minkey

I forgot to add - I was told by people who were involved at the time - SRV = Suspension Research Vehicle. As a result of the effort that went into this research, the subsequent development of suspension for the Challenger tank was possible. In which case it is of some historical significance as an element in Military vehicle development.

A while since I looked on here. Couldn't find the 7 month old ebay listing unfortunately. If new owner is serious about restoring it -putting it in a museum, I have more info available - in the form of copies of original plans from Portsmouth Aviation. Some years ago I did speak to the ( by then ) elderly gentleman who worked on it, when it was manufactured /tested. I believe he told me it cost £60,000 in 1970, which is a lot of money - my Dad bought a house then for £4,500 as a comparison! PM me if info required.

Hello all, I have just joined your group so I can reply to this topic. I realise it is over 10 years since the thread was started but better late than never. I bought the SRV1 in 2008 or thereabouts via Ebay, and had a vague intention to restore it but life got in the way and I had to sell it on in a hurry as I emigrated for a few years. Every once in a while since I returned I have searched on the net for any info on the current whereabouts, as the chap I sold it to ( details lost when I emigrated ) intended to restore it for a museum - which is where it ought to be in my opinion. I saved it, but was unable to fulfil my ambition. The chap took it on a trailer back to Yorkshire and that is the last I heard. I will write some more on this in a day or two, as I have a good deal of paperwork - original MOD project intentions etc from 1970, and information graciously supplied by Portsmouth Aviation, which I am sure would be of great interest to enthusiasts from a historical perspective. The wheels for instance are complete one-offs for this vehicle, no doubt manufactured at great expense, as was the rest of the vehicle. Now that I have finally found a home for the information - where it can be appreciated - here, hopefully more may come to light and I hope that the SRV/1 does finally get to be displayed somewhere for all to appreciate the interesting engineering and ideas behind it. Here is a sampler of when it was on my drive - complete with happy cat who liked to sit inside ! More to follow soon. Graham.