Runflat

In the late 70ts their where 4 AUTOCARS U5044 Tractor units & 1U2044 OIL SERVICE TRUCK .In a barn just north of ROMFORD .I Think they where sold to sombody in the west country bought them ? .Two of the tractor where restorable as was the oil truck .Any body know where they are ? T CORBIN

Funny how you trip over things when you are not looking - just found this in the MVT's Windscreen magazine (Sept 1988), from the Avon region:

"...Richard Jefferies went to see a farmer in Exxes to buy a trailer for his 5-ton Autocar, as it turned out he not only bought this trailer, but 5 more 2 1/2-ton Autocars and a draw bar trailer.

The vehicles are: 1 Autocar Tanker 2 1/2-ton 4x4 660 gallon U2044 mobile oil service facilities for US Air Force, and 4 Autocar tractor units 2 1/2-ton 4x4 U-4144T.

The tanker is to be restored by Richard's son, Jason, who estimates about two years work will be required. The vehicle is basically sound, but all the side lockers are missing and will have to be fabricated. At least two of the tractor units will be restored, one of the units still has the original markings. This history of these vehicles starts from 1947 when they were brought from the Ruddington sales by a farmer. The tanker was used for lime spreading, one tractor unit was used for transporting a priestman cub with dragline. The remaining three tractor units were used for spares. These vehicles were last used in 1957 and have been parked in a barn since then."

I recall seeing the tanker at an MVT show at Weston-Super-Mare around this time.

Tony, just found a picture in "The war in the Channel Islands - Then and now" (page 28). Only shows one of the 3/4-tracks though.

The guns are said to be from the Imperator Aleksandr III.

The Rootes group also made a fine series of large scale models of their wartime products, including rarities like the Karrier KT4 field artillery tractor (see Wheels & Tracks No 75, or Autocar April 13, 1945 (reproduced in "Allied Military Vehicles" collection No 2 by Brooklands Books)). I hope they are still around - I vaguely recall seeing a model Commer in one of the show cases at the London Imperial War Museum, which may have been one of them, but could be mistaken.

Oh, and there's a Tickford Owners' Club!!

http://www.btinternet.com/~aff/TickfordOwnersClub/

A book came out last year called "Salmons & Sons the Tickford Coachbuilders". Whether it has anything on trailers, I don't know.

http://newport-pagnell.org.uk/General.asp?id=SX12F5-A7806048&cat=961

Thanks for the link.

Not much doubt that the MG is a VA saloon (a much under-rated car). See here:

http://www.svwregister.co.uk/about_us.htm

http://svwspares.co.uk/

Anyway, back to MVs. Here's another of the Peugeot:

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010114

Where's the Normandy photo page? The cars are MG (1.5 litre VA) and Standard (Flying 8?)

This is fascinating to watch - the modern equivalent to the Bailey bridge, same principles:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=uXi8l5DgfBI&feature=related

heres how i see them

top 8 ton halftrack and 17cm gun

left. possible 3 ton halftrack and a 3 ton 6x4 Thornycroft?,right RtoL Citroen 45U 3 ton Opel blitz i1/2 ton and a Peugeot pick up

I think on the left we have, from the style of the bumper, a Bussing NAG 6x4. The other is Thornycroft as you say. An expandable view here: http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010107

The one on the right is here: http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010112 Is that not a Ford at the front?

I like these Albion pictures:

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010518

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010519

Mack with an interesting load:

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010321

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0010320

DUKWs:

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0034910

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0002338

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0002340

http://www.thisisjersey.co.uk/hmd/imageviewer.pl?0002342

http://www.jerseyheritagetrust.org/occupation_memorial/images/31.jpg

Bailey crap... envy of the civilised world:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FMeNOEBCpkM

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=oTrO-B9sx3g

These look like patrol tanks - a turreted development of the Carden-Loyd machine gun carrier MkVI. Two versions were built in 1932. The first was equipped with the normal leaf-spring carrier suspension, the second on double helical springs (like later universal carriers and light tanks). Sold to Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Portugal. Crew of 2. Powered by Meadows 6-cylinder 40hp engine.

I stick with Carden-Loyd - The bulge at the front covering the differential is distinctive and I think only appeared on the Mk VI version, which was introduced into service as the standard machine gun carrier during the latter part of 1928. Dragons (a corruption of "drag gun") came in 'light' and 'medium' variants, both of which were larger than the Carden-Loyd machines.

Carden-Loyd carriers were designed by Carden-Loyd Tractors Ltd and powered by Ford model T engines. By the time of the Mk VI they were being built by Vickers-Armstrong Ltd, who had absorbed Carden-Loyd. Some were also built under licence in other countries.

Er, no! There's only one 'L' in Loyd.

I did, of course, mean Carden-Loyd. The Loyd carrier didn't come on the scene until 1940.

Probably Loyd carriers. Not so rare them.

Definitely a Crossley - a "BGV" model or "British General Vehicle". A rare photo.

We saw it at the cinema on Saturday when we took the kids to see The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. They'd read the book, so the film was essential. The advert was stunning. The film was a kick in the cods.

Went to see this film tonight. The Hovis ad was also shown. Agree on both counts.

Who else took a double take at front of number 11?

...the owner liked it so much that when he retired he parked it up and converted it into a house and lived in it for the rest of his life...

The story is that this 'house' was the home of 92-year old George Vincent for nearly 50 years. Built in 1916 in Bridgport, Connecticut it was shipped to England as part of the war effort. Afterwards it was sold through a garage in London's Edgware Road, registered as XK548. Mr Vincent thereafter used it in connection with his business until he decided to block it up and carefully protect it from the elements, using it as his home.

I'm not sure this is standard practice!:

As Tim says, a well known photo. A quick dip in the library and I unearthed a magazine from 1973 with it in.

Just as interesting (to me) is that it shared space with a photo of a 1937 Wolseley 21hp car which had been fitted with utility ambulance body during the war, presumably seeing service during the Blitz. What became of it?? (Tim can you post a photo?)

What's the 8x8 on here? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cn7n-3rzlW4

Enjoy!

Looks like you're growing an MG magnette as well. Great cars them.

Both Argossy and Terrapin Mk 1 were made by Morris Commercial (Nuffield). Argossy, however, was a full tracked vehicle.

The remains of a Terrapin was pictured in Military Machines International, Dec 2001 (p.5), which I think belongs to the Hughes family. Both it and Kevin Wheatcroft's example need parts, so I understand. So it'll be good if the remains in the Thames could be positively identified (although one wonders how sound they may be!).