B series

I have don't know the purchase price circa 1964. But I would say it appears of cheaper construction than the FV designs of the 1950's that came out of the WD design office. e.g Leyland Martian 6x6 Recovery. Looking at the general design layout, (6x6 chassis, large diesel powertrain, winches, recovery equipment) I think the Bill of Material total cost would be similar to a 1950's US M62 Wrecker. I think both vehicles shared a Austin Westin crane assy. But the M62 would be produced at a lower piece price due to the quantity of the 5 Ton base chassis variants manufactured.

Ruddington 103rd sale was 14 to 16th October 1969. I can add nothing further about the trials or use of the vehicles when is service. As attleej mentioned in his post, these vehicle types do have a large and impressive engine.

43ER38 & 43ER39 were two Berliet TBU recovery vehicles supplied via Alvis for trials with REME. You can see the applied Alvis red triangle logo attached to 43ER39. They were part of a commercial agreement where Alvis would market Berliet trucks in some markets, and Berliet would market Alvis Stalwarts in markets which Berliet had a strong presence at the time, eg N Africa. 43ER38 was sold at the Ruddington 103rd sale Lot 1380 43ER39 was trialed in Aden 1964, returned to the UK and sold at the Ruddington 103rd sale Lot 1379 As far as I know there were only two Berliet TBU supplied.

I have been involved with military vehicles as a hobby for 40+ years, and have collected around 150 Ruddington sales catalogues and many workshop manuals. Back in the 1970's and 80s there was not so much interest in military vehicles and publications were easy to find and inexpensive. I started attending the Ruddington sale around mid 70's until the end.

I cannot help you with wartime history, however AEC Matador tractor 93 YY 58 was listed in the 89th Ruddington sale 4th April 1967 Lot 1149, but for some reason it was relisted in the 90th Ruddington sale, 6th June 1967 Lot 1633. So it had a long post WWII service before disposal.

Surprised you have had no replies to your question. There were very few Leyland Hippo Mk II type 19H 6x4, Tractors, Semi trailer, Special, modified for the Thor transporters. I understand that a company called Davies completed the modifications but I have no details. Of the modified tractors that I am aware the earliest is ERM 06AN99 and the last one was 07AN79, so could be 80. But maybe not all tractors in that range were modified, but I know of 14 modified tractors. Most were sold via the auctions at Ruddington during 1965/66. I don't know if any survive.

I have just been reading about this saw bench trailer, and have seen the owner is wondering about the type of engine originally fitted. Well I dont know the answer but he might be interested to know that: 14 x Trailer, 10 Cwt, 2 wheeled, with Liner Porta 26 inch saw bench with 6hp JAP air cooled engine were sold at the 12th Branston sale in September 1968. They all had census numbers in the range 51YM61 to 52YM70. Maybe a 6hp JAP would be correct spec.

64AE02 is a Leyland Hippo, 10 Ton, 6x4 cargo truck, dropside, Mk II, with RAF style cab. RAF vehicle type 19H. 12AC93 is a Truck, 6x4 with 6 Ton Coles crane, turntable mounted on a chassis supplied by Steels. 12AC93 is an RAF registration number. This vehicle entered service circa 1964.

What a great looking truck, so nice to see a 1950's vehicle in DBG without being over restored with tow ropes, buckets and red two hooks etc. Original Q4 tippers must be so rare because most were worked to death after demob. This vehicle is a credit to its owner.

RE: Adverts This evening I have tried the "click on Theme and then default" as suggested by Ron. But it does not work for me. I am using Chrome browser on a 2 year old Dell laptop. I have an advert for "Path to Success" along the bottom of the page, advert for ebay on the header and amongst the posts adverts for a women called Maria Teresa for over 6o's, Avon eye make up in Polish I think and Hotels rooms from Novotel as below. Also as someone else mentioned, some of these advert move about on the page which is a pain.

I get adverts, it has messed the site up and is no long nice to use IMO.

On D Day the 45th LCT (AVRE) Flotilla landed at Queen Red Beach Sector near Ouistreham (LCT947 was one) all loaded with RE armoured vehicles. One LCT that beached next to LCT 947 was loaded with: Lobster Flailing Tank "Dunbar" (Should have been 1st down the ramp) Crab Flailing Tank "Stornoway" (should have been 2nd down ramp) Churchill mine plough, possibly named Plough A Boa-Carpet tank, fitted with two long forward facing arms fitted with Bangalore torpedoes and a large roll of logs and matting for ditch or beach repairs. This tank was also fitted with a Petard mortar. It was named "Barbarian" A Churchill tank fitted with a Chespale spool loaded with chestnut matting, and named or called Bobbin. together with many other vehicles. "Dunbar" was hit before rolling down the ramp causing a blockage, then Stornoway was hit causing an explosion whilst attempting to push Dunbar down the ramp.

Hi Bill, The RAF code 37 indicates Aircraft Engines-Magnetos and Spares. The C would give more detail but I dont have that information. Maybe SUO indicates in short form the manufacturer of the magneto or related equipment. eg the army used 7BD for Bedford and 7RU for Land Rover parts.

