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Thanks, Montie, mate, -you are a star!... are you able to drive yours around yet?

don't know, but it looks almost as much fun as 'my other little green toy'

...I drive a saracen, similar gearchange system,.... should be no real need to blip throttle, when changing gear up or down, a smooth change from one gear to the next with no jerks, is what you are aiming for, and as already stated GCP, is pressed hard down and released instantly..... in fact in the manual it actually states that it is quite acceptable to change gear at full throttle when moving about off-road, I have tried it, -out of curiosity, more than necessity, and yes it works!, but I was wary of doing it!

Hi, Rich, -The fact that you say it says 'Penthouse', makes me think it is just possible it could b the Penthouse Shelter, used on the back end of Saracen Armoured Command Vehicles, -same shape as mine, but with odd wing shaped projections on the rear roof section, made of sheet metal, and designed for carrying this 'penthouse', it's associated support poles, and cam-netting. When fully set up it slightly resembles a 9x9 Command tent in appearance, only the horizontal roof support poles are telescopic, and poke backwards off the roof of the Saracen. Do you have a picture of it you could post? Matt

after almost a year of 'misfortune', most due to ill health, (wrists and knee operations), and poor weather, (-same old gripe there!) I finally hope to soon have my saracen repairs underway... if i can find someone with a NOS Fluid flywheel for it,.... or the right part numbers for all the seals,....? anyone?:rolleyes::undecided:

...Hmmmm! one of those would make a nice mod to fit my saracen for drinking water, whilst out 'camping'... could you make some measurements, and maybe a drawing, Montie? regards Matt:)

tow it with one of yer stolly's!...

... ha,ha, now THAT is a funny one, and rather cheeky of show organizers!.... but sadly all too true these days!

I got this one when I'm out in my saracen: Joe Public: " I used to drive these Pigs, when I was in Ireland, and Germany" Me: " This is NOT a 'Pig', it is an Alvis Saracen, I think you mean you drove Humber Pigs, which are smaller, have 4 wheels and have the same 6-cyl engine as Ferrets" Joe: "Ah, yes, they were Sarsons, but they cut the backs shorter, took off the back axle, and some still had the 8-cyl engines left in them, I remember, cos on the 8-cyl ones, the brakes were really bad!" Me: "No, sir, you are mistaken, they are 2 seperate vehicles, A Humber Pig, and An Alvis Saracen, one is 4 wheeled, one is and always was 6 wheeled, look, here are some pictures from the factory, of Saracens being made" Joe: "Don't F*****g cal me a bloody liar!, I fought for my Queen and country in them, against the jerries, I drove them, and repaired them.....bloody youth of today, think they know it all!" :undecided:....I was speechless at his last 'outburst', after which he wandered of to 'correct' some other unsuspecting enthusiast!.... you gotta smile, I suppose1 I'm 43 this year, this 'Joe Public' was probably between 48-60....

Saracen 83 BA 78, Mine!... can you have a look for it if possible?:cool2: will pay beer tokens for good photo/clips of it in-service.....:-D

How much for a B81 engine, in it's crate?... seriously interested!!!!:cool2:

They look as if they've been used for 'experiance day' type rides, and these 'handrails' have been fitted to allow Mr and Mr Civilian easier access to the load area, which probably had seats fitted for 'comfort'...... seen it done to all manner of military vehicles, even Centurions!:-\

.... easy, just get an experienced Motor Engineer, fully conversant with the size/type/class of vehicle to do an ENGINEERS REPORT, on it once a year..... it's not an M.O.T., and in my opinion, worth hell of a lot more, but only if done each and every year. simples!:-D

...you are more than welcome to come and take some measurements off my saracen, if you need to get one made up from normal steel -if you can't find one..... It's in Southampton.:-D

......personally, I DO use a rotating amber beacon, when driving my saracen on the public roads, ... also in 2009, I did a prom for somebody in it, I live in Southampton, and they were in Ascot!, so I pootled up the M3, cruising at a healthy 50(-55mph in places!:cool2:), I had a magnetic rotating amber beacon on the offside top of the turret, and got what I'd describe as admiring, friendly waves from two passing Police Motorway Patrol Cars, one on the way up, and again on the way back down, so I'd recommend it... as it defineately makes Joe Public FAR more aware of you, in your big green machine:angel:, .... on another note, somewhere I have pictures of saracens in-service with a rotating amber beacon fitted on a short 'post' (approx 10cms long) fitted above the rear doors....The correct 1960's 'acorn' shape ones seem to be very rare now... I managed to get one from a friend on here, (thanks FV1609 -CLIVE), some time ago, but have not yet fitted it, so I currently use the magnetic one.

...the front/top of the body does indeed look very similar to that found on some Argo-cats.... is it related, or made from one of them?......

I'd be interested in one of the B81 engines.... been thinking of upgrading my saracen....:nut:

....but then you run the risk of running tyres at the wrong pressures, thus affecting the handling, and stopping distances.... and yours and other peoples safety.....:stop::nono:

you don't,....-you have to jack the wheels off the ground.... it's a time-consuming job!

I think the sound is the similar as the sound mine makes.... and mine works fine 100% on the brakes and steering,... but the noise that gets more frequent with engine revs....? -just a wild stab in the dark...-have you got a fan belt that is breaking up? with part of it hitting something solid as it spins round? I've had that before, on my saracen.

accumulators are pretty easy to set-up, -that's if they have no faults inside them!... give me a shout if you need help.... the pumps do make the odd 'ticking' sound, not yet heard one rattle though...:-\

Hi, and welcome.... Saracens are my 'passion'......:-D

where's the nice looking girls?.... can't see any in these pics,... unless thay are deressed up and made up to look like blokes:undecided:?

....! right!:cool2:, I want a 'new' FV432 Bulldog, now aswell!... only I'll de-restrict my one!:cool2::cool2::cool2:

My 1st (and current) MV is a 1956 Alvis Saracen Mk 5....... bought because my father told me what they were when I was about 8 or 9yrs old. He learnt to drive them when they were 'new'... way back then, they were regarded as 'big, ugly, complicated and awkward things to drive, and even worse to fix!'...... nowadays I personally find it fun to drive, and 'challenging' to fix... it's generally the British weather which makes it a pain to work on, since I don't have a workshop big enough to fit it in,.....yet! lol... when i finally have a workshop big enough for it, I'd like a Ferret, preferably a Mk1, and then an FV432 Mk2, to keep the saracen company...