A vintage 1946 Ford Jailbar truck, nicknamed “Bonnie”, is the centrepiece of a raffle by National Transport Insurance (NTI).
The initiative aims to support ongoing motor neurone disease (MND) research, a cause for which NTI has successfully raised $2 million over six years through similar efforts.
“[I am] extremely proud to announce Bonnie as the seventh truck to be restored and raffled by Australia’s largest transport and logistics insurance experts, NTI, with ticket sales totalling an incredible $2 million for motor neurone disease research over six years,” said NTI chief executive Tony Clark.
The black Dual Cab 4x4 model, known for its appearances at national events, has developed a strong fanbase over the last two and a half years, making it a highly anticipated raffle prize.
According to NTI chief customer officer Janelle Greene, the decision to raffle off Bonnie is to express gratitude towards NTI’s community for their unwavering support and to find a new home for this beloved truck.
“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,” she said.
Restoring Bonnie demanded over 2,500 work hours. The team expanded the cab, integrated custom components like a handcrafted bonnet and side steps, and upgraded the interior with luxury finishes, including leather trim and modern technology.
Performance enhancements were not overlooked, with significant improvements to its off-road capabilities, ensuring a blend of classic aesthetics and contemporary functionality.
Don Geer, leading the NTI special projects team, emphasised the combination of vintage charm and modern engineering.
“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,” he said. “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 bullet proof. It’s still very young, not even at 23,000km yet, so it’s the right time for somebody else to get it and enjoy it as much as I do.”
Bonnie will be showcased at several high-profile events across Australia, culminating in the raffle draw at the NTI Supercars Round in Townsville this July.
The raffle follows NTI’s funding of MND research led by Dr Rebecca San Gil, a researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland.
