ABOUT US

Established in 1932 by Arthur Cook, Cook’s Body Works started as a specialist in coach body building. Based on Neerim Road, Carnegie, Cook’s quickly developed a reputation as a highly skilled and trusted coach builder, known for quality and expertise. As the business grew, it moved to Warrigal Road, Moorabbin, in the 1950s to accommodate greater work on rigid body builds, diversifying the product offering. This led to Cook’s focusing on developing a range of transport-specialised and tradesman-specialised trucks that became popular with Australian fleets.

The Cook family continued the business, passing it down to the third generation, Vern, by the 1980s. Cook’s boasted an impressive clientele, including International Harvester, Coca-Cola, Moffatt Racing, and specialised coach bodies for Shane’s Bus Services. Cook’s appetite for interesting and exciting projects resulted in many notable builds over the years, highlighting the high expertise and skill within the business.

In the 1980s, Sietel Limited took over from the Cook family but retained the Cook’s knowledge and passion, with Vern Cook continuing with the business for the next 15 years, driving success and strong customer relationships. Cook’s focused on integrating modern engineering and production technology with traditional coach body building skills and techniques to deliver a greater range of bodies to more customers. This was emphasized by Cook’s purchasing several CNC machines, expanding our production capabilities, which our customers embraced.

During this time, Cook’s completed the SEC service truck fleet, an integrated locker body, the first Victorian Booze Buses, the NZTV production truck, and a large batch of specialized army trailers.

With this success, Cook’s decided to expand our product offering and moved to providing bodies for the growing utility market, developing our Series 1 Service Body. Designed to suit the Ford Falcon and Holden 1-tonner, the body maximised storage capacity and offered a range of innovative options for customers to make them their own. Becoming an instant hit with tradespeople, the service body delivered for many customers and was a mainstay at dealerships around the country. This was partnered with our TRADE PRO™ body, a unique canopy-style body that, along with a broad range of options, provided our customers superior customisation options to do their job better, safer, and quicker.

At the turn of the century, with this growing product offering and expansion of our truck body manufacturing, Cook’s moved to our current site on Cochranes Road, Moorabbin. Boasting a larger factory space and greater vehicle storage, this site provided superior capacity and access for Cook’s products, as well as greater flexibility in production layouts. Further expansion occurred with the opening of our warehouse and finishing area, along with our showroom, bringing the site to its current fruition. This proved well-timed, with Cook’s expanding our production capabilities with the latest laser cutting and panel bending technology to help deliver greater and improved bodies. This has been demonstrated by the development of our Aluminium Service Body, bringing the iconic body in line with the modern utility and providing significant weight savings so our customers can carry more. Cook’s has also been a leader in manufacturing bodies for the shift to electric trucks, delivering the first body to operate around Melbourne for Linfox, as well as for Coles, Lion Nathan, and the fleet for Team Global Express Burringbar Electric distribution centre.

Cook’s are excited for the future and are excited to use our knowledge and experience over the last 90+ years to deliver your next project.