I would suggest that 37C/ 60754 are RAF stores.

That is a really nice truck. You are correct that there are not many of these still around. It looks very original and just needs a cab protector to set it of. These Commer Q4 drive nice as well.

I am looking for some info regarding wheel and tyre balancing on a Dodge WC52, and I am sure someone will have had issues with this in the past. My wheels have a steel balance weight welded to the wheel rim on the inside edge. The weights are the same size and in the same location relative to the tyre valve on each wheel and it does not look as if they have ever been removed for balancing. I assume this steel weight (see photo) is attached by the wheel manufacture prior to tyre fitting, but can anyone confirm? My front wheels and new tyres run straight true on a balancing machine, but for whatever reason will need 440g & 510g of weights to balance, if fact this is so many weights that there will not be enough room on the rim to fit them! The photo with the new weights attached shows half the weights required! I am wondering about removing the welded steel weights because I think that will help. Has anybody else done this? It seems strange to me that the wheels with tyres are so far out of balance, but they are. (I started wheel & tyre balancing in 1970's so have fair experiance over the years, including F1 Team cars, but these good condition Dodge wheels, with new Firestone tyres are the most out of balance assemblies I have ever encountered). Have other WC owners had wheel balance issues?

Many thanks sirhc.

I would like to indentify the vehicle or equipment this green vinyl cover would have been used with. It looks unused. It is a detachable cover with a roll up vision or access area. It would be attached to the vehicle or equipment via 5 black "leather" straps and nylon clips. Size is approx 31 x 17 inches, Part No F8473 Made by Trim Technology who were based in Coventry. This part may be related to the other item I have posted about. I don't remember how I came to own this, ex Witham tender I expect, but if it can be indentified, and someone can make use of it, please contact me. Many thanks B Series

Does anyone know which vehicle these ex British Army / MOD parts relate to? Cover assembly with complicated metal frame attachment. NOS with no identification marks. I think I obtained this via a crate load of spares from Withams a few years ago now. Size is approx 260 x 260 x H160. I think it clips onto something using the pointed parts, and locates with the two forked arms. The material part is divided into two sections. If anyone needs one of these make me an offer.

I don't know what type of Austin you own. But I got two windscreen glazing panels for my Austin Champ cut from toughened glass at a local glass supplier. I think most glass suppliers can cut flat toughened glass. If you need a curved glass that would be more difficult. For windscreen fabrication I think you will have to find a local company that will take the job on.

Got to love army sense of humor with LAD spelt out in rivets on the rear wing repair.

I question if it is corroded enough to require replacement. But of course I cannot see behind the cross member from the photos. I have never needed to replace a rear cross member, but on a 110 I don't think you could do a good job of the welding without removing the rear body. I assume some Land Rover aftermarket companies would supply replacement rear cross members that would have non Rover part numbers.

Regarding the "Pigs" based on a Bedford RL chassis: A friend of mine had one of these back in the early 1980's up here in Norfolk. At the time not that much was known about them but we were told that it was the only one in the UK and it had been constructed in Singapore. We had seen the photo in Bart Vanderveen's book which I owned at the time (still have my copy signed by Bart), I cannot remember the exact details, but I think the Bedford Pig was purchased from the early days of the Budge operation, and I seem to recall it was swopped/sold to the Mucklebrough collection in the early 1980's as part of a deal to obtain a 5.5 Gun from them to go behind a Leyland Martian gun tractor that we had purchased from Colchester area. We did a few local shows in the Bedford Pig but did not keep it very long. Although it was in good condition it was a crude noisy beast and not pleasant to ride in, and of course very limited visibility for driver and passengers. I seem to recall we brush painted the Pig in Land Rover Deep Bronze Green and replicated the formation signs shown in Bart's book. I cannot remember the military or the DVLA registration, and I don't know where "our" Pig is now. Regarding the Malayan "Pigs", they were Ford Canadian F60L chassis converted by unknown entity in to lightly armoured personnel carriers for use in Malaya highlands. I was not aware of the flame thrower version. There were several of these conversions and judging by the post war registrations they were converted in small batches and re numbered possibly from excess cargo vehicles. Examples I am aware of are: 66XD15, 40ZC60 to 62, 41ZC34 to38, 42ZC14 & 15, 42ZC83 to 87, 43ZC09 & 10, 45ZC14, 48ZC84 & 85 and 49ZC67. I have never seen one in the UK and assume most would have been sold off in Malaya when we withdrew our forces.

The 180 gall tank and pump equipment was supplied by Fisher Ludlow of Castle Bromwich or a few other companies. This trailer was rebuilt at SOU1, just wondered if anyone knew where that was located, because I have a Champ that was rebuilt at SOU3 and would like to know where that was located. There must be a list somewhere?

There were two Rover 3.5 Saloons in the 167th sale. Both Air Ministry / RAF and would have been Grade 1 staff vehicles. Lot 200/1 Rover 3.5 auto 61AM00 Lot 200/2 Rover 3.5 auto with radio 59AM19 There are no bid amounts or written notes in my catalogue copy.