rupert condick

Hi GWT, interesting pictures, I do not know much about early ME plates, But the Australian Army used commonwealth plates in Australia, these started with a "C" in red maybe these a connection regs Rupert

Hi Chaps, GLE 54, 27575, I would go for 1941, I have found that there are a lot of mistakes made over time, and only hard facts work. the log book is good, from what I have I can go for 1941. Another place to look is the rear axle, although this can be a replacement. there is a date stamped on it, example 15-6-43 a restored van, looking at the picture below and GLE 54, there are vents fitted to the front top passenger side of the rear body, as therese were supllied for CD use their final form could vary. and Austin publication dates are not a reliable source, even contract dates can be 6 months out. as long as the DVLA is happy, As for K2Y 25757 (A1204327 v.3922 ( contract late 1940)) is a rebuilt unit and would need looking into. it also implies that Austin's did not make any ambulances in 1942.other issues here. So late 1941 for this one. best wishes for all your restorations regs rupert

Hi All thanks for the replies, the Arabic appears to be very short and not many letters i will have to find a really good picture. Noel17 the number on the Austin K2Y ambulance serving with the New Zealand Army. and Is WD no. A1207896 WD contract no,A.1445. The Census numbers (rego) are usually written on the lower edged of the rear door drivers side. but when overseas these numbers moved to the middle of the passenger side door, and the prefix letter written above this. this letter was sometimes omitted when not used by the British Army. it would appear that this ambulance has moved up wards. AS the Old WD system had been discontinued, the original census numbers are now being used. this k2y would have had the Middle East WD / Arabic, number on the passenger side Mudguard, and if the Australian Army had record it (a second time) the AMF(ARN) no would also have been painted there. in Australian service this Ambos number was (AMF) 1207004 the A having been deleted, could have being on the passenger side door. Aster are not any pictures of the rear of this ambo. in service, ME or Australia, this will do, Although the A was painted out for the 2AACC. again thanks for the replies regs Rupert

Hi, My mistake with the navy thing, Middle East numbers were discontinued in about 1943, from then on just using the standard census number displayed in Arabic. I am trying to get the correct Arabic scrip for the writing under the Arabic numbers, guess at some sort of translation for WD. this is the later example (although taken in Italy) regs Rupert

Hi Richard, the topic Wally raised, was if there was photographic evidence that factories painted in the bridge plate wights,the pictures show new issued vehicles, one under army control and one under civilian control. according to the book After the War was over, (about Pearsons of Liverpool) the picture of the Bedford QL(prototype) page 43 sates "this "Test"vehicle was never handed over to the war office" the bridge plate not painted in, it can be seen in the book that even refurbished vehicles had blank Bridge plates ( but not in all cases) regs rupert

i Wally managed To sort the pics out New Vehicles leaving the factory under Army control, bridge plates painted. New Vehicles leaving the factory under civilian control. Bridge plate blank. bedford QL under test Civilian control.(never issued to the WD) best I have. Refer to book 27954/SD2b, Middle East. for correct bridge plate markings, ( and other. stuff) regs Rupert

Hi Wally Having trouble with the pics. I think you can work the order out regs Rupert

Hi Wally, I have this from the instruction book Army For the Middle East. 1941 Austin K2y Ambula Hi Wally, I have this from the instruction book Army For the Middle East. 1941 Austin K2y Ambulances of the 1 AACC (Queensland) the bridge weight is painted above the Bridge plate.(c1942) France 1940 Factory Pictures, No Bridge plate (c1940) Factory photograph the Ambulance does have the census number painted on it, as in post 1942 system (c1943) later Factory picture. ( c1944) These Vehicles are leaving the factory under Army control,(bridge plates filled in) the caption relating to this, says ‘they are operational, by the fitting of the bridge plate” I think this should be by painting of the bridge plate load. Taken in 1940 prototype QL, never handed over to the WD.(bridge plate blank and TAC plate) 1943, note factory workers, Bridge plates are Blank. Extra info. Bridge loading disc M.T. part no.MT1/19158. this WD part number I cannot find listed by Austin, before April 1944 (note my records are limited). For the Austin Motor company part no. 2H 3620. This part no. Appears from 1941 onwards. As you can see some early problems. Regs Rupert nces of the 1 AACC (Queensland) the bridge weight is painted above the Bridge plate.(c1942) France 1940 Factory Pictures, No Bridge plate (c1940) Factory photograph the Ambulance does have the census number painted on it, as in post 1942 system (c1943) later Factory picture. ( c1944) These Vehicles are leaving the factory under Army control,(bridge plates filled in) the caption relating to this, says ‘they are operational, by the fitting of the bridge plate” I think this should be by painting of the bridge plate load. Taken in 1940 prototype QL, never handed over to the WD.(bridge plate blank and TAC plate) 1943, note factory workers, Bridge plates are Blank. Extra info. Bridge loading disc M.T. part no.MT1/19158. this WD part number I cannot find listed by Austin, before April 1944 (note my records are limited). For the Austin Motor company part no. 2H 3620. This part no. Appears from 1941 onwards. As you can see some early problems. To conclude, the Army painted the plates or they were paint prior to being picked up. Regs Rupert sorry pics would not move over

