FWD Model B Gallery

As there are several HMVF members who are restoring FWD Model B trucks i thought that i should start a thread showing pictures of the survivors. I estimated the number of survivors as being in the region of 40 worldwide, but every now and again another one comes out the woodwork, so i wonder if that figure will grow.

The ex WD one at Duxford is probably the best known in the UK. Sadly it has not been run in years.

This one was restored by a Mr Harris. It has a slightly longer British built post war chassis on which the ex military parts were fitted. I believe that it lives in Bordon, but has not been seen for many years:

It seems that Australia is the place to find them though. This one is owned by a man in his 80's who still plans to restore it.

Another one in Australia. This one was rescued for restoration by a museum, but the project has now sadly stalled.

Another Australian one, this time built under licence by Premier:

This one used to work in an Australian lead mine. Abandoned and robbed of parts it is now in a museum:

It is however, in much better shape than this Australian one:

Many thanks to everyone who provided the photos.

Tim (too)

Cheers Tim great pics.CW.

Another survivor in the UK was this one. Locked in an Oxford shed for many years, it was sold last year and is currently under restoration as a fairground lorry.

This Mitchell build FWD sold on E bay last year:

One of the most remarkable finds were two ex Movie company ones that were sold at the Furrer collection in Colorado (?). One went to Gordon Clare, the other to Hayes Otoupalik.

There is a similar one unrestored at Brent Mullins place. Not sure if it is one of the ex Furrer ones.

Then of course there is the recently finished ex US Army Attwater one, built by Mitchell

Finally (for tonight), there is ours which was built by FWD:

Nice pics Tim ! Very interesting to see these great old survivors ! Thanks for posting mate ! :-D

They do look great.

Finding parts must be very difficult.

Here are some more. The first three (or four) all live in California belong to the same chap. I am uncertain about one of them as it has the rad of a model B, yet the engine has been relocated. It may be a bitzer.

The bitzer is in front and another Model b behind:

Here is one in the UK at Wroughton. Now hidden from public view.

And finally (for today) the last military Model b made. It came of the production line and went into the company museum. it still has the original colour scheme on it. The FWD badge was stolen from it in the 1920's.

Interesting to see the one at Wroughton Tim, i've wanted to go there for years because of the interesting items there (early inflatable Lifeboat, the fantastic looking Sno-cat from the 1958 trans-antarctic expedition, prototype Hovercraft etc). It looks like they allow groups round - maybe time for an HMVF group trip?

Here are a couple more. First one at a Canadian war museum (i forget which - someone here will know):

Another UK one - ex WD. This is one that was restored by Tom Redburn but has since disappeared off the circuit. We have suspicions as to where it is now, but nothing to verify it.

Interesting to note that there appears to be more model Bs still about than the FWD su-coe that came along much later. I have been researching the su-coe and its life with showmen and circus operators. At present I am only aware of 2 being restored, both, hopefully out and about in 2010. During my research I have heard stories about a few more, but so far I have not seen them, so they remain on the `pending` list

I might as well add mine in New Mexico to the fray

What a super wagon! What is it's story?

Is the churn plumbed into the water system somehow? I have seen pictures of them mounted on the running board in the mexican desert but couldn't quite work out how they are used.

Cheers!

Steve

here are some more FWD's a 1/2 track and a 6 x 6

he milk cans were used to store water and food supplies during the Mexican campaign. The can in the picture is a original that I did find at a local fleemarket($20.00) after carefully stripping of the white paint out came the orginal color aqs seen on the picture.

Sorry about the mixing up several items Getting old I gues

been reading the fascinating thread and had to add mine, not a ww1 FWD admitedly but a FWD all the same, hopefully at W&P for the first time this year.

been reading the fascinating thread and had to add mine, not a ww1 FWD admitedly but a FWD all the same, hopefully at W&P for the first time this year.

Which model FWD is that?

Can not find it in my FWD spotters book

That looks like an FWD Model HAR. I have never seen one in the flesh before. I will look out for you at W&P.

Thanks

Tim (too)

did that ww2 fwd come from up lancs/cumbria at one time?

FWD display in the Museum at the Panch0o Villa State park

Now that's interesting. It has an over-length starting handle. Whilst I am certain that ours is the same as supplied by the factory, I also hold the very firm opinion that it is too short. Someone else has obviously reached the same conclusion!

Is this the same wagon that you posted on 10th June? Please can you tell us a bit about it and how it ended up in the museum? It's great to see another survivor!

Steve

Steve

That is what I had to start with, working outside in the desert (very windy and cold most of the time) and depending on donations only. I had to bring my own tools down from Canada (3000 miles). Lucky for me I did find Tim who was a great help with information. Also the truck was more or less complete. I personaly did spend about 2700 hrs and did have help from park rangers and other campers who volunteered. The Seegrave (FWD) Co was not helpfull at all and were even rather rude to former employees who had been at the park and tried to get me some help. A local school did make some parts for me so did a local black smith and a RV repair shop. Cash layout came to about $5750.

I take it the levers on the side of the transfer case are to operate dog clutches to allow one to select two wheel or four wheel drive? or did they have hi-lo range ability ?

Fantastic that you were able to save and preserve a piece of history .

Why do we do it? Still, if anybody could have one, wouldn't be worth it. Great job, well done!

Lucky for me I did find Tim who was a great help with information.

Thanks for all that. I am beginning to put two and two together now and getting closer to four!

The two levers on the transfer case move dog clutches to lock the centre differential. No high or low ratio on this wagon. Just three speeds!

Steve

those leve3rs are used to transfer full power to either front or rear wheels when stuck, do not use full time