antar

What has happened to the Churchill that was located just off junction 35 of the M1 north of Sheffield? It has stood on a plinth at the entrance to an industrial estate for 25 years at least. Just before Christmas last year it disapeared and know one knows where its gone. Apparently a large crane and a lowloader turned up one Sunday morning and it was lifted onto the trailer. As I work for JCB Field Service I often visit the JCB depot very close by, nobody in the area knows where it has gone, does anybody else ???

What were you towing it with ?!

Not so sure tht battery starter pack will be much use for it though !

Here is a picture of KYC 621 D when I owned it this was the first of the RAF constructors built chassis number10571. I sold it to Paul Rhodes who then did a marvelous nut and bolt rebuild, an absolute credit to him. It broke my heart to sell it so Paul must have been gutted ! The 20 tonner was mine for about 3 years. I bought it from Tony Jackson in Coventry, brought it back on suspend tow behind my crusader 35T tractor and a 10/30Ton dummy axle recovery unit. (I will dig out some pictures one day and post). I eventually sold it to Bernie Jones along with a 680 Power Plus engine out of a Mountaneer Dump Truck which had a twisted chassis which I bought from a man called Barry in Derby. I sold the dumptuck chassis cab to Shawtrack owner Jamie in Mansfield as they were still running a Mountaineer dump truck on pond clearance work.

Some pics of my old antar I have just scanned in. The picture of the one with the crane on is the one from Southend on Sea which I rescued for spares many years ago. My Antar is now in the ownership of Mervyn Annets in Basingstoke (its gone home) and the "wrecker" resides in York with Dave Weedon.

Here's a proper WLF !!!

No sorry, he would not apreciate it. I can confirm that there is no other armour there though. John.

I found the others, they went to a dealer in Leicestershire to be cut up. Managed to purchase complete spare engine and transmission, two complete sets of tracks and every part we could remove in one day for very reasonable money.

I can confirm that I sold the green Constructor to Paul Rhodes. John Riley

Should anyone want one of the 6x6 Royal Engineers ones there are still a number at Hamptons in Keele Stafordshire.

Nice post Roland, thanks for the mention regarding the supply of the high speed crown wheels and pinnions. I have not even started to fit my own set yet ! John Riley

Should you want to add a winch to the RAF crusader I have two complete assemblies from Army Crusaders including gearbox mounted pump.

Just had it sand blasted last week

Again, no secrets, I bought a Mk111a (ballast bodied) in 1988 for £3500 which required quite an extensive restoration lasting 4 years, I sold it about 4 years ago to the earlier mentioned Mervyn Annets for £11500 when his Petrol Antar was sold to Philip Rye at the same time, Philip then purchased a second Petrol Antar from the aformentioned Brian Bailey last year. I understand that he is setting up a museum to comemorate the building of the "Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme" in Australia. I have it on good authority that it cost around £6500 to export each Antar to Australia. Someone else can add it all up but it is serious money !!!

No actually is was not. I was using a pop rivet gun to anchor the end of the webbing strip which the armoured bonnet rests on. I was leaning over the gun whilst squeezing the handles together to close the rivet, then bang the next thing I'm pulling the rivet stalk out of my eye ! 1 week in hospital many out patient visits, loss of sight in right eye for 6 months, operation to install replacement lens, another week in hospital, numerous visits for laser treatment. All over 20 years ago now. Lesson learn't WEAR EYE PROTECTION.

I owned and did a nut and bolt restoration on a Dingo about 23 years ago, nearly lost an eye during the process but thats another story. SUPERB vehicle to own, all apart from the sandblasting of the body the restoration was done on mum and dads drive at home. Ran it for 7 years including driving to Normandy in 1986. Very few problems with it, like mentioned previously you have to keep the bevel boxes topped up, on the way back from Normandy on the A34 ran out of oil in LHF bevel, only noticed when paint and co-drivers left boot set on fire due to the heat !!! Poured in about 3 litres of new 90's oil which immediately vapourised. Still managed the 200miles home to Manchester without having to strip it. On stripping down once home the only part required was a new traca joint bush. Only sold it to make way for a new project ANTAR MK3 ballast tractor, that did not fit on mum and dads drive !!!

Sorry but just called at the final resting place for the Chieftain AVRE's and AVLB's on the way home tonight, all 6 have gone to Cheiftain heaven not one part left. One complete AVRE remains in full running order which is not going to be cut up and if their is any interest is for sale. The 2 CET's that I also wanted some parts of have also gone !

Is it the same dash in an AVLB or AVRE if so Iwill be able to get one for you out of some that are being cut. Do you want a complete take out gearbox as well sounds like it would help ?

A couple of years ago i saw this vehicle stored in the REME Museums overspill storage warehouse at Bordon, did't pay much attention to it at the time, too busy looking at all the other goodies !!!

I recently purchased an M578 privately from a guy in North Wales, there is a photo attached of me collecting it. It is in full running order (Detroit V8 425 bhp, Allinson cross-drive transmission). At the moment it is awaiting sandblasting and a new coat of paint ready for next season. Last week two non running M578's were sold in the Withams tender to "a private collector in the south" does anybody know who that may be ? Best Regards John Riley

I visited Sam Weiner's in AKRON, OHIO about 5 years ago and there were rows of partly disassembled tractors parked up defiantly worth a call.

Come on Kev, our ARRV, the one we paid twice for with our taxes !!!

Don,t worry about it Mark for two reasons:- 1 you would not fit in it 2 there horrible to drive anyway

Hope you have a method statement and risk assesment, wouldn,t like to hear there were any accidents during the procedure !!!

Interested in how you have handled the cooling issue ?