I had the opportunity to view this vehicle in the company of Steve Guest at his yard some years ago. At the time, Steve told me that this Constructor had been rescued from Pound's yards in a very poor state, I think, as a cab and chassis. The original steel "Bedford type" cab was so badly corroded that Steve decided to build a new one into which he incorporated, listen up Gritineye, doors from a Martian gun tractor. From what I understood at the time, everything one can see in the way of cab, rear body and rear mudguards were fabricated by Steve. I don't remember asking Steve if the engine was original, or if he had replaced a petrol Meadows, with a diesel. I may be wrong, and as we all know I often am, but I have always understood that this Constructor had originally been a straight forward 20 ton ballast tractor.
Steve rallied this Constructor for a number of years, I saw it at a HMV show near Southhampton about 12 years ago towing the living van Steve built himself, before he sold it to a friend.
I find at least two points on the owner's description, which I am assuming was displayed on this vehicle when Andy photographed it, a little hard to understand. Firstly, this Constructor is described as a "Heavy Recovery Tractor" that surprises me as I had always thought of the Explorer as undertaking that role. The second detail I find a little odd, is that in relation to other 20 ton ballast tractors, if that is what it was, is that the chassis number 9111 appears to be right out of sequence. Bearing in mind that it is said the original reg. was PGK 887, (is that a MoS number ?) then this Constructor may well have an unusual and interesting history. Until I can learn more about this lorry some things don't quite add up. Maybe Steve Guest, or the present owner, would be kind enough to enlighten us further.