Hi Wally, I have this from the instruction book Army For the Middle East. 1941 Austin K2y Ambula Hi Wally, I have this from the instruction book Army For the Middle East. 1941 Austin K2y Ambulances of the 1 AACC (Queensland) the bridge weight is painted above the Bridge plate.(c1942) France 1940 Factory Pictures, No Bridge plate (c1940) Factory photograph the Ambulance does have the census number painted on it, as in post 1942 system (c1943) later Factory picture. ( c1944) These Vehicles are leaving the factory under Army control,(bridge plates filled in) the caption relating to this, says ‘they are operational, by the fitting of the bridge plate” I think this should be by painting of the bridge plate load. Taken in 1940 prototype QL, never handed over to the WD.(bridge plate blank and TAC plate) 1943, note factory workers, Bridge plates are Blank. Extra info. Bridge loading disc M.T. part no.MT1/19158. this WD part number I cannot find listed by Austin, before April 1944 (note my records are limited). For the Austin Motor company part no. 2H 3620. This part no. Appears from 1941 onwards. As you can see some early problems. Regs Rupert nces of the 1 AACC (Queensland) the bridge weight is painted above the Bridge plate.(c1942) France 1940 Factory Pictures, No Bridge plate (c1940) Factory photograph the Ambulance does have the census number painted on it, as in post 1942 system (c1943) later Factory picture. ( c1944) These Vehicles are leaving the factory under Army control,(bridge plates filled in) the caption relating to this, says ‘they are operational, by the fitting of the bridge plate” I think this should be by painting of the bridge plate load. Taken in 1940 prototype QL, never handed over to the WD.(bridge plate blank and TAC plate) 1943, note factory workers, Bridge plates are Blank. Extra info. Bridge loading disc M.T. part no.MT1/19158. this WD part number I cannot find listed by Austin, before April 1944 (note my records are limited). For the Austin Motor company part no. 2H 3620. This part no. Appears from 1941 onwards. As you can see some early problems. To conclude, the Army painted the plates or they were paint prior to being picked up. Regs Rupert sorry pics would not move over

Hi Wally this I am not certain of, but from what I have seen the Army unit did the painting, (RASC) at the discretion of the unit commander.

Hi RAFMT It was just a shot in the dark as i knew about the F & B prefix, just in case there were more symbols, i have found that Canadian units used the unit serial number followed by /1 this does not add up as this came into force in 1943, which time the ambulance was in Australia., having travelled from i think the middle east or Singapore.(unlikely) But it is a front wing after all. regs Rupert

Hi From what little research i have done these number plates were fitted (or painted on) to MV's in the Middle east pre WW2, but stopped being used around March 1944. they were fitted even though the vehicles had WD Census numbers. they were written in English and Arabic. I would like more information on these plates a really good picture would be handy. regs rupert

Hi Torpedo engines are 2 stroke diesel, When running "Hot" the fuel air mixer has ignited, (using an ignitor) Suppiled in individual pressure tanks (so no injector pump, just a distributor,) oil is also in a pressure tank. when running "cold"the fuel has failed to burn, and so is running off the compressed air supply, and unburnt fuel.the range is about halved, oxygen torpedoes were used but did explode. electric torpedos we are used to day. regs Rupert

Hi, Bridge plates were fitted as soon as the army took poession of the vehicle, reprinted bookVehicle Making in the Middle East, has a list of what should be on the bridge plate, from www.robvanmeel.nl, book no 2006 regs Rupert

Hi all I am looking for information on the RAF unit numbers I have an old Ambulance, I have found that RAF units used a / in their number system. as on the front wing shown, the yellow paint is desert sand, i have coloured the numbers in.

Hi about austin 8 hp cars some of these came to Aussie from ME in 1942 I only have records for 8 many missing i fear. As for paint in the cab, A lot was done on cost/time even down to only painting one set of census numbers(2 sets not 3) instruction 2261, on the 24th october 1942, our cab Austin k2Y had been painted olive drab. For the desert canvass was to be bleached white hence in a lot of wartime pics the seats of ambulances(K2Y) and aprons appear white. then re-painted Dulux olive drab Australian Army it was a bit knocked about when it got here in 1942, and then in pea green everywhere postwar. some pics Australian Army Ambulances. ME. and Austin K2Y cab, ME. looks green

hi Just a point i noted with the Austin K2Y ambulance, I have seen wartime pictures and the cab was left factory green,( but its wartime anything can happen) from my own experience I found that the under side was also painted sandstone. probably just a blow around. PTO (modified air Compressor) the sump was also painted but no pictures taken at the time. cab interior showing only 3 coats of paint, two being olive drab. wartime picture middle east cab interior Austin K2y (1942)

Hi did this topic remove its self? I am just interested in any Austin truck chassis numbers (1939-45) as I am tying to sort out some records. all I can add is chassis number 47122 is an Austin K2 YP contract S708/1942 for 800 units. Rupert

Hi Gavin I am looking for engine side covers,(see pic) I have a set of covers but for the ATV model, less louvers.

Hi all, Rupert here i am no good on*computers, but i am looking around for information for my brother i am not really, just interested in mvs anything mechanical does for me, i just have got involved with this*Austin*k2y and its putting up a fight, i really want to make an*automanaton*, robot, but another day, i am being pushed into a t ford now. regs rupert

hi all, i am a bit out in the wilds here, so i am involved with my brothers long term restoration ( he thinks, could be right the way its going) of an 1941 Austin K2y Ambulance, A1207004 what there is of it, i want it in the ANZAC parade soon. trying to get some history for it, only a guess at north africa and then left with the australians in 1942 and New South Wales driver training school, (2nd AACC). also i need parts, not really an mv person its more the history / engineering. regs rupert

if you look at page 256,the story of the RASC i think thats an RAF jeep, also page 323 has pics of an RASC air freight jeep, looks standard army paint, with extra touches.