sean101ryan Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 (edited) I was at Fort Camden in Crosshaven near Cork at the weekend and came across a picture of a Champ in use by An Slua Muiri (Naval Reserve) who used the fort up to the 80s. The fort has been opened to the public this year but there's lot's of work to done yet.http://www.rescuecamden.ie/ I didn't know there were any in Irish service and not seen any mention elsewhere but I found a copy of the picture on An Slua Muiri archive site. The registration is a Dublin one. Been right through the archive and can't find any more. Edited September 12, 2011 by sean101ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Nice one Sean. How's things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean101ryan Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 Hi Tony, all fine here,attending lots of shows and getting well known in Land Rover circles here! Spent the weekend eating drinking and sleeping in the casemates in the background of the photo. Been thinking about the picture, style of number plate makes it a 70s picture and I think it's a rare civvy Champ, there's an Austin badge on the edge of the bonnet, Rubbolite indicators and an AA badge! Whether it was borrowed for someone's send off or was in service is a different matter, the army bought civvy Land Rovers and militarised them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antar Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 Hi Tony, all fine here,attending lots of shows and getting well known in Land Rover circles here! Spent the weekend eating drinking and sleeping in the casemates in the background of the photo. Been thinking about the picture, style of number plate makes it a 70s picture and I think it's a rare civvy Champ, there's an Austin badge on the edge of the bonnet, Rubbolite indicators and an AA badge! Whether it was borrowed for someone's send off or was in service is a different matter, the army bought civvy Land Rovers and militarised them. I do not think it is a "civvy" Champ but an Ex-British Army Champ in civilian ownership, genuine civvy Champ had slightly wider front edge on front wings and a fixed windscreen (none folding). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 12, 2011 Share Posted September 12, 2011 I agree with Antar, too many military features, and the Austin badge, looks like the "script" type used on cars in 1950's. The civilian Champ badge was not like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean101ryan Posted September 12, 2011 Author Share Posted September 12, 2011 I bow to your superior knowledge, couldn't find any pics of a civvy champ to check! Whatever, it's certainly very shiny, may have been bought and done up for ceremonial use? The army have done something similar recently, have a couple of Td5 110s bulled up for towing hearse gun carriages, using a Nissan Patrol or Mitsubishi Pajero just wouldn't look right! Unfortunately the book on Irish Army vehicles doesn't cover the Naval Service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean101ryan Posted September 13, 2011 Author Share Posted September 13, 2011 Minor update, that style of plate came in in 1969 although it's a 62/63 Dublin registration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rover8FFR Posted September 14, 2011 Share Posted September 14, 2011 Isn't it also wearing Goodyear extra grips????????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sean101ryan Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 There was an An Slua Muiri re-union at Camden Fort at the weekend, I couldn't make it but a mate of mine had a chat with them. Turns out the Naval Service had four Champs, no further details though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.