Rootes75

50 minutes ago, IAN_B said:

That pitting is pretty impressive! Are you not tempted to use some filler to improve it? It is surpassed only by the pitting on the main leaves of the rear springs several posts ago.

Very nice job on the filler cap, by the way.

Ian

Yes, the filler cap really does look the part.

Kevin

9 hours ago, early british ww2 said:

I’m pretty sure when I first saw this it still had the rear body on it but no seats It was just a std wooden body 

over the years I’ve seen a few Quads in various guises and I’ve a few mates that have had them or still have them including an FAT

does anyone remember the Quad Ant FAT that used to go to the shows on the back of a converted fire engine ? 
there’s the tow truck in Cumbria that used to belong to a friend and there was a quad ant in the grange Caberns museum and con baton combat collection 

Its seems all the more a shame it wasnt able to be saved all those years ago. 

I have been looking at the photos I have of it back in 2014 and although she was rough then she certainly wasnt as rotten as she is now.

7 minutes ago, early british ww2 said:

As far as I could find out it was Commer that withdrew as it wanted to concentrate on the armoured cars elsewhere in the rooted group and believe Guy helped this by giving over designs from its own armoured car with welded hull The trucks it was making for the raf were more or less civvi models anyway so easy to produce 

That would make sense. Its strange that in the Commer books that I have there is no mention at all of the Beetle when talking about war production.

3 hours ago, BenHawkins said:

It has been quite slow finding parts for the Thornycroft with the three major missing components being the steering box, engine and gearbox.

I spotted this generating set online and we have been out today to collect it.

At first I thought it was one of the Thornycroft T4 generators. The engine is very similar but in fact this one was made by Coventry Simplex.

 

Looking at the engine numbers used in cars I think this dates it to around 1914 and makes it the 18.5hp model. I believe these generators were used to power searchlights, it ended up on a farm but from some of the lining on the paintwork I suspect it also found a fairground use at some point.

The inlet over exhaust configuration is the same as the Thornycroft T4.

 

Like the T4 it has only two main bearings and the crank has to be extracted through the hole at the back of the crankcase.

 

The spark plugs stick out the side too so it may be the closest match I can find.

Worth the 250 mile round trip! I will keep oiling it over the next few months before attempting to free anything off.

What a rare piece of kit. Go very careful freeing parts off. I like your plan of oiling it over a period of time.

Kevin.

1 minute ago, early british ww2 said:

Both of these vehicles are Commer Beetle lorries The too is the prototype and the bottom possibly one of the 401 ordered by the army when the Commer won the title of approved 15 cwt army lorry which due to Commer withdrawing the beetle from production I think Britain’s made more beetle lorries than Commer did !! Just one so far survives ...

Any idea why Commer withdrew? Was it a War Office decision or Commer's decision?

13 minutes ago, early british ww2 said:

It is definitely a Guy Ant Quad or Quad Ant as you say They are not rarer however than the 4x2 Guy Ants which everybody hated both in service and out of service as they were painfully slow quite under powered and uncomfortable to drive and I believe more Quad Anys survives due to being 4x4 as they had the same meadows marine engine and were also very slow but they were of a wider track Had bigger wheels and could go anywhere almost So a lot found there way into garage breakdown trucks especially in areas where winter roads were a problem Also many were used on farms 

this one is a G.S version which may have towed a six pounder Haven’t had chance to revisit my production cards from Guy Motors to see if was one of the FATs Guy converted to 6 per anti tank gun tractors As far as I can remember all Quad Ants wore H census numbers 

This really needs saving so it can at least be a source of spares to save others or maybe still be restored in its own rights and we’d certainly be interested but as I’ve already said tried to buy it several times over many years but could never get a response or price from any owner which is a real shame ...

Its so often the case that we know about vehicles yet its so hard to get hold of an owner or even talk to them.

Agreed it needs to be saved, would love to have a go restoring it but just cant see it going our way.

Such a nice vehicle and ideal project.

