CaptMax

Yes Thank-you for posting these photographs Tootles. As a new ferret owner I enjoy seeing every picture of them I can.

Hopefully I will see the new one of you when your reunited with your old tank. Good luck.

CaptMax

I just realized I had not posted the history of my ferret. I acquired the information from the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset UK. Here are the papers. And "Thank-you" for the warm welcome joeferret, I appreciate it.

CaptMax

To my Canadian friends Robin & Nick, "Thank-you" for the compliments, it is reassuring and helps keep me motivated. This includes "Toner" & "Obitwo" as well, "Thank-you". This project is going well but is slow due to my current work schedule. I have sourced a few more items and will be posting some more pictures soon. I now have both battery boxes completed and two new "big" Interstate batteries installed. When I finally get a Larkspur or Clansman radio installed I should have no problem powering it. The plan is to have this completed by springtime if all goes well. I will soon be pulling the power pack to detail and repaint, as well as sandblast the hull and all the cargo boxes. Another friend gave me 10 gallons of the good old "red lead" primer so that will be my base coat for the paint. Would anyone happen to have a picture of the camouflage paint job they used in the Falkland Invasion of 1982?

CaptMax

I will post more pictures as I get time but today is just too nice outside to be working in the shop.

Next week I will try and get the Browning mount restored as well as a few more interior items.

CaptMax

Found a few more accessories "Thanks to a couple friends". First aid box is complete, even have an AFV crewman helmet to go with the coveralls.

Turret weighs about a half ton, will be restoring the Browning mount next with pictures to follow.

CaptMax

Some small parts of both before and after.

CaptMax

More pictures of parts and extra parts.

CaptMax

Some "before" pictures of the engine compartment.

CaptMax

Had to get all the hatches working as they were really tight, it took both hands and your feet to get them open before.

It was running earlier but am getting ready to change the oil (3.5gals), install new plugs, filters, and a then a whole lot more to do.

CaptMax

This is the restoration of my first military vehicle, a Daimler Ferret 01DA04. In early June of 2014 a friend found this Ferret at "General Jim's", an army surplus store in Clare Michigan. He sent me some pictures and told me what they were asking for it. I went the following week and looked it over myself after doing some research on them. I then sent a good friend of mine "Gunner" to look it over as he had owned two of them in the past and is very knowlegable on armored vehicles. Gunner convinced me that it was a "smoking deal" and that I should buy it. This is when I seriously started researching the internet to learn all I could about them.

On July 1st, 2014 I contacted the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset UK and inquired about the Ferrets history. After providing them with the British number assigned to the Ferret "DA 01 04" and along with a small fee they were able to send me the complete history of the vehicle. I am the second "civilian" owner since it was sold by the British government. It was found to be in the 10th Hussars, the Royal Grey Scots, as well as the notable Royal Green Jackets. This Ferret has some great history compared to most, even having been in the Falkland war of 1982.

In early July I spoke with the stores owner about the price and terms he could offer me, we struck a deal and shook hands on it. I started selling several items from my military collection as I did not want to borrow money to purchase it. Over the next two months I would pay an occasional trip to General Jim's and put money down on the Ferret. Eventually on July 31st, 2014 it was mine.

I had been making a list of items I needed, mostly maintenance items like batteries, plugs, oil, antifreeze, filters ect. The Ferret was about 95% complete when purchased including the rare flare launchers and the sand channels. Several of the items like the spark plugs could only be located in the UK and as such the shipping was a killer. After gathering parts I am ready to begin the work needed to start the restoration. I had a friend with a rollback wrecker pick up the Ferret and deliver it to Gunners shop 100 miles north of me. Several guys said I took it to the right person which made me feel better, but I did have faith in him regardless. Within two days Gunner called to say the turret was off and he had begun working on lubricating all the latches, hatches, and brackets as they were pretty stiff due to not being used in several years.

In less than a week Gunner called to tell me he had started the Ferret!!! Now when I purchased this the seller informed me that it did run but that it had been 7 years since.

I will continue to add to this thread as the project progresses, and will include pictures when possible. If you have questions please ask and I will try and answer them. How lucky I was to find this for my first military vehicle, and originally I was only looking for a jeep to restore.

CaptMax

Skip,

I would start by writing to the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset UK. Stewart there was a great help in locating the military history of mine (01 DA 04). Most of these Ferrets history is recorded and is kept in record which they will provide for a small fee. Good luck in your search.

CaptMax

Michigan, USA

Hitler youth knives are fairly common, every boy had one practically. The plating on the hilt is not to nice and it doesn't look to be double engraved. I would guess a price of about $200 would be fair for both buyer and seller. Nice examples with good plating and nice original paint on the sheaths usually bring about $300-$325.

