MTH83

I’d seen it mentioned on here somewhere, on one of the threads - where Princess Anne has written to you about the overdrive failing on the Scimitar that she owned, they’re an iconic car and there was one near my parents house as I was growing up, whilst they are great cars like @sprocket316 I’ve not been in one either!

Overdrive on Scimitar!?

Yes that’s mine, I’ve not heard of such a large engine in on of these before but each one is different it seems! I thought he diesel versions were 1.6L so there’s a possibility that this engine has been transplanted in at a later date. The fact that it says Industrial Power makes me think Transit as on mine there are some Transit parts, it’s 1979. www.instagram.com/45rn49

Sorry for the super delayed response! How did you get on? I'm gonna need to source wiper motors too so I'm keen for any advice on that you're willing to give!

Happy Days John! I have been on a bit of a journey with parts - I've really struggled to find bits for the breaking system but we have now managed to work out which model of early transit the brakes are from: I think the front brakes on the truck are rear transit. I have no idea whats on the back yet but mine has a huge rear diff and drum brakes, some of the later models have an overrun breaking system on the back with cables etc. More than happy to help if you have any questions, lots of the other members have been really helpful too!

How far on are you? I’m just about to start re-assembling mine, have you done anything with the brakes!?

Been up at the farm today with the final bits back from the powder coaters, nearly time to start re-assembling the truck, thankfully I’ve got a second truck to remind me which way all the bits go back together!!! any info on the braking system would be much appreciated!

Are you still restoring the FMW? I am based in York not far away from you!

Here are a couple of progress pics, I know they are terrible quality but it gives an idea of the finish, and the very impractical working environment!

Yes I agree although I do have a chassis plate which dates the truck and the RN plate is on there too, hopefully will be ok!

I've been doing mine in what little spare time I have so it tends to happen in waves - get the bits off, take them to be stripped and powder coated, put them in a pile till next time! The pile of finished parts is almost complete! I got the wheels separated by a mobile tyre guy I use, he charged me £15 each to get them off (for a total of 2 hours work plus traveling I didn't think £60 was bad) As the tyres are designed for a forklift type vehicle they are fitted in such a way that you could remove the tyre whilst the wheel is still attached to the vehicle, hence the strange construction of them. I was quoted £275+vat per tyre for Continental as these were the only ones recommended for road use, I got some in the end from here https://www.bigtyres.co.uk/tyres/forklift-truck/pneumatic/6-50-10-10-ply-solideal-extra-deep-tt-inner-tube-flap.html at £388.80 inc vat for all 4! (and I'm really happy with them) On mine there are 2 different types of wheel, there were 2 where there was a then ring holding the front part on, then when that was removed we were able to get the front part of the wheel off and then the tyre. The other 2 had a thicker 'O' ring on and the split ring was in 2 pieces. All the bits are now at the powder coaters! In terms of running the trucks both have a different rear diff, I presume one of them (my spare) could be a different version of the truck. My 1'st truck's diff is slightly rounded, the other is square/rectangular in shape! Great to hear some stories about your experiences with the trucks, I've never undertaken a project like this before and I am ensuring I do everything properly as no expense has been spared I hope to keep this truck for the next 40 years of its life! I have the paperwork from DVLA to apply for to road register the vehicle, it was number 45RN49 before and I believe it should be relatively straightforward to register it as something that has been previously owned by the military (even though there is absolutely no record of it's existence!) Would be happy to discuss my second truck if you want to give me a shout on 07894988789 or matt@starinnthecity.co.uk Cheers and good luck!

It’s in lots of bits at the moment Nick. Fully dismantled any body parts, cab is off, load bed is off the chassis and it’s all been blasted, repaired and powder coated. We have split the wheels to remove the tyres, they’ve gone off to be coated along with all the leaf springs and brackets etc. Need to get the wheels and springs back before we can start to re-build, I suppose they are holding the job up! I do have a second truck which I bought to canibalise but is still complete, will see how I feel about it when I’ve got a little further with this one! How is yours going? As mine is so stripped I might be able to help with any info you need?

