little ray

one more

Hi there, I only have a few and here are some more... Ray

Would say yes as there was a big pile of it there. Here are some of the vehicles I found while looking for what I want... Ray

Hi Doug. you are right when you said chop, ads a new meaning to a low profile vehicle. I have been told that if you can get around 30% of the vehicle then its worth restoration or even convert it to another tank from the second WW eg. panzer 1 or 2. From what I have found out that they were sold for 5 pound after the war then converted and resold for 50 to 100 pound and the one in the photo was a local adaption of a ex military vehicle. (While you may be interested in a restoration of a military vehicle, consider the challenge in in post military recreations. This is still from an important era in the history of land use and needs to be maintained along side that of periods of conflict) I want a tracked vehicle mainly a tank since I was ten years old but money or other people have stopped me from getting what I want. I have been so close that I could touch it and it was whipped away, I would even take a gate guard if I could get one but around here I could get a Mig fighter with less problems as there is two up for sale than get the tank. I nearly had the one in the photo but it was moved inter state by a friend so I could not get it.. Ray

Hi there, would you like some photos of the ones I have found but are now gone or have disappeared... I am after a tank that looks like a tank be it going or not, I could get a "APC " after a ten minute phone call but its from England and the cost would be around $50K it get if off the guy and its 50Kms away from home.There is a Ferret parked up the road just 5 minutes from here that is going to be sold or moved but its not a tank, I even found a ferret in a pine tree, the tree grew from under it and is lifting it like a fork lift and was 2feet off the ground last time I was there but they wanted $9k and the rust is now eating it away... Let me know if you would like to see some photos.. Ray

Hi there guys, I found this one two days ago and its for sale but not a good hull, its been well cut and no motor.. Ray

Hi Richard, well we have found a M3 Stuart but its sad, it has had the worst chop I have ever seen, I will try and load some photos and you will see what I mean by chop. It is for sale but I really would not pay a lot for it... Ray

Hi Richard, well I found a seven cylinder engine tonight and a lead on diff parts, so things are looking up now and was offered a white scout car but turned it down. One of the local car club guys told me of another Matilda that he know of so it worth a look to see if its there, the guy who has the Stuart has a spare new engine for the Matilda in his shed so I have a buyer for it as well if it comes as part of the sale... Ray

Hi Richard, this one is there as I can see it on Google Earth and there is more ex army stuff laying around. Next week we go to look at the thing and get the photos and work out a price as to me this is a foot in the door as any thing I have ever wanted I had to find one then more would turn up and thats what I am hoping for here so I will end up with a near complete one, well thats the idea.... Ray

Hi guys, its been a while since I was on here and I have had some ups and downs but we are traveling ok once again. In the last six months I have found 2 Centurions but one was sold and the other transferred to some where else that no one could have it, 2 Matilda's with one being just a hull and the other taken for scrap metal so I lost then then there was one Stuart Mk3 which had been made into a bulldozer but the owner swapped it for a non flyable plane and all seemed lost. Then on Ebay a very cut up Lee/ Grant and a Stuart came along but I let them pass so they are out there but I can not find them in time so I through about giving up when out of left field came a phone call that this guy has a Stuart for sale and he heard I wanted one, he has explained that it was made into a bulldozer after the war and needs a new diff or at least a crown wheel and pinion as the wheel is missing two teeth. Price has not been talked about yet but I was wondering were I could get a new gear set if the one in it is unrepairable and a work shop manual, can any one help with info on these items please... Little Ray

Hi Guys, well we did the drive to check them out and once again the scrap metal buyers had beaten us to them, they sold for $250 a ton about two years ago but the turret was saved and sold to a collector so that has to be of some help. I have now got to go back and start again so we will see what turns up... Little Ray

Hi Adrian, I made two phone calls today and they are making inquiry's as to what motors are still around, I will keep you up to date... Little Ray

Hi Adrian, I just PM you as there could be a complete donk for sale here that not many know about and I was saving it for a friend but I am now checking with the guy if its still in his workshop for you. That Stuart or Grant is looking better all the time that I wanted and we are now working on how to get the other tanks that we have been talking about... Little Ray

Hi Eddy8man, things are on the improve here and I was thinking about this quote:-

Hi Chris, here is a quote I made on buried tank thread and the reason I was asking those questions. Quote:- (I made three phone calls today and one was to the local fire control officer who I know and in the conversation we worked around to what they find on their inspections. I asked if he had ever seen any tank remains to which he replied that I was mad taking on some thing like that but yes he had and the description he gave is what I was told by a local shooter that went to the property that I had asked about. There is the remains of two Matilda's spread through the scrub and at least one turret, now my next problem is how to get on to the place to get photos or see if I can get one of them.( the wife could kill me over this one) ) Now I am starting to get my details and ideas together so we can go and look at them if I can get onto the property. Ray

Now that is a very good question to ask as I was not thinking about models or marks. As I am now fishing into the unknown with what we may have found and up coming phone calls next week I would work on mark 111 or 1V and a ball park figure is all that is needed for now as one would not like to turn up with a 1/2 ton box trailer for a 1 ton turret even through I have moved that much at one go with the tires smoking as I went down the road... Little Ray

Hi Guys, I have been through my books but have no spects on the Matilda so can you give me weights and turret weight and length and width of the hull please... Little Ray

Hi there guys, they are great finds in any ones book, wish I could just dig one up like that. I have been going through this forum last night tiring to stay awake and it is one of the most interesting things I have ever read as well as talking to Adrian045 for nearly and hour or it felt that long. It gave me some ideas on how to find out about lost tanks which the land owner I contacted before said they do not exist. I made three phone calls today and one was to the local fire control officer who I know and in the conversation we worked around to what they find on their inspections. I asked if he had ever seen any tank remains to which he replied that I was mad taking on some thing like that but yes he had and the description he gave is what I was told by a local shooter that went to the property that I had asked about. There is the remains of two Matilda's spread through the scrub and at least one turret, now my next problem is how to get on to the place to get photos or see if I can get one of them.( the wife could kill me over this one) She was not impressed when I came home last year from a visit to a local village and said I was tiring to get a ferret in a pine tree, her reply was we do not need any more animals. No sense of humor in that girl. The vehicle is in the tree and should be about a foot or two off the ground now as it was parked next to the tree and has not moved forward since then, only up as the branches went under it and started to lift. The asking price for it is $10,000 AUD but will accept $9,000 AUD so if any one from here in Australia wants it I will supply the phone numbers... Little Ray.

Hi Adrian, great talking to you last night and after reading this thread, how about I contact the guy here near me and see if he will let me get photos and measurements off the set on his apc... Little ray

Hi Guys, I have to leave you for a couple of days as the wife is very ill and we must get her to Sydney hospital so soon as I get back I will try what you have said thanks for your advice... Little Ray

Hi guys, I have been following this threads for a while now and to be more active with it I joined up yesterday to ask some questions. I am in Australia and I have seen other aussies on here with what they have found and with what you have laying around over there in England in the tank line it must be heaven. I have been chasing a tank, any tank for the last 15 years, I built a special shed in my yard in Sydney to house one and the ex Mrs put down pavers for a drive way to stop me buying the one I found. Now the new Mrs agrees that I should get a tracked vehicle but she wants a bren gun carrier. I have found some very sad and very very sad carriers over the years but there are some tanks still to be found out here but our bigest problem in New South Wales is the scrap metal guys as they are just cutting up any thing they get offered and will not accept a offer of up to four times the scrap metal price, capitalism is dead in their world and they have taken every thing. I have been on the trail of a Stuart for two years now and the guy who has it on his land will not let any one in so it just sits there. I saw the posting earlier of the grant and matilda in Victoria but there is a field on the road to south Australia near a town named Pinnaroo with hulls just laying there, I have seen them but been unable to stop and check them out. I enjoy your posts and I will try to give you some idea of what I find out here. If I can work out how to load a photo then I will put up one of a Centurion I found but not for sale and there is one on Ebay for $60,000Aud if you would like to bid but I think its very over priced.. Little Ray

Thank you for your reply and I am looking forward to showing what is out here... Little Ray

Hi all and I will go by the name of little Ray but I am far from that. I am interested in Tanks and more Tanks as its the last item on my bucket list. I am 65 years old and live in rural New South Wales Australia and now retired. I have never been part of the Australian Army but just love those tanks. Over the years I have had a number of jeeps and a Blitz Wagon (all ford vehicles) but my main love was Early Model T Fords which I still have a 1913 tourer and 1966 Mustangs which I still have a 66GT in the barn. Since moving to my farm I have gone over to horse drawn vehicles which I have a 1895 stage coach and a 1840 Governors park carriage and a team of horses. I find many WW2 and later vehicles which I am not interested in but would be happy to upload photos of my finds if I can figure out how to do it as I am not computer literate, I travel a lot these days and I chase down any leads on tanks but they` are out of my pocket range or not for sale when I find them. I would be most happy to help any forum member with info on vehicles out here and thank you for letting me be part of your group..Ray (little ray)