, kevlar composite bonnet and doors, high-tensile steel roof and what Rod describes as "light body armour".
"It weighs 2.7 tonnes, which is actually quite light for a Hum V, and the armour is supposed to be able to stop a 22-calibre round," Rod said.
There are also four-wheel disc brakes which are located in-board, near the differential, and the suspension is fully independent, coil shocks.
The Hum V also has an automatic transmission, but it does not have a "Park" gear.
Rod said that design feature was to avoid damage to the transmission from the recoil of the machine gun on the roof.
Another handy design feature is the ability to inflate and deflate the truck-sized tyres on the go.
"The tyres never run more than 20 psi, but it's very handy to be able to adjust the pressure to suit varying conditions," he said.
Then there's Rod's unique number plate - HMM W V.
That stands for high manoeuvrability, mechanised, wheeled vehicle.
"That was what it was originally named, but the US soldiers shortened that to Hum V and the civilian version of that is the Hummer," he said.
