Roof Over Britain

Hi Davie, Missed the show this year due to other commitments, but will hopefully be ok for 2012. We'll see what we can do in the way of a diorama or display. Cheers John Some of the 2010 MVs

Compared to you lot I'm almost English down here on the Costa Clyde Perish the thought! Anyway you just about have enough to hold your own show now. There are a few others up in that neck of the woods, if you do get round to organizing an event let me know and I'll make sure it gets circulated to them. Cheers John

Hi there, good to have you on the Forum, there seems to have been an influx of MV enthusiasts from north of the border recently, what bit of Scotland are you from? Cheers John

Hi Ben, sent you a couple of photos, let me know if you got them. It's a good point about the SMVG web site, for my sins I'm on the committee, so I'll bring it up at the next meeting. Cheers John

Hi there, Welcome to the Forum, there are a few MV nutters north of the border, you might want to take a look at http://www.scottishmvg.org I have a set of four part worn 900 X 20 Michelins, PM me if you are interested. All the best, John

I would say you are right about it being an Autocar, but one strange thing, it would be left hand drive so why would it have a trafficator arm on the left hand side of the cab? Or am I mistaken

It's a bit light for a QL, they are hard work even lifting a laden Land Rover.

Welcome aboard, Good to see another QL being saved, finding original bodies for them is the hard bit, best of luck with the restoration.

Well since we now have a QL gallery, I might as well add a photo or two of mine. OK I know it's not the right body (it's off an RL) but it fills a hole for the moment and is a good big usable load space, it takes the Champ or old Fordson no problem! Anyway, it's only on there till I get the Machy body ready.

Hi Garry, Your CMP wrecker would have its work cut out both pulling a cranes trailer and stopping it, they are a hefty bit of kit, more like a job for a Matador, Scammell or the like, I have seen film of them behind a Leyland retriever as well

It's good that the weapons have been recovered and the culprit caught, but getting them back from the police may be a the hardest part, no doubt they will be held as evidence at least until the trial is over, then depending on the attitude of the police authority, I suspect they may want them destroyed.

Hi Rippo, Well thanks for that, mystery solved, I'll try a thread chaser in the holes and see if they clean up. I think you may be right about the material not being aluminium, possibly a zinc alloy, I'll be gentle with it!

Hi, I did think of spark plugs, but the holes seemed too small, maybe just too much paint. Was that the normal location on the QL, as I have not seen any others with it and no mention of it in any hand books etc.

Hi Folks, I wonder if anyone can identify the purpose of this aluminium block screwed on to the top surface of the steering column support bracket of my QL. it is approx 2 1/4 inches long X 3/4 wide X 9/16 high (57mm X 19 X 14 if you prefer) is slightly tapered to the top and has two 7/16 UNF tapped holes through it which do not continue through the support bracket. I have not seen this on any other QL I have looked at, although mine was originally a QLR which may or may not have any bearing on the matter.

Would be good to see the photos, any chance you can post them here

Hi Haydn, good to have you on board. There are a few of us in the South West neck of the woods,all be it a bit scattered (geographically as well as mentally) and glad to see you have something other than a j**p. If you havn't already heard about it have a look at http://www.scottishmvg.org We don't bite and organise a few outings and events.

Thanks Mike, do you have any contact details for him?

Many years ago (20 at least) there was someone compiling a register of surviving Matadors. Does anyone know who it was and are they still collecting info for the register? Have attached a couple of pics of my latest project. - Just what I need, another project!

In 2007 I took an artic load of vehicles down to W & P for Nigel W. for the launch of his Carrier book. The fuel cost alone was £800!

Hi Gary, The way to do these is with the slide hammer type tool refered to above, normaly called a "bead breaker" but the trick is to use it with a wheel stand - a low three leged stool type thing that holds the wheel and tyre off the ground so that you are not just bouncing the tyre up and down, and no I don't have one, I have to borrow one when I need it. cheers John

8th March, Scottish Military Vehicle Group Military Swap Meet, Institute Hall, Bridge of Earn (2 mins off Jct 9, M90) Come along and buy and sell your items of militaria, military vehicle parts and collectables. Traders/ individuals welcome. Single item to sell? no problem, see the QM on the day. Not enough items to fill a table? share with someone else. Military vehicles and exhibits on display. Refreshments available on site. Admission 11am-4pm, adults £1, accompanied under 16's free. Contact Al Smith for table reservations and all other enquiries on 01307 467215, e-mail secretary@scottishmvg.org

[quote= Any info on the Explorer in the pics please mate ? Looks like you have a lovely collection of vehicles ! Andy F __________________ As promised Andy, This Explorer isn't mine but belongs to a mate who keeps it at my place. I can't find a note of the chassis number just now but it is an early one. It still has the Meadows petrol destroyer. He bought it from the late Bill Henderson of Ballochmyle who in turn had bought it from the garage in Dalbeattie It was one of the worst tow jobs I ever did with the Matador, It had stood for years without turning as wheel, with the result that the tyres all had flats on them, at anything more than about ten MPH the resultant vibration would have shaken the teeth from your head.

It did belong to Rodger Shaw at one time, at least according to the Register list I have, but I bought it from a chap just outside Chesterfield. Incidently, the chassis No. of my old one was 6247.

Hi Andy, Aye It did take a bit of getting over. It was a fire in a storage facility, there were about ten trucks lost altogether all belonging to Scottish club members. I'll dig out a couple of pics of the explorer tonight and post them on the explorer gallery. meanwhile here are a couple of pics of the fire. I can just about look at them now without bursting into tears!