Great War truck

In Australia

A friend of mine works in the building trade. When work drys up he buys old MV's (usually for not much money), does them up and sells them on to keep his head afloat. The recession will affect us all in different ways. Although my current job is quite secure, my savings have been wiped out. Now if i had used that money (like i suggested to my wife) to buy a half track and an ambulance it would at least have been safe. I dont think it would necesserily leap up in value in the short term, but in a few years time it would be worth a bit more than i paid for it. Lots of people bought classic cars as an investment in the 80's and they mostly got their fingers burned. I dont think there are many people deliberately buying MV's as an investment (although there are the odd exception of course). Some undoubtedly do go up in value but there are so many Jeeps (for example) around they will never leap up in such a way to attract the serious investor. In my opinion. Tim (too)

Interesting stuff. I am aware of five surviving Lancias. Three in Ireland, two over here, although one of those is just a rolling chassis. One of the ones in Ireland is complete with the armour and nets etc, but as it is a bit of a controversial vehicle it is kept hidden away to prevent it getting torched. A shame. The running one in the UK is an ex RIC one but was civilianised in the 1920's. Tim (too)

Serious???? Is it in Ireland? Tim (too)

I hadn't noticed that Rob. I guess that the new equipment would have gone to the front line. This is the Daimler that was at Beamish. I think that it was at the old Sparshott (?) collection before it came here. I dont know mucg about CB's. What year were they discontinued. Tim (too)

That is a fantastic story. Just goes to show much luck plays a part in restoration. Is the engine that you intend to use the rusty one that came back from France or do you have a second engine? Here is a picture of Richards old Quad. The history of this one is that it was used at the Le mans race race track for moving barriers etc where it was eventually abandoned in the undergrowth. it came to the UK and was restored by the remarkably able Richard Peskett. here is how it looked last time i saw it. it has recently changed hands. Tim (too)

Although this is a postwar version, the AC bulldog was used by the British and Americans during the war. Someone mentioned they were restoring one. Is this any good for spares, or is it in fact too good to use for spares? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320341042666&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem= Tim (too)

Yes i saw that. I think that it was demilled by putting a pick axe through the tank. I saw some similar ones at beltring about 8 years ago which had all had the same treatment. Still wouldnt fancy carrying a full one though. Tim (too)

The body was one heck of a lucky find. I can think of several people who are looking for one (but all in the USA). We met a chap once at Beltring who was looking through some French barns and just found one sitting up on blocks. Makes you wonder how many more are tucked away there (and what else there is). If i am right you're Quad was one of two that was sold at Warnham back in the 80's. The other one is a runner and had a replica body on it, although the owner has a metal body like yours to go on it. I think that there are four Quads in the UK (and lots more in the USA). I will see if i can post some pictures. Tim (too)

What rotten luck. Sorry to hear that. I must say however that advances in medicine really are coming on in leaps and bounds. Maybe in a few years they can solve this with a course of medication. You never know, so dont let it get you down as depression over an illness can be as bad as actually having the illness. Tim (too)

Tony has sent me the rest of his photos from his transmission brake assembly fest and as you can see it is mostly self explanatory. Having cleaned and painted the parts we took off last year it was a case of making new pins for everything and reassembling it. Reassembly is of course the most rewarding part.

Thank you for your kind comments. We are very lucky in having space (never enough), storage, the tools and in Steve and Tony the marvellous skills that makes this all possible. Also it is only because of HMVF that we are able to doccument this whole restoration as we go along in such a readable manner. I am sure that when we take the Dennis to its first show that a few people will nod their heads and say nice restoration, but it is only the people who have read this thread who will ever know what has gone in to it. Looking at my first postings (2006 i think it was) i said that we would be finished by January 2008. Well we had been working on it for two years in 2006 and now it is January 2009 and we have at least another 18 Months on it or so. We will get there. Tim (too)

Is a Flame thrower a fire arm? I saw a good replica for sale at Stoneleigh and a de ac version. Dont thinki had seen a deac one before. Tim (too)

Did the Crossley engine come from Cobham by any chance. Steve tells me that they had a couple but which have since gone on to new homes? Anway, this is what your Daimler would have looked like in military service. In this particular instance this one has just won a best in show truck competition. it looks very shiny indeed.

This has reminded me to post some more photos of Tonys work on the transmission brake linkage. As you can see he has done a cracking job cleaning everything up, painting it and making new pins and bushes for it. It really is coming along now.

Brilliant Colin. This is indeed worthy of a thread on its own. I have some photos of other Quads that we should add. Joris can you start up a new pre Ww2 thread for Nash Quad and move Colins photos across. Thanks Tim (too)

The gearbox and rad look in fabulous condition. I appreciate that you have a few big parts missing but you have a great place to start from. I have some original photos for you which i will send on to motivate you further. Tim (too)

Hi Colin Yes it could have been done like that, but it transpired that the method we used was in fact the same method used by Dennis 90 years ago when they fabricated the scuttle. Steve rediscovered it when thinking what would be the best way for us to do that and then a few years later we got a chance to examine an original one and you could see that they had used the same method. So are you going to post some photos of your Nash Quad on here at some stage? You can demonstrate that WW1 truck ownership is growing. Tim (too)

Not a standard WW1 paint, but it should look like something on our Dennis restoration. You might have come across this already, but here is the link: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?t=429 We have a photo somewhere of soldiers mixing paint on the Western front. They are mixing it in a wooden barrell and using a shovel to add the ingredients. Anyway, we match our paint to an original shade that survived on a Thorny J. We get it from Craftsmaster paints who can be contacted at http://www.craftmasterpaints.co.uk email zita@craftmasterpaints.co.uk Paint reference 2228 - Raddle Brown We us a satin finish. Dont forget to use a really good primer and undercoat. Craftsmaster can probably advise. When are you going to get stuck into your Daimler then? Tim (too)

Lots of details here. Sadly there are no Daimlers there: http://hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/showthread.php?t=10828

Thats very good of you. In fact the whole line up looks to be most interesting and desirable. The FT 17 would probably be at the top of my take home wish list pile though. Tim (too)

That is an Italian Pavesi Tolotti from about 1916. I have seen another one as a timber tractor. possibly still in use during WW1. Tim (too)

Yes, i will be there. it will be good to meet up. I have a helmet shell for you to work your magic on for me. Maybe i should mail it to you beforehand? Tim (too)

Thanks for confirming that. I was beginning to wonder. Still rubbish weather here today. managed to get a few miles out of town and passed a van that had slid on ice headfirst into a Zafira. Nasty. Tim (too)

They are probably at the museum by now. Lots of sun here, but very cold and the roads are all compacted ice and snow.