Hi. My name is Tim Gosling, and my Father (Tony), brother (Steve) and I collect and restore WW1 army trucks. Can't remember exactly why we do it, but I think started it off when Steve bought the front half of a Thornycroft J Type which had been converted into a water pump up a Welsh mountain. The back half of the truck did not fit in the shed so the previous owner had cut it off and scrapped it. Steve later found another complete chassis and then quite recently an engine in New Zealand. The restoration is ready to begin with the diff being the only major missing part, however we have to finish our current project first.
Since acquiring the Thornycroft we bought 2 1917 Autocars (one ex WD the other civilian - but both now restored), a massive pile of mostly dismantled Peerless trucks (by my estimate the remains of 8 but with enough parts to restore 2), an EX US AEF 1918 FWD truck (now fully restored) and a Dennis restoration project (actually the remains of 7) which is now well under way. In addition, after the purchase of the first Autocar i went for something a bit "modern" and imported a 1944 Willys Jeep. This has been restored as a Chaplains Jeep and has "Chaplain" and two white crosses across the Windscreen, making it stand out a bit. Photographs of the Autocar and FWD feature in the November edition of MMI, but would be happy to send anybody photos if they are interested.
The Jeep is great fun and i really love it, but i find the WW1 trucks fascinating. I have always been a bit suprised by the complete apathy that some MV collectors have for WW1 stuff. One chap arrived at our house because he heard that we had some military vehicles that he could look at, but when he heard that they were not WW2 he got into his car and left without looking at them. Personal taste i suppose, but i would be interested in any military vehicle whatever the age or nationality. Any thoughts anybody?