CaptMax

Please see the attached translation of your Ferret's Vehicle History Cards - a long and interesting history!

[ATTACH]94677[/ATTACH]

Peter,

"Thank-you". I am indebted to you for deciphering this for me. I will print this off and keep it with the vehicle for future generations. I fully intend on restoring this to it's former glory as time and money permits. I can not tell you how much I appreciate your time, expertise, and help. Rest assured it will not be forgotten and "Thank-you" again.

Respectfully, CaptMax

.

Welcome CaptMax from a fellow Michigander!

 

I'm here if you feel the need to commiserate over the idiosyncrasies of British MV's, or simply need help finding a local exorcist for the ferret...

 

I'm in NW metro Detroit.

 

Christos

Christos, We have met before down at the Knob Creek show. I am a friend of Chris Dunn's and share a table there with him and Walter Neumann. I will be sure and pick your brain a bit about the idiosyncrasies of the FV701, I'm sure I will have many questions. Thank-you again everyone for the welcomes and warnings!

See you in October Christos!

CaptMax

Located in Michigan here and recently purchased 01 DA 04, it's a MK2/3 that is in decent condition but scheduled for a repaint this winter.

CaptMax

From where did you obtain the Ferret in the US ? The DA04 part of its number seems familiar to me as I sent over 50 of these vehicles to North America in the 1990's and early 2000's. I may have a photograph at my yard in the UK.

I found it through a friend in Northern Michigan. It was on consignment at a surplus store, along with a MKI.

CaptMax

Busy old ferret that one! 3 record cards!!

 

Peter H might be able to decode the cards fully for you, although he might be sick of doing them by now, as I know he's done quite a few (many thanks Peter) :-)

 

He's on the forum so should see your cards.

 

I am missing the hull number of your ferret, if you don't mind would it be possible to message me the number, for my record.

 

Cheers

 

Matt

I sure hope Peter will do at least one more, I would really like to keep this information with the vehicle as I intend on restoring it as best I can. I would even offer to reimburse Peter for his time if that would make a difference to him. Matt, I need to remove the data plate to read the hull number but I will get that to you as soon as I am able. I will also post a picture of that as well. In addition, here is a picture of the data plate.Thank-you for all your input.

Respectfully, CaptMax

Richard, First off let me say "Thank-you" for the reply and it is a pleasure meeting you. That is information I did not know. I collect military items because I like them, and because I enjoy the history behind them. I especially like when I can confirm their history. Again "Thank-you" for your help.

Regards, CaptMax

I recently obtained the military history of my MKII Ferret from the Tank Museum in Bovington UK. I need help deciphering everything that isn't obvious. Looks as if it has made its rounds doing a stint in Canada during the 1970's. I can see it was part of the 10th Hussars, as well as t6he Royal Green Jackets. If anyone can shed some light on the rest I would greatly appreciate it. Here is what the museum sent me on it. Thanks for any help you can offer.

CaptMax

I just posted pictures of some of my firearms in my album here on the forum and would like to get others opinions on what they think of them. Living in the USA does have its advantages (sometimes). I only got into military vehicles recently as I purchased a Daimler Ferret. This is going to be another addiction I can tell.

Thank-you and hope you enjoy the pictures.

CaptMax

Looks like a nice Jeep too.

I sure hope you get it back, and the thieves are punished.:mad:

Best of luck, CaptMax

Thank-you for the warm welcome everyone.

Yes I will get you all the pertinent information "Toolman" Matt, as well as send you an email Robin.

I am sure I will be asking lots of questions in the next few months, I will try and use the forum search function before I do.

This is definitely going to be an adventure I am embarking upon, I have big plans for a nice restoration.

Yes the Ferret only came with one sand channel and I was happy to get that. Not sure what happened to the other.

What few items I need are mostly cosmetic and I have located several of them. First order of business is having my mechanic go over everything with me to be sure it is all in operating order. He has owned several of these and knows them in and out. I will start a new thread when I am beginning the restoration and post lots of pictures for all to see.

Regards, CaptMax

This is not a DPM beret but it is one of my favorites. It was liberated from Pt. Salines from an "adviser" during the Grenada invasion. This is known as the "Lizard Camo".

CaptMax

welcome on board.

 

Is that a very faded green or silver?

Grey actually.

Will be restored to the correct colors when I am completed with it.

CaptMax

Hello fellow members,

I just purchased a Daimler MKII Ferret and am starting the restoration on it. Here is a picture as it sits.

Glad to have found this forum as there is lots of information here. Hope I can add to the discussions.

I am located in Michigan USA.

CaptMax