I fear though it wont be heading down to Somerset with me.😞

44 minutes ago, Radek said:

Information and pictures from Wheels and Tracks

In the 1935 WD trials in North Wales, held during early October.  Any makers were encouraged to submit prototypes to be tried for possible amry use. In addition to the usual evaluation tests by the MVEE at Farnborough, such vehicles particapated in extensive annual trials in the mountainous districts of North Wales. The Bedford WD and the Guy Ant became successful contenders in those Welsh trials, but also participating in those were products of Austin and Commer. The Commer entry, know as the Beetle, managed to bring in an order for 400 units, but the Austin failed dismally.

Austin  15-cwt 4x2 truck

It was not surprising, of course, that with tha 15cwt project the Austin people endeavoured to land a lucrative War Department order, but having nothing to really base their experimental model on, it was risky. What the Army Wanted ideally, was a compact model that was assembled from the ovesize mechanical components then in production for the 2 and 3-ton trucks which was relatively easy for the leading commmercila vehicle producers of the day. But try Austin did.

In the trials, the Austin 10-cwt prototype manage the Old Horse Sheo Pass (with  a maximum gradient of 1 in 4,87) an the 1,5 milelong Bwlch-y-Groes (maximum 1 in 4) fairly well, but the wet and loose surface af Alt-y-Bady (maximum 1 in 3,38) stopped it, whilst all the others went past. The Truck had been hand-buil during the preceding months, borrowing components from the Austin Twenty car, which had a 3,4 litre six-cylinder engine with 23,5HP, straightforward 4x2 chassis on special wheel with Dunlop 9,00-16 cross coutry tyres, two seat open cab, wooden GS body with hinged tail and side boards. The cab ahad a folding canopy extendig over about two-thirds of the width, leaving the passenger uncovered. Aero screen for the driver, passenger had solid shiled in front of. In spite of its failing, the Ministry did actually purchase the Austin prototype. It was acquired und Contract V.2853, dtated 18th Jan 1936 and alocated census No. Z352609.

The Austin wins no prizes for its looks!

Yes, I know of 1 Commer Beetle survivor.

My Grandfather drove both Dodge and Chevrolet vehicles in North Africa, he always had a soft spot for them after.

Very nice, I know one survives but I would still love to find one.

Never seen one actually marked as 'Chaplain' before.

The logistics involved in the build of something this size and this complicated must be huge. 

Imagine how many miles of electrical cabling she must have too!

21 minutes ago, early british ww2 said:

Hi Kevin Ive known this truck for a very long time and have visited it over many years and each time tried to buy it but could never even get a price 

it was originally in John Shepard’s scrap yard near ripon then along with a Karrier k6 with steel body and k9 radio truck moved to a farm I think the Karrier at one point had been used to pick up stone for the building work I think the chap who owned this place worked at Shepard’s at one point I know the guy was protected by a load of timber back then but the Karrier suffered badly and the stone it once carried fell through the floor of the body  Don’t know what happened to that or the k9 but the Guy moved as something went on at the farm to a local garage that did transits 

I’d still like to save this along with my other Ants but have tried and nothing 

This is just the type of MV project that we would like to start from. Our interest is in saving and preserving. Like I said, I was first told about this Guy many years back and also tried to find out its availabilty but with no success.

I would love to preserve it.

There seem to be plenty on ebay at the moment, I was surprised by the amount when I looked earlier today.

I know its rough and as you say not for the feint hearted but what a project that could be.

Quite seriously, would they be open to someone saving her?

Kevin.

18 minutes ago, TonyB said:

RIP Dame Vera, what a great video tribute from the BBC. Her songs  must echo through the surviving WW2 MVs along with the memories of the men who listened

Well said.

Another gone from that generation, it was very nice that even with restrictions she was still involved with the VE Day celebrations.

With Ford's economy of manufacture you can imagine that V8's associated internals would all use common parts, military or civilian?

Hope they find good homes, are you keeping any vehicles back?

13 minutes ago, EdB said:

Sorry these have taken so long but it's only recently while extracting some hay making equipment that I've had a chance to get anywhere near our old Karrier (or remains of). 

I seem to remember there was a query about the prop tube, anyway our chassis still has it fitted, hope pictures are helpful/of interest. Keep up the great work! 

Regards. Ed. 

Is it cut down? Do you have the front end remains too?

Thats a shame, putting the money towards new projects?

Have you listed it on ebay?

They look very good.

Were they the ones on ebay? Didn't look too bad overall to me, good projects.