Runflat

Thanks Richard / Les Interesting that you both appear to have skipped over the teaser in my first posting - I was expecting your approval / disapproval before now. I must be more explicit in the future! Out of interest, and to validate the answer, I've been trying to find better pictures of the Crossley chassis with no success. The best I've found are pictures of the now restored civvy Crossley BGV1 six-wheeler (The Automobile Magazine, Aug 1995, p58; and Classic & Vintage Commercials Magazine, Sept 2006, p34). But there are more differences than similarities! What do you have in your files?

Certainly inter-war, probably 1930s rather than 20s. The axles don't look Morris to me though. If you look at the rear wheel there is a hole near the rim. This matches the ones on the Crossley I linked to earlier. I've not found anything else with these types of wheel, and the hubs are a good match too... I don't believe the six cyclinder crank on the table is related; certainly the steering column looks to be off something else (the wheel doesn't match the one on the vehicle). A close up: http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://svsm.org/albums/brit_wwi-wwii/IMG_1426.thumb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://svsm.org/gallery/brit_wwi-wwii&usg=__0OiiDY7FWn0bP0V-LxfHCJl9XCw=&h=113&w=150&sz=7&hl=en&start=37&um=1&tbnid=uOt2vVHjdXzryM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=96&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcrossley%2Barmoured%2Bcar%26start%3D36%26ndsp%3D18%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-GB:official%26sa%3DN

Agreed - it would be interesting to know more. Looking at some more photos, I note that some of the 4x2 versions had side doors hinged at the rear; so presumably a development at some stage. But still not seen any 6x4 versions (they are four wheel drive, not six) with them hinged at the front.

Guy 6x4 amoured cars had very similar bodies... looking at a few photographs they would appear to have the door hinged at the front... but there are some detail differences as well which makes me think it isn't off one of them.

The 6x4 Crossley armoured cars seem to have the door hinged at the rear, whereas the 4x2 Crossleys had them hinged at the front. So I don't think it is a 6x4. Are those solid tyred wheels related? - They could be off a 4x2 version: looks like some singles and twins there. I don't think the rear axle in the background belongs to it.

The G503 forum are talking about an Autocar up for sale... down Texas way http://www.g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=133774 http://66.40.14.174/auctions/index.php?a=listing&pid=209&last=0&next=0

Looks like a Crossley armoured car body: I want it! The one to the right is a WW2 Daimler A/C

This rang bells. After a bit of digging through the library I see a similiar building exists (or did) in Launceston, Tasmania - it was pictured in The Automobile magazine, March 1990, p74.

Note 5 stud wheels... http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bovington_096_Crossley_1.jpg ?

Also strong similarities to the CGT chassis shown "Blueprint for Victory" page 42. The winch isn't CMP design as far as I'm aware.

Richard - you say you're foxed. I think this is a CMP chassis. Have a look at "CMP Vehicle Series Vol 2" at the pull out for the armoured GM Fox! I'm not saying it is from one of them but the webbed spring hangers look very similar as does the central frame member. From the little you can see, the back axle looks to be wearing 16" rims with 10.50 boots. The hub looks like CMP.

The winch equipped QLB (bofors tractor) had it's winch between the PTO and the rear axle. But you say the drum is behind the rear axle. Can't think of an answer. Why you asking? Do you have any photos?

I hate to say this, but in this day and age if that machine gun is real I'm surprised nobody's walked off with it before now.

One of the lesser known military models from the Rootes group stable was the "car, 4x2, Heavy Utility". Not to be confused with the 4x4 heavy utility, this one had the Snipe front end and a 'woodie' shooting brake body. There are a couple in existence. One came up on Milweb recently. Scroll down here to see one in RAF markings, although I've not seen period photographs of a Humber with precisely this style of body: http://www.woodiecarclub.com/index.php?f=data_home&a=0

By the shape of the rear door, it's a Ford WOA2.

I seem to recall John Rowell having a Guy FAT - turning up to Duxford one year with it perched on the back of a lorry. A few GS Quads exist as well.

It was certainly the technology that drove his passion. Here are a couple of articles about Jacques from 2001 and 2003: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2001/1224/074.html http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE2DB173AF93BA15752C1A9659C8B63 It would appear the future of the collection had been considered. He was only 60: http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2009/01/jacques-littlefield-19492009.html

I'm stunned at this news. This quote from the MVTF website (http://www.milvehtechfound.com/index.html) seems appropriate: Littlefield's major objective for the Foundation is to preserve the collection for the future: “For me, the important part of the tanks is understanding the industrial know-how that allowed them to be built, and then document those findings. There may not be much appreciation for them now, but hopefully after I'm gone people will look back and say, 'Thank God he saved these historical vehicles instead of just letting them rust away and disappear forever.” Amen to that and to Jacques.

Looks a lot like the one shown on the Wheatcroft Collection site: http://www.wheatcroftcollection.com/home.html Has it come back?

And the cab interior here: Shame.

That's a relief, I thought I was going mad. I look forward to your next article in Windscreen. The last was clearly well researched.

Mk VI ambulance, surely?

That's the same illustration Clive, although looks like it's from a different publication. DRoth: For general reading, "Discovering Horse Drawn Transport of the British Army" is also available again (first published 1977) - not bad for its modest price: http://www.shirebooks.co.uk/categories/military-history.php

You may want to get hold of a copy of "Army Service Corps. Training Pt. 3 1915 Horse Transport" - this has a side drawing of the Mk VII and compares and contrasts to earlier and later Mks. Reproductions were available from these people (see about 4/5ths of the way down): http://www.military-naval-history.co.uk/pages/artillery_&_fortifications.htm

Much rather have the CD/SW - one of my favourite MVs. It just looks so 'right'... and far more practical (as much as any MV is) than a tracked vehicle.