NTI resto truck delivers for MND

National Transport Insurance has made yet another sizeable donation to charity Motor Neuron Disease Australia, following the successful auction of its superbly restored and upgraded 1946 Ford Jailbar pickup at last week's ATA Live online industry event.

The sublime truck – a hybrid of a 1946 Ford Jailbar body and a donor Isuzu N Series truck – went to an anonymous bidder for the sum of $82,000, which will now go to MND Australia to aid the charity in its vital work.

The truck is actually the fourth project of a similar nature undertaken by NTI and the third to be given away, and it follows on from another Ford Jailbar resto of the same vintage.

That truck, dubbed Roxanne, was raffled off at the 2019 Brisbane Truck Show, and with raffle proceeds being matched dollar for dollar by NTI led to the insurer donating $200,000 to MND Australia.

Motor neuron disease is a cause that NTI is particularly passionate about. Around 2000 Australians are living with the progressive and terminal neurological condition, which also claimed the life of former NTI CEO, Wayne Patterson.

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When new the Jailbar would have been powered by a 100hp side-valve V8 engine, but in this restored hybrid that's made way for a 5.2-litre, four-cylinder Isuzu turbo-diesel that produces up to 145kW, or just under 200hp.

The Euro 5 engine drives through a six-speed Isuzu manual transmission and the truck comes with full engineering certification, while the old drum brakes have been replaced by discs. In fact, the safety upgrade goes far beyond that, the truck also benefitting from ABS, traction control, and hill hold assist.

The luxuriously trimmed interior is matched to an immaculately presented exterior, complete with LED lighting and a rear deck with spotted-gum boards and polished stainless steel skid rails. It's even got a couple of fridge/freezers!

A dedicated team invested thousands of hours into breathing new life into the truck, including staff from NTI and Isuzu Australia Limited, plus Royan Truck & Trailer Repairs and Annvid Auto Upholsterers.

Introduced by TV presenter Mark Beretta and with auctioneer and commercial vehicle specialist Hugh Rainger from Pickles calling the shots, bidding opened at $20,000 during ATA's National Transport Industry Awards presentation at the culmination of ATA Live, before rising quickly to the winning bid.

"It is absolutely magnificent," said Mr Beretta.

"The work that's been done to restore it over a couple of years and the hundreds of thousands of dollars that have been poured into this project – it's come up so well, it's so unique. It's such a collector's item and such a wonderful piece to have, whether you want to drive it around or just put it somewhere special."