Steve King

So frustrating when someone mentions a good tv program after it's been shown ! Fortunately this one is available again here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00sdb8x Steve

I've always found the staff there quite ready to comment on the condition of the vehicles, which can be very useful, so don't be afraid to ask. If there's something you particularly like it's normally possible to obtain the keys and start the engine and they can jump start if needed. There is an ever increasing amount of stuff for direct sale there now too, fire extinguishers, radio kit perhaps, blue paper roll and so on. Steve

Hello All, I registered my BRDM-2 for the first time yesterday and DVLA have issued a 'G' suffix registration number. I really don't like this, it won't look right on a Russian-made vehicle that was in the Czech army. I had planned to purchase a cheap Irish registration (3 letters and 4 numbers) to put on the vehicle (around £30 on eBay plus the transfer fee) but at the DVLA office I was informed that because the vehicle is Mot exempt it can't be the recipient of a 'cherished' (ie undated) registration. My question then is, has anyone managed to do such a transfer, and how did you do it? I'm tempted to give it a try and see if the Mot point it actually picked up by those doing the processing, but then again it could just waste my money. Any advice, as always, gratefully received. Steve King

Hi All, I purchased a military Land Rover from Withams some three years ago. While I was there I saw a couple of Hagglunds bv206 and thought I'd find out more about them. After some research and a test drive I was ready to bid on the one in the next tender. It turned out to be a good machine and I had a lot of fun with it both on- and off-road, as well as in the River Great Ouse and the Cam in Cambridge. (Check out 'Hagglunds makes waves' on YouTube). The bv206 was good but rather slow in the water and so I purchased an Alvis Stalwart that was a runner, and almost a swimmer. I did a lot of work on it but didn't get it finished before I had to leave the barn I'd paid to use for the whole of the year, and there the restoration stopped. After a poor season on my river trip boat I sold all three of the vehicles late in 2008, turning a small 'profit' on the first two, only to lose it on the third. While collecting a radiator for the Stalwart I had come upon a BRDM-2 and after I found out more about them I came to the conclusion that this vehicle could be my ultimate amphibian. Fast on the road, good off-road, and with decent speed in the water. I have recently purchased one from Duncan Nicholson ('Tanks for Sale'). It will need the engine sorting (overheated) and the steering column lengthening before I can drive it (I'm 6ft 4in) but I'm looking forward to taking delivery and getting work started on it soon. Steve King

Pleased to hear from anyone who could transport a BRDM-2 from Croston near Preston to Earith near Cambridge (190miles) in the next few weeks. The vehicle is a non-runner and cannot be driven onto a lorry, it will need to be winched on. A low loader or a tilt-bed recovery truck will be necessary I think. Spec is: Weight: under 7 tons Length: 5.75m Width: 2.35m Height: 2.31m I'm looking for a keen price rather than a quick delivery ! Thanks for any help. Steve King