Thank you so much for all the comments above, there is a lot of information there, some of which we were in the dark about! Particularly the background and history of FMW as a company. I am fairly far on with the project in terms of the preparation work, I had seen these same trucks (I have 2!) being restored in part over the last few years, if you google the truck many of the images on there are of my 2 trucks in various different states, the one running one I have is now completely stripped, it has been blasted and powdercoated and is not ready for us to start re-assembly. The delay has been the running gear as this is fairly complex to dismantle with the rear diff and axles, i am also trying to source some new tyres which is proving fairly costly!

Thank you Nick for a very informative post - back on it tomorrow attending to take of the cab! Hopefully we'll get it road registered as it will be a pain to trailer around as I'm only 33 and licence not endorsed to pull a trailer over 500kg! Planning to do a good job of it - can't see why they'd register others and not this one! Best start filling in that paperwork!

A very valid question! We did send one and they got back to us saying there was no information about it and to contact RLC museum - ongoing!

Hi Tony, We're led to believe that on paper much like the rest of what FMW did the trucks do not exist. One of them we are breaking for parts, the other ran ok until we started work on it! Royal Navy plate states 45RN49 Here is the data plate with build date etc. I've got the DVLA forms to register it; as it was ex military it should be a little easier however struggling to find any evidence that it actually exists!? I would hope there is a record of it somewhere! The search continues! I've seen them road registered before so it must be possible.... somehow. Thank you for your help and will keep you posted!

Yes that's right, I believe FMW raided the parts bins at Ford during the construction of these little trucks. Its a Ford Crossflow engine (presumed 1300) The fuel tank and brake servo are from a Classic Mini Estate pick up!? Lokking forward to sharing our progress! Thank you for your interest!

I posted an introduction a few months ago now and received a few nice comments on my post - (Introduction, new member! FMW Matey Dockyard Truck owner!) I am well aware these two trucks have been around the block as I'd seen them appearing up for sale on a number of occasions, it seems that they've been given a lick of paint a few times (probably Hammerite by the look of things!) The one which we are working on first is a runner (well it was when it arrived with us!) we've taken out all the glass, all wiring, interior, load bed, engine, box and pretty much everything else. We're back on it next week taking off the cab, leaf springs, steering column, rear diff etc to have the paint removed and have all components powder coated to the correct standard as they should be. As anyone who has ever come across these vehicles before will be aware they are a very rare vehicle and there is no information anywhere online for them, they don't exist on the internet other than on this forum and Ebay! If you know of anyone who has owned these vehicles previously or has any information that could be of use to me and you could point them in my direction that would be much appreciated, I have all the information from the DVLA to road register the truck (I'm concentrating on one for now!) but anyone who has been through this process and could offer any info that would be amazing! Here are a couple of pictures of where we are with the job as it stands! Thank you in advance for any words of wisdom! Matt

Thank you for your comments on my post about the FMW Truck! Any info you have on the brake system would be much appreciated, I heard they were Ford parts but haven't had any more info, could be anything! I have 2 trucks and one has a very unusual diff with a cable connector for brake cables. The truck we'll be using has drum brakes, are they the same as your truck!? Thank you in advance!

The truck has had a brand new fuel tank fitted by the previous owner so hopefully no worries there. The entire thing is being dismantled so it will be coming off again and being blasted along with the chassis and cab which seem to have had 100 coats of hammerite on them 😂

That is one job that we'll definitely be doing, any pointers would be much appreciated! I've seen some bits on the truck from Ford Cortina/Capri engine and box, I believe the fuel tank is Mini Van? and the Steering column early transit!?

Thanks very much, I only drove it a short distance and it was emotional! Its in bits now and hopefully we'll get it road registered - watch this space!

Hello and thank you for approving me into the forum. My name is Matt Hunter and I run a big restaurant in York City Centre and I am by no mean a military enthusiast... however I had seen a vehicle that I wanted a couple of years ago as a project but missed out on it.... the story begins! A couple of weeks ago I purchased 2 FMW Matey Dockyard Trucks, one is a runner and one does not run and is missing many parts, I know that these particularly the running one (45RN49) picture attached! Any information about these would be very thankfully received! The person I purchased the trucks from was hoping to restore them but due to ill health has not been able to do so. Myself and a friend are doing a full nut and bolt restorations on the truck, the engine and gearbox are coming out, glass, seats, load bed is being removed and we are having the chassis and cab professionally blasted and re painted. I will be posting updates as and when on my twitter page - twitter.com/cocktialresults or my personal one twitter.com/sprouthunter I'll look forward to reading some of your posts! Matt