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Hello Scott, Thanks for your reply, well it seems that the photo I posted of the army matador that i thought was mine, is in fact not!!!! Thanks for the photos of the matador- do you have any more you'd like to share, id me most interested to see them please? Kind regards Henry

Thanks for your reply's Peter and Scott! Your post has certainly made this quite interesting Scott! The photos of the matador that you say are from around 8 to 9 years ago you have posted of what was supposedly my now matador can't possibly be!!!! The reason for this line of thought is that about 8 to 9 years ago the matador that i have just purchased would of looked something like this: So, the photo that the person who purchased it from Ruddington, must of given me a photo that has no relation to the Henley matador that I now own, or the matador in Scott's photos has been repainted to look like army matador with number 78 RD 97 as in the photo i was given which i think to be highly unlikely!!!! Can anyone shed any light onto this??????? Regards Henry

Hello, I have recently purchased a AEC Matador and through speaking to one of its previous owners I have managed to obtain a photograph of when he got it back from Ruddington ex- army sale in 1970's after paying approximately £400 in very good cosmetic condition (seems to be polished paintwork), and having words with the current person in possession of the lorry today, who has a wealth of knowledge, has said it quite unusual for them to be in such good condition! In the picture you can clearly see the number 78 RD 97 and what I think is the auction lot number '315' in the cab window. So, can anyone tell me any of the military or previous history to the 1970's Ruddington ex- army sale. Also on the cab door of the Matador it has the letters 'NERY',below some kind of emblem/ symbol, what does this stand for? I have taken a photo of the photo, as we have no scanner, not sure how its going to turn out, but may give you some idea! Regards Henry

Welcome Chris, I think i may have seen you about in one of your Scammells going through Northiam High Street once, we was driving a yellow David Brown Tractor! Welcome to the forum! Henry

Its looking very very nice! Looking forward to the further pictures! Regards Henry

I second what Lewis says, how have some of these people passed there test and why are the police finding more and more people driving with no insurance i wonder!!!!! I think the whole insurance situation has got ridiculous but what can i do, just sit back and wait!!!!!!! Regards Henry

Bit late to add this, but heating is fine along as the tyre is not to close or under extreme pressure as it will blow, also welding is a certain NO GO!!!!!!! I know of someone and was a very clever and still is a smashing bloke, well known in the area, when working for his engineering company, doing a job one day, welding a extra rim on a tractor for dual wheels when the rim already on the tractor got too hot and blew the tyre up (literally) and very sadly blew the poor chap off his feet and chuck him against the wall on the other side of the workshop, the consequences being he now has to be in a wheelchair and cared for 24/7 by family! Sorry to hijack this post, but don't want anyone on here to suffer this, as you will then know how much your machines will mean to you! Glad to see you got the nuts off, some wheel nuts can be a right pain at times, yet some that look really bad will come straight off! Kind regards Henry

So agriculutral a NO go then for me, i'll just have to wait i suppose... Kind regards Henry

Thank you for the welcomes!

I've had a chat to a few people, in the know (as they say), and they reckon if i can get the Matador registered as a agricultural vehicle that being one for timber, farming ect. i could drive it at the age of 16 if the vechile is ''less than 2.45m wide'' and ''it must only pull trailers less than 2.45 metres wide with two wheels, or four close-coupled'' this is shown by the DVLA minimum age web page, but by going by what others say, i shouldn't trust it! Then, looking at the following site http://www.aecmilitant.co.uk/matador4/home.html the matadors width is 7ft 10" which i believe works out to be 2.390m which comes in just under the dvla's agricultural tractors maximum width of machine for a 16 year old to drive, so does this mean i can drive the matador at the age of 16 if i pass my tractor test and have the matador registered as a agricultal machine, say for timber industries, i can legally drive it with the right insurance ect... Am i correct???? Regards Henry

Thank you very much for all your comments, this has given me something to think about and get sorted out for my future driving! Many thanks Henry

Thank you very much mike, thanks for your information, very helpful!

Cheers for the tip Robin and thanks for the welcome!

Hello! Been on the forum for a while now trawling through the vast ary of pictures and information on the forum, and to be honest, i'm very shocked and to the volume, but would like to introduce myself. My name is Henry and i collect vintage tractors and horticultural machinery, but have a keen interest in old military or standard vehicles, and am very keen in buying a AEC matador. I seem to have several other people keen in the same interests as mine in the county which is nice to know! Kind regards Henry Bruce

Also as you said insuring your ''military'' vehicle does this mean that your vehicle has to be registered as a military vehicle? Say the matador was a recovery vechile, do you register it as that to the insurance company or would i be able to get it down as historic like the tractors? Henry

Thanks for your replies, experience is definitely key! I always jump at the chance of driving any type of vehicle off road, practice makes perfect so they say! So 18 is minimum legal age but 21 and you can get your insurance for the lorry, is this right?

Hello, I'm nearly coming up to my 16th birthday, and i know i'm not old enough to drive a lorry yet on the road! I know these questions have been asked loads of times on this site, but can't seem to get the answer i'm after, so here goes... But i'm wondering whats the youngest age i can go for my test(what class, ect.) which will allow me legally to drive a AEC Matador or equivalent on the road without a trailer? But also would the test which allows me to drive just the lorry allow me to drive, something like a 15 to 20ft low loading trailer with about a 5 ton machine on or would i have to do an extra test later on? Kind Regards Henry

Has anyone got any snap shots of the matador used by Henley Transport kicking around? I'd be very interested to have a peak at them! Regards Henry

Hello All, What a cracking array of pictures you have on show, but unfortunately the matador i'm searching for isn't there! I was wondering whether anyone knows the whereabouts of AEC matador used and owned by Henley Transport! It was there only recovery vehicle based in the Kent area, but my grandad (driver) used to go up past London ect with it! Any pictures, information on this would be highly appreciated! Many thanks Henry B