simonm

Thanks. Useful about the MOT, might be a stumbling block. The actual sale prices, yes, I had looked and they still look reasonably attractive, then there is VAT and commission to add. Plus a good £1000 to drive it home, but that will be an adventure in its own right. Still thinking.

Thanks for this. It has developed into a productive line of research

I was wondering if anybody has had any experience of buying from the Dorotheum Pinzgauer auction. I suppose this should be on the "I may be stupid but ... " forum thread But I have rather fancied one for a few years. Obviously actually buying it is not the issue, they actually give guidance as to whether they are roadworthy or not. I expect I can insure pretty well same day, just add it to the fleet policy, also get there and drive it home, basically get to Calais and pay for a ticket. The missing thing is a legal number plate. To get me through Germany and France then 10 miles of England to Sandwich. Any thoughts or experience Simon

Its to reduce the chance of it being stolen. In the same way, whenever I park my soft top Land Rover, I always park it with the front wheels turned (with the steering lock on of course) so it can't be easily winched up on to a trailer.

Would that be a Bowman mobile (inter) phone?

Spotted in the Daily Mail (seemed the best thread rather than create a new one) Challenger 2 crushing a German civilian car near Lippe. The damage to the car was 12,000 euro, no mention of how much the tank will cost to repair. The link goes to the original report : http://www.epa.eu/disasters-photos/transport-accident-photos/tank-overruns-car-photos-51970271

Didn't this happen more recently with the Supacats prior to the 2nd Gulf war? I'm sure its not an urban myth.

I was going through an old shed and came up with Farmer's Weekly 9th April 1965 (50 years ago). Apart from the Jackson's fencing advert, a Kent company that has gone from strength to strength, the Farmer of the day was offered all sorts of ex military vehicles. The picture says it all, Austin Champs, Land Rovers from £225, Bedfords and Humbers. What did strike me was the selling off of relatively recent vehicles, anything with Rolls engine (almost certainly a B series) will be not much more than 10 years old. (No Saracens or Ferrets)

I go as a visitor rather than exhibitor, I keep meaning to take my Saracen but while it might get there - all down hill, I don't think it will get back, certainly not the last bit up to the top of the North Downs. Anyway, while W&PR has just about everything i want to see, maybe there were a few things that stuck in my mind as being incongruous. The posh classic cars all for sale through a posh classic car dealer taking pride of place - maybe have MVs that are for sale instead? Then in front of the grandstand, the vintage car show that was next to the army recruiting tents - though well done the army coming! On the entrance, a bit too much boot fair bric a brac than army surplus. At the Hop Farm, the Bric a brac was a right turn as you entered, Everything else was to the left. The MVs and static displays well they were all far away. But, taking into account the comment - what would you change? Not having to manage such a huge logistic enterprise, I would hate to comment - but.. What about a fenced off circuit going through the site that anybody exhibiting can join and drive around as and when? We, the public get to see a selection of MVs drive past, the exhibitors get to drive around without having to dodge the public. Just a thought and a way to deal with the huge site.

Forgive the humour but my first thought was "Pope Mobile"

Maybe its more a case of availability? There were few imported into the UK - no local wars during the few years that the M38 was built, so most remained in the US or were shipped out to Korea. My guess is that any in the UK will be like mine, bought in the sub continent then brought home to the UK. Or maybe disposed of from the US airbases. When did the US Military start destroying rather than selling its surplus vehicles? I'll hunt down / take some pictures

I've got an M38 (more accurately my wife has) . 1951 ex Korean war. We bought it back in 1995 when we lived in Pakistan, it was ex Pakistan Army and had been through many civilian hands, most recently before us the deputy head of the British Council in Islamabad. Ex Korean war as we know that after that war, a great many were disposed of in the direction of Pakistan. We shipped it back to the UK in 1998 and it is currently being revived after having been laid up over winter. Its pretty original apart from the carburettor and the rear axle which is from an M38A1. Also non standard exhaust, a WW2 style rather than the M38 which should go all the way to the rear of the jeep.

With a Ferret (as with Saracen etc) the thing that will go or has already failed and been replaced is the fluid flywheel seal. I've had to replace on both Saracen and Ferret. As to how to check? Actually I'm not sure of a fool-proof way that doesn't involve any extended inspection and testing, (maybe others have some advice here) unless it has failed badly and there is a puddle of whatever was last used to fill it, ideally Morris Liquimatic No1 . If it does fail, actually its not that bad a job fixing it, in simple terms its a case of moving the gearbox forward - lots of tin to remove and nuts bolts, but 2 hard days work. The Saracen is another thing entirely! Also check that the temperature gauge works. Ideally ask somebody who already has a Ferret to go with you when you inspect - that's the benefit of a Forum / group like this.

What with the image of the chaplain's truck and the soldier with the hand gun, reminded me of the story of the Popemobile that was commissioned to be built for the Popes trip to Peru "The Vatican commissioned a local firm to modify a Toyota, and their design included not only Kevlar bodywork and 5cm, bullet-proof Plexiglass, but also, at the front, mountings for a couple of machineguns." http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/popemobile-is-no-fired-up-holy-roller/story-e6frg6zo-1225925215318 Clearly they expected the Pope to fight back!

I tend towards Fetes and local shows. Not only do the kids love it - either the Ferret or the Saracen - but can actually touch and if they are parked on grass, can sit on the sides (they bounce if they fall off onto grass). The only rule i have is that parents MUST stand with kids at all times. I learnt early that it is all too easy to be taken advantage of. I actually had a Head Teacher come up and ask if I could display the Saracen at his school fete, he used the word portable climbing frame! No! What is best is the real veterans who come up and recount tales of driving or being ferried around in Ferrets and Saracens in variously Cyprus, Germany, the UK, NI. Being blown up in them, loving them and hating them. They are both still in need of more sanding, priming and painting but the overwhelming feeling from those who comment is that we (all of us who maintain and run and show our MVs) are doing a great job maintaining a bit of Britain's history and good luck. For me what is worst is when nobody comes up for a chat and to comment.