glebe74

Current progress.....

Here's our progress on a GS bodied ex RAF Matador. I'll post more pics as we progress (oh, and find bits!). Andrew

With apologies for the delay, here are some photos of our current progress on chassis 085310736. A big step forward in the past week has been reuniting the restored GS flatbed with the rolling chassis, after an interval of three years.

A couple of you have been really helpful in uncovering this vehicle's past. Thank you. One or two also wanted to see some pics. This Matador has been with the Chatham Historic Dockyard since the early 80's, when it, along with some artillery pieces and a searchlight trailer were gifted to the museum. It was often used as a portable stage at 40's period events since, but has suffered in the past few years, including an incomplete restoration in 1995 and external storage during lockdown (don't ask). We are now attending to its rot - both metallic and wooden - and trying to get it back to full working order for the Yard. And yes, I know it should be RAF Blue/Grey. I'm sure there will be more pics of the horrors we find over the next few weeks. If anyone has a pic or diagram of the battery box/location for RAF drop-sides, I'd be really grateful!

I'll post some pics later this week. The overall intention is to refurbish the vehicle so that it can be used around the Historic Dockyard as a mobile stage and to tow other vehicles.

Thanks, so much, Clive. Any idea who can advise me on the location of the batteries on the drop-side version? Andrew

I am working to restore an AEC Matador, which I'm told by the Facebook AEC Matador Group was sold at Ruddington auction in March 1971 (thanks, John Harrington!). Would anyone have any details for the vehicle from that auction catalogue, please? Its RAF reg was 77 AE 09 (chassis number 085310736). The chassis number would appear to indicate it was a 1953 steel dropside model - although the DVLA record for its civvy registration says 1945 (probably wrongly). All info gratefully received. Andrew