Great War truck Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Coventry Transport Museum are restoring a 1916 Maudslay chassis as a WD GS lorry. They have a restoration blog here: http://friendsofctm.blogspot.com/p/maudslay-project.html I understand that it was very complete and original and they intended to restore it as a bus. The change of plan is to restore it as an army lorry for 2014 and then if funding allows they will convert it into a bus at a later date. In this unique occasion i do hope that the funding will run out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G506 Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Tim, I couldn't agree more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Degsy Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 I feel the same Tim. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charawacky Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 The rear axle looks very mechanically interesting, with extensive use of aluminium and in remarkably good condition. It would be nice to know the history of this vehicle. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redherring Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I wrote to these people with no response. Interesting project. Alas too far away from here to visit. Love to see a before pic. Does anyone live close by? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Peskett Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 I am involved in an advisory capacity to the Coventry Museum of Road Transport for this project, so rest assured it will turn out fine and they are making a good job of it. The lorry was on a farm in east Scotland near Dundee for many years with a living van body fitted but surviving almost complete mechanicaly, although completely worn out. I believe it finished its working life with a travelling fun fair. In the early 1970s it was acquired by a local collector who started the restoration. About 12 years ago it was acquired by the Coventry museum being of local manufacture it was considered to be of great importance to their collection. The Covenrty Corporation Tramways started a feeder service to the tramway network in 1919/20 using war surplus Maudslays, mostly then bodied as single deckers by Hickman of Balham, London. To reconstruct a bus body today is of enormous cost so the decision was taken to restore the vehicle to its WW 1 specification. I will look out a photograph of it when in Scotland in due course. Richard Peskett. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rlangham Posted February 5, 2012 Share Posted February 5, 2012 Very glad to read it will be done as a GS Lorry - i've visited the CTM MANY times from a child onwards and always thought it was a missed opportunity to restore it as a bus rather than a WW1 Lorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Great War truck Posted March 4, 2012 Author Share Posted March 4, 2012 Steve, I and a few friends vixited Coventry today and had a good look over the Maudslay. It is going to be a great looking WD lorry when it is finished and they are completing it at a good pace. The steel in the chassis has no real evidence of being out in the weather for protracted period and looked very good. The engine looks odd. Almost spindly: problems with this half shaft though: I have never seen anything quite like that before. The diff has all been rebuilt On round