NTI raffling customised classic truck
A unique 4x4 truck built by Australia’s largest transport and logistics insurance experts, National Transport Insurance (NTI) and their partners, is being raffled to continue the company’s ongoing efforts to raise funds for Motor Neurone Disease research.
Custom trucks have been the bedrock of NTI’s fundraising efforts in the fight against MND for the past six years, resulting in more than $2 million raised to date. Postwar Ford ‘Jailbar’ trucks with new running gear and other modern conveniences have featured prominently amongst past builds, including ‘Roxanne’ from 2019, ‘Sandy’ from 2020 and ‘Jolene’ from 2021.
This year’s raffle truck, ‘Bonnie’, continues the theme, being a 1946 model, but is the most radical reinterpretation of a classic Ford Jailbar to date. For starters, Bonnie is a dual cab pickup – a body style not available back then and not offered by Ford until 1965. The dual cab conversion alone made this project the most challenging yet for NTI and their build partners.
Big Build
In total, Bonnie took 2,500 hours to bring to fruition, with much of that taken up with lengthening the cabin to add a pair of reverse-hinged rear doors. The bonnet looks factory, but is another custom piece, as are the rear guards, tray and retractable side steps.
Finished in satin black, Bonnie’s body sits on a late-model Isuzu NPS 45-155 chassis, with the engine also an Isuzu unit, specifically a 4HK1-TCN four-cylinder intercooled turbo diesel. Displacing 5.2 litres, this modern engine produces 114kW at 2600rpm and 419Nm at 1600-2600rpm.
The five-speed manual transmission, clutch and part-time four-wheel drive system with high-low range also come from Isuzu, meaning Bonnie will be easy to service and can handle rough conditions off-road.
Wheels are the factory Isuzu 17.5-inch, six-stud units, with locking front hubs and Gladiator XComp M/T off-road tyres, in 37x13 50R17 LT size, fitted all round. A towbar, rated to 4,500kg is fitted, along along with an electric winch, rated to 6,500kg. Auxiliary lights have been added up front as part of an all-LED lighting package. There are custom bumpers front and rear, along with airbag suspension at the rear.
Lux Interior
Inside the cabin, Bonnie has modern tech that would have been science fiction when this truck was originally built in 1946. Satnav, a reversing camera, central locking and keyless entry feature, plus a multimedia unit with Android OS, a 6.2-inch LCD touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity and DAB+ digital radio. The Isuzu satnav unit comes with 3 years of free map updates, while the multimedia unit can support up to five camera inputs
Premium interior trim and detailing includes power windows, leather front and rear seats (bucket front, bench rear), plus adjustable head and arm rests. The rear seats can fold up for storage, with leather trim on the steering wheel and doorcards, too. For easier, more comfortable driving, there’s air suspension for the cab, power steering and air conditioning.
A Popular Girl
While Bonnie is only being raffled now, she was one of the first custom trucks built by NTI, and has been a well-received promotional vehicle for the insurers over the past two and a half years.
“We are constantly asked by fans if they can purchase Bonnie, and after last year’s incredible fundraising efforts, we thought it was the right time to say a special thank you to our supporters by finding Bonnie a new home,” said NTI Chief Customer Officer, Janelle Greene
NTI Special Projects Lead, Don Geer, has experienced the truck’s popularity first-hand.
“Every time I duck out to Bunnings [in the truck], I come back and spend an hour in the carpark talking to people,” Geer said. “It’s like a swarm of bees around honey!
“Bonnie has that ‘wow’ factor. Everyone is taken aback by the superb technology and engineering, and they always want to know how they can get their hands on it.
“They all hurt a little bit when we let them go, but this one especially, just because it’s such a good vehicle – it’s bulletproof. It’s still very young, not even at 23,000kms yet, so it’s the right time for somebody else to get it and enjoy it as much as I do.”
Raffle Fundraiser
Valued at $200,000, Bonnie the custom’46 Ford Jailbar dual cab 4x4 is being raffled by NTI to support MND research, with funds raised going to the Queensland-based MND and Me Foundation.
Since she was confirmed as this year’s NTI raffle prize, Bonnie has gone on show at the National Diesel Dirt & Turf Expo in Sydney, the ATA Conference in Canberra and Sydney Truckfest. At time of writing, Bonnie was scheduled to appear at the Cooly Rocks On festival on the Gold Coast this 5-9 June, wrapping up the ‘tour’ at the NTI Supercars Round in Townsville on 5-7 July, where the raffle will be drawn.
Tickets to win this truck are available through raffletix.com.au and are $20.00 each. Purchase three or more tickets in one transaction and the unit price drops, while it’s possible to purchase up to 100 tickets in one transaction. Tickets sales close at 12 Noon on Sunday, 7 July.
The winner will have the truck delivered, with 12 months’ registration and insurance included, plus a 3-month warranty from delivery, RWC, market valuation and security interest certificate.
For further details and to purchase tickets, go to:raffletix.com.au
