antar

That is something of a hybrid which Jacksons of Morpeth put together themselves. Crusader running gear with Martian recovery gear on the back, a very capable vehicle, as you can see it retains the Martian earth spade under the rear end.

Yes i had noticed that too, where is it currently located since the Museum of Army Transport was cleared ? John

Both the Boscombe down Big Ben and the Chris Miller Antar MK3A are with the Lawtons. The Miller Antar actually has the fibreglass cab. John.

Just to keep things in order, I actually bought the Constructor of a chap called Alan Robins in Kidderminster who had owned it for a number of years after buying it from the garage operator in Sommerset. All I can remember is that he was called Mike and that he latterly had a Militant Recovery. Regarding the "Blue one" Sean did buy it from Ken Williams who was the Headmaster at Buglawton School for naughty boys and did run the Buglawton vintage show within the grounds of the School in early July each year. Ken is now retired from the school but does still run the show.

Mike, Spares are not a problem for this engine as so many CETs are cut up. I have plenty of parts stashed. Some of the parts are also quite unique, such as the waterpump. Talking to Paul at Whithams a couple of weeks ago he recons that there are another 60 CETs to come through their disposal in the not to distant future. John.

Will let you all know how I go on with the registration in the not too distant future. I am also going to try and register my M578 at the same time, that is 10 foot wide. John

The blue one in the top picture now belongs to Sean Reed another friend of mine who lives in Macclesfield. The truck has not been out for a few years but is still in running order. Not sure if you knew but I also owned the green one in the other picture, that photo was when it was in my ownership, I parssed it on to Paul Rhodes who did the nut and bolt restoration on it. John.

Thats choice coming from someone with a yard full of non-running junk !!! you just have to have the technical know how and perseverance to get these things running anyone can use a gas axe !!!

This is one of the ex-Manchester airport constructors. It was sold to the Griffin Trust near Elesmere port. My friend Ian Burman bought it from them. I gave him a lift to collect it, litterally, it had never been on the road for 20 years as we knew, having stood in the airport maintenance unit for years, then low loaded to the Griffin Trust. We turned up one summer evening with gear oil and batteries checked all the oils, put the batteries on, and I think a set of borrowed trade plates!, and just drove out onto the M53 and then the M56 to Manchester. It never dropped below 35mph all the way and never missed a beat. Ian kept it for about a year then sold it to a person from Derby, as far as I know it was in his ownership when the photo above was taken but have heard that the truck has since been vandalised. I may have a contact number for him as I also sold him a winch to replace the one which the airport had removed and scrapped. John.

Should you want the correct winch to put back in it PM me.

That was after reaching to the book "we made trailers" by Cranes of Derham and checking before I replied !!!

Not registered mine yet but intending to over Christmas period, if you can register a Chieftain for road use can see no reason why not.

7 1/2 ton light recovery trailer made by Cranes of Dereham.

Bernie Jones should know, PM me and I will give you the last telephone number I had for him.

That was taken at one of the first Scammell gatherings at the old post office near Barnsley. Ihad an interesting drive home, the head gasket on the Crusader blew half way up Woodhead !

There is one of these trailers on the old airfield site belonging to Nelson Green at Bourne in Linconshire.

Mike, When you say "flywheel wear plate" is that a seperate part ? The reason I ask is that I was looking for something in the shed the other day (where the 18" clutch plates used to be stored) and found a steel disk all wrapped up in the usual sticky wrapper which looks like a face plate out of a flywheel. If it is let me have the dimensions and I will check it. John.

All four speeds are avaliable in both directions, but when travelling inthe direction of the bucket all gears are aproximately half speed, they will do about 35 mph travelling in road drive mode, thats travelling in the direction of the splash board. Coincidently I was out in mine yesterday !

If it is Paul Marshall, he is the son of the guy who owns the yard where the Constructor was restored and stored near Preston. I delivered the Constructor to the yard for Bernie behind my Crusader 35 Tonne tractor unit using a 10/30 dummy axle which I must post some pictures of one day.

Batteries were flat or disconected on this one, could not tell as they had the winch rope tight over the transmission hatch, probably to stop people visiting during the tender starting it up. If I had a bit more time I would have got a jump start and had a test drive.

You got it on the nail with John !

Mike ?

The picture with the 10/30 Dummy axle and Martian Wrecker reminded me to dig out and scan thie picture attached. It was in the olden days when we used to get sunshine in the summer (about 1998). My Antar, Dummy Axle and Martian all hooked together. Took it home still hooked together much to the amazement of the police on traffic duty at the gate !!!

You might do well giving David Crouch a call at Kibworth, Leicestershire. Spending more of our Tax payments again are we ? Just hope when you have finished with it all its put up for sale at very reasonable cost !!! so I can nip up into the hills and buy it all.

It has also lost the majority of the RHS running gear but the extra armour on the outside does not apear to be touched at all, not even the paint scratched, when they were up- armoured perhaps someone forgot about the area that is damaged. More interesting is the CET next to it, complete ABRO refurb in 2001 and does not apear to have turned a track since the whole thing is "new". Engine, transmission, running gear and the whole of the driver / earth operator compartment. This vehicle should have been given to the Tank Museum.