matman41

Looks in very good condition much the same as my ex fire service one. I'd say you're more than welcome to come and have a look around it any time you're this way.....you might struggle to see though as there is so much crap in the back!! The offer is there though

Hi Russ,

Thanks for the offer, where about's are you based? Would also be interesting to see how the back end of your GT is set up with regards to the air brake cylinder at the rear for the guns, I saw from your pictures it's still fitted.

What style of dash does your GT version have?

Regards

Mel

Am I right in thinking that the body is the same as a Matador one? If so, many MANY years ago there was a complete Matador body at Job Earnshaw timber merchants at Midgley, near Wakefield. I'm talking at least 30 years ago (I've been in the IOM 25 years) but it was in very good condition then and I think it was raised up off the ground so if it's still around it shouldn't have rotted from underneath. The company is still going so it might be worth a call or a visit.

 

As Matman41 you probably knew about Earnshaw's anyway ...

Hi Ivor,

Yes it is almost identical to the Matador body, just a bit different on the position of the cross members to suit the chassis I believe, but that wouldn't be a problem to alter.

I haven't heard of Earnshaws to be honest, but they aren't far away from where I am so I will have a venture over, certainly has to be worth asking them :cool2:

Regards

Mel

A few more pictures. Has early style dash and still has 3 wartime dated tyres!!

Why some donut took the head off! I don't know if you've heard of a place called Jobbers Inc in Philadelphia America.....they have spares for the SRKR engine - a couple of months back they even had a complete running engine with really low mileage.....but they wanted TOP whack for it. But they had a list of parts they had for the SRKR. My gun tractor has its original steel body on it.....which someday i intend on using as a pattern to build a new one! Where did you find the truck?

Hi Russ,

Not heard of them but will have a look at their website.

Not sure why the head is off, there is nothing obvious. The guy I bought it from in Holland had bought it like that and was also unsure why it had been taken off?!?

I saw the pictures you posted of your GT, I would be very interested to see how much the winch sticks up into the body??

Regards

Mel

Nice to see another one added to the UK fleet. More details would be good....does it run? Is it the original engine setup or has it been replaced with something a little more economic?!

Hi Russ,

It still has the Waukesha engine in it, but at the moment it doesn't run as one of the previous owners has removed the rear cylinder head (don't know why!!), so I am currently looking for a head gasket before I can even try to get it running :-(

The intention is to put it back into original spec. with the wooden Matador style body (though if a steel one came up I wouldn't say no). The back of the chassis has been shortened by about 12" to make it into a tractor unit but the winch rollers are still in place, just moved forward.

What else would you like to know?

Regards

Mel

Its an ex danish civil defense, (Aux fire service), though it might, prior to this, have been used by the army.

Hi Niels,

It has blue/grey paint in the cab and on the outside (underneath the 'sandy' coloured top coat). Then in places in the cab & underneath where the blue/grey has peeled off you can see what looks to be deep bronze green.

Regards

Mel

Is that switch panel and gear lever gate original, or something added later? I am not really familiar with the cab layout on these.

Hi Trevor,

I am pretty certain that it is a Post War 'add on'. Most of the switch holes on the dash have blanking plates over them too, which also suggests they have been moved.

Cheers

Mel

Hello All,

I have just bought a FWD Su-Coe, from what I have been told I believe it to be a 1941 build from contract SM2018 (chassis 61132).

It is ex-Danish though I am unsure if it is Army or Civil Defence?

Any help with information would be greatly appreciated?

I am also looking for a rear Artillery body and any other FWD related items for the restoration back to its original configuration if anyone can help or offer any leads?

Mel

Trying to see where the post war registration numbers (i.e 99YY99) would have been on the truck's?

Looks like an easy body to replicate though Mark

Hi All,

Does anyone have any pictures of FWD Su-Coe's being used Post War by the British Army??

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

Does anyone know a source of or have a complete NOS electric brake rheostat as in the picture?

Thanks in advance,

Mel

Hi Scott,

That chassis was from contract S3039 (0853-6603 to 0853-7102) for Heavy A.A tractors.

As 16svt rightly says, it will be a 1944 build.

I have chassis 0853-6767 from that same contract.

You should be able to obtain a copy of the AEC factory build sheet from the Commercial Vehicle museum at Leyland which should provide the build date and delivery date and the place it was delivered to.

Hope this helps a bit, Mel

Hi All,

Thanks for all the great help with this question.

Can anyone easily identify this Artillery Regiment on the attached picture?

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

Does anyone know if there is such a thing as a full list of the Regimental Serial numbers (like the picture) that were painted on the front & rear of WW2 vehicles in existence??

Regards,

Mel

If you were to see the B Vehicle Census Number list that Rob van Meel produced in alphabetical order of manufacturers, it becomes clear. The Cat. Ref. which is also stamped on the vehicle's contract plate, is the running number of the contracts that the manufacturer has from the government. It did not make sense until I saw this list.

Hi Richard,

Many thanks for this info, by strange coincidence I ordered a copy of that very booklet from Rob on Monday!!.

Would I be right in assuming there would have also been some kind of 'master order' as build details on these cards are rather sketchy or non-existent?

Regards

Mel

Hi All,

Sorry if this question has already been asked at some point on here.

On WW2 contract cards for British vehicles, in the top corner there is generally a Catalogue Reference number.

Can anyone tell me what exactly these relate to, were they master drawings or something?

And do any of these Catalogues still exist anywhere?

Regards

Mel

Hi Doug, great to see your Matadors and looking forward to watching the progress.

With regards to the numbers painted on the sump I would think that they will be the grade/type of oil that was used in that particular component, also you will probably find them on the g/box, diffs etc. The ones on the chassis could well be the markings to show the location of the drain cocks on the engine block or the oil for a component near the chassis i.e. the air compressor. But without seeing photos it's hard to say for sure.

Regards, Mel

Here is one recently found in Norway

Great that these trucks are still been found. I'm guessing it may have been used as a snowplough looking at the big frame on the front? Mel

What a great find, just shows what is still out there. Has it been snapped up for preservation??

Regards, Mel

Great truck, looking forward to watching your progress on this one and the gun tractor :thumbsup:

Regards, Mel.

A few more. 1943, 1951 & 1953 respectively. Mel.

The socket is connected directly to the 24volt batteries of the truck, so the lead I'm asking about is for either taking power from or delivering power to these??

It is nothing to do with the Warner brake socket/lead as they are controlled from inside the cab on a different system.

Regards

Mel

This is the inside of the socket. Can anyone help?

Mel

A picture of the socket itself might be helpful?

 

Andy

Hi Andy,

Will try and get a picture of the internal bit posted over the weekend.

Regards, Mel

I think that it is the old fashioned military socket that was before the NATO socket.

 

Hi John,

Yes that's the thing, probably boxes of them sitting in an old warehouse somewhere!!

Regards, Mel