doug fleet

well thanks . it helps being a steel fabricator and coded welder. a mate is going to rewire it and another mate has offered to sort the wood bits out. over xmas I did some welding on a steam engine and in return they are supplying the ash for the cab . there is a bit of favour for a favour going on here . there is yet another mate who has offered to help with the riveting aswell.

i agree with the like button like facebook .thanks for the kind comments . I we keep the photos comming as work progresses.a bit slower for the next few months as its rally season for the steam engine .

hiya I would love to see some photos of your matador ., what year is it .

didn't get much time on the lorry this weekend , was to bizzy with the steam engine. sorted out some lose ends got a new top bit welded in the front cab mount , welded in a new frame stay just behind the cab and tried to drill the holes in the new bit of angle that holds the armour plate to the out side of the drivers side wing.i decided this will be better to drill these when most of the wing is refitted. not bad for just a few hours work..

the first photo shows some numbers that are stamped in the armour plate that is down towards the bottom of the drivers outer wing, does anyone know what they mean.. the second photo is of the new escape hatch surround that fits on the roof just behind the cab.

welcome to the group. I hope you end up with what you want .

chassie number is 0583 4385 , engine number is A173sd190 I will look for the gearbox numbers when I next go over. I didn't think any one was whatching this thread and was going to stop posting , glad I didn't now.thank you for the imfo

hiya. this one has full air brakes on it and looks to be original.yes it is possible that the engine has been changed in its working life.

more photos

I don't have any photos today , but got the drives side wing top drilled aswell as the angles that rivet onto it all test fitted to the inner wing and loads of holes drilled in the new bits that are welded in . progress is a bit slow at the moment as I have been working all day Saturdays

just 2 matadors one is a timber tractor and one is a Dorchester or most of

got some of the new bits welded in this weekend. also got the rivets knocked out the inner wing armour ready to replace the rotten bits. progress has been a bit slow the last few weekends as work has got in the way . but I keep chipping away at it when I have time

21/02/2016

its good to see things are ticking along well for you . keep us updated

I know what they were asking for it and I still think it was a good price and me and the wife it. but iam restoreing an armoured matador so I get that finished before another lorry.. I have delt with crouch recovery and they are a good bunch ..

I offered him £500 for it when he told me it was going in the sale and it made £580 on the day . are you in Essex .

I have just looked at my photos and yes this is the same one. it was saved from the scrap man by Patrick Cullum of Colchester who was a big Bedford fan. it was going for scrap because it had dropped a valve . so don't try and start it . pat had it under cover for many years . . about 4 years ago pat was told he had cancer so he had a sale and this and half a dozen other bedfords were sold . I knew what it made if you want to know. it was sold to whitings lorry breakers of Clacton way . . did you get it from them. please keep the photos coming as I would like to see it come together . best of luck .

now this looks very nice and I think I have seen this . did you get it from Clacton way by any chance . I think its the same one I went after a few years ago..

got the cab ready to lift off tomorrow ready to replace the wing tops and the bottom part of the frame for the armour .found that a bit of 4x2 channel has rusted right out over 26 inchs long .

I have been fowllowing this and you have had a good result . its looking good keep the photos comming