Richard Farrant

They were models of production vehicles built by Austin Motor Co. and having seen the programme twice, think they were found in one of the buildings at Longbridge plant. From memory, a K6 Breakdown Gantry, K6 Signals Body lorry, K2 ATV and a K5 Portee..... I started a thread on this in 2008, check "similar threads" at bottom of the page.

Hi Degsy, I know the photos you mean, they have come up on either this forum or MLU in the past. But this lorry predates those trials as it is a 1928 or 1929 model. I did find the photos again just to check ( Chris Hodge Trucks, owner of the Commercial Motor photo library), and did not see any Karriers.

I recollect it was on a low loader outside my workshop one weekend, with a rack on it loaded with ammo boxes, think it was going overseas for a demo. Had a good look underneath it and took some pics, but can't find them now :embarrassed:

OK ,could be some grit between them, try passing a clean piece of paper through them a few times, then with the ignition on, flick the points to see if they spark.

A rare Matilda ............................ fitted with "twin flathead Chrysler petrol engines" according to that website :-D

Rick, As it was running beforehand ( I assume), then I guess the fault is in the contacts. Did you remove them to clean? If so, then probably misplaced the fibre washer and power going to earth. Or you may have a speck of dirt / grit on contact face. Slightly confused by you saying the "engine cranks but does not even try to turn over", surely if it cranks then it is turning over?

Hi Gavin, It looks better now the canopy is on it :thumbsup: Can't remember if I sent you this photo off the two WO6 lorries on the drive around Australia in 1929. regards, Richard

Hi Sean, The weights came out of the 1956 edition of FVRDE book, it lists the same laden weight (4630kgs) for the Series III GS and K9 Series II radio truck. My guess is that VOSA may view the design load more than what the WD rated it at (1 ton load).

Snow falling heavy right now in Kent, fed up with it already, roll on the Spring Latest 11.25pm; M20 at J10 is now at a standstill

That is the later mulitfuel model, the Series III. In their normal single wheel state, the gross weight was 4630kgs, so with twin rears, I suppose it could raise the payload to a 5 ton GVW. Military lorries are normally classed by what they carry, in this case, 1 ton. Where as with a civilian lorry, it is the Gross Weight which is used to describe them. Cab looks good for its age too.

Hi Nick, That would have been the prewar Carden Loyd that he took to Rushmoor around 89/90 I guess? I thought it was a later Ford engine, Model B perhaps?

Hi Ted, I don't think the discepancy is enough to worry about if your model scale is 1/76th ! The Ford is listed as; Body interior - length 13' 11 3/8" width between racks 2' 3" height 6' 3 1/2" Bedford is; body interior - length 13' 11 5/8" width 6' 11" height 6' 6"

Clive / Ted, According to WO Code No. 12710 Data Book of War Dept GS "B" Vehicles ( post 1946), there is a slight discrepancy of internal measurements of the Stores Binned bodies of Ford E2 and Bed RL. Also the RL version has a cutaway in lower edge of body to access fuel tank filler, so not a straight swap over.

When the Austin 1800 was in Army service as a staff car, one came in the Workshops with...............snow chains on the rear wheels.

Hi Ted, Thanks for posting these photos, I should have specified in my original reply, that the Army did not have RL ambulances, but opted for Fords. At that time all three Services had there own Procurement arrangements with these sort of odd arrangements, but much later it all came under one. Here is a photo of a converted Binner, showing how larger windows were retained in the new ambulance role.

Wayne, I would get it home and talk to your local DVLA, Gloucester presumably, they might be more helpful. as has already been said, in Kent and Sussex an inspector does the rounds, I think he covers several offices and you have to wait until he is in your locality.

Hi Ted, I forgot about the converted Binners, they are easily spotted having bigger windows that the other two ambulance bodies.

Hi Andy, I am not aware of RAF or RN having any of these Fords. There were three body types within the contract, E2 was a Binned Stores Vehicle, E3 was the Ambulance, with bodywrk very simialr to the E2 and lastly, E4 was a Light Anti-Aircraft Tractor, with 5 ton winch. The contract was dated July 1951. I think the last version in service with the Army, was the Binned Stores, a vehicle type which would generally only go out on exercise as it was not a general service type. My guess is that most would have been disposed of by the mid 1970's. there was a Binned Stores at Beltring this year and I believe the there is a similar one in the REME Historic Collection. There was a LAA Tractor in a museum in the North of England if I recall. Andy, I see you are confused about whether Ford or Fordson is a different vehicle, my memory say that the badge on the front was actually "Thames", the army literature calls them Ford and the makes parts book says EnFo !

Hi Pete, Thanks for elaborating, I was off track, did not occur that was what they were for. It may have been rebodied and arrived in Aus as a GS, but the Cat. Ref. number singles it out for that role. Richard

Hi there. I am also from around Ashford, so no doubt we will pass each other somewhere :-). I know of a young guy who was working on a Lightweight in his garden, until recently and now it has gone, maybe the same one? Enjoy the forum. regards, Richard

Room for one on top, so which one of you girls is it to be?

I thought it was the Fordson E3 that got the contract. 782 were supplied under Contract no. 6/VEHS/7980. Cannot recollect a RL ambulance

Hi Pete, Pace of life a lot slower up there, no doubt ! Good to hear the Retriever is on going. regards, Richard

I have heard of MV's in their yards, they also break RAF aircraft. Not sure how mnay yards they have, but Stratford upon Avon and Bristol are two.

clive, I would think that was Birds Commercial Metals.