6 X 6

I've driven through Salisbury loads of times and I've never seen it. Has anyone heard of, or know anything about, this one ? "An immaculately turned out example of the SV/25 'Pioneer' recovery tractor was travelled by Bernard Cole & Sons, Southampton for many years. The integral body incorporated a roller shutter at the rear. Later, 'Sir Hilary' as it was called (to commemorate the 1953 Everest Expedition) passed to Jimmy Williams of Tadley, Herts. and finally into preservation with Steve and Vicky Postlethwaite of Salisbury, Wilts.

No..... No....... No..... No........ No...... No...... Dolly, you're have to pump harder, I'm still not getting a spark.

Although, Derek's propane fired hairdryer design was completely safe it was also cumbersome and never really caught on.

"Most popular of all wartime Scammells was the 6 X 4 'Pioneer' type supplied in various forms. A small fleet of Model R100 heavy artillery tractors was used by Dorking, Surrey. caterers Tom Benson & Sons for a number of years. The example shown here was one of the first acquired in 1950"

The caption accompanying this photograph says, "Scammell's first 4 X 4 model, a prototype gun tractor for the Admiralty, was delivered in March 1939. After the war it passed to Messrs Rose Bros. of Hounnslow, Middx, now trading as Rose's Pleasure Parks Ltd. It was completely rebuilt by Reall Coachbuilders Ltd. Slough, Bucks. the Scammell petrol engine being replaced by a 6LW Gardner 'oiler'. Other alterations including a coachbuilt cab and body and a rear end crane for lifting the Skid centre. In 1970 the bicycle- type front wings (or cycle wings) were replaced by box-type units as shown and the whole vehicle given a repaint. Source for this and the following post; "Fairground and Circus Transport" Edited by Bart H.Vanderveen and published by Roundoak in 1973.

It certainly looks like one. I'm only kidding about the towing. I think it's probably just the uneven ground that makes it appear that way.

Very nice too ! I like the name and is that an Imp on suspended tow ?

Not if they were having to leave a loving home. Thank you for posting. There's plenty of GMC fans on here.... many of whom it seems you already know.

If you like, you could start a thread in the section on the link below. Just click on the "New Thread" button and post your 'photos and captions. Looking forward to seeing pix of your GMC. Cheers. http://www.hmvf.co.uk/forumvb/forumdisplay.php?f=21

Welcome to the forum Energumen ! What's that you're driving in your avatar ?

I'm sure someone more familiar with the Explorer than me will be able to advise better but Woolies have quite a range of period rubber extrusions. Or just put on another jumper...that works for me in my Land Rover. http://www.woolies-trim.co.uk/c-322-extrusion.aspx

If it's the same type as fitted to the AEC Militant MK 1, on the very top, on the round knob that you turn to open the valve will be stamped.... Valve Pressured FV159964.

Do you mean this one Snapper ? 1/35 scale, weighs 3lb and only 165 quid. http://www.frontiermodels.co.uk/Montgomerys-Caravan-Leyland-Retriever-p-17873.html

Looking good, Simon. Thank you for starting this thread. The two rivets may have held simple looped brackets though which the wiring cable to the rear lights would have passed. The brackets are at the same sort of spacing in this picture as are the rivets on your mudguard. The small painted around area maybe what I call a dead herring.

I was planning to suggest to Bob that he might like to consider using one of these regulators. All of the brass fittings that would allow a copper tube system to be built for delivering air pressure to the wipers can be bought in any/most marine chandlers. It's now, thanks to the Euro Weasels, illegal for caravan accessory shops to sell this stuff. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRASS-AIR-REGULATOR-AIR-TOOLS-SPRAY-GUNS_W0QQitemZ350105726775QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Air_Tools_and_Compressors?hash=item350105726775&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318 http://www.imperialinc.com/items.asp?item=0911090

On seeing this Pioneer gun tractor looking a little neglected I politely asked if it might be for sale. The owner didn't answer with a yes, or no, but with a condescending sneer. I took that to be a no.

OK, thanks.

Welcome to the forum Robert. Thank you for posting this charming photograph.

Thor, what was the background to this find ? It looks as though they had come straight from Ruddington and were then parked at the bottom of someone's garden. Did they have any sort of life in commercial recovery after leaving the military ?

Some really superb photographs ! Thank you very much for posting them. I can remember seeing three or four Explorers, all in a very poor state, at the Severn Beach Recovery yard. There was also a DT and a very original Pioneer gun tractor that I've also seen at the Berkley Castle shows. Some years ago, at about 3am one morning, I rolled an ERF on the M4 after first going through the central reservation and Severn Beach did the recovery but, disappointingly, not with a Scammell. What a let down.:-(

I think you make your point very well.

Welcome to the forum. That's quite an impressive list ! A great way to spend one's spare time.

Thank you for your reply. As shaft BB is dedicated to powering the winch, and has no other purpose, some people might consider it to be part of the winch. I mean, if I had one of these winches for sale and you came along to buy it, I think you might be surprised if I didn't include this shaft BB in the sale on the grounds that it was not "technically" part of the winch.

I may be able to post a 'photo of this Pioneer in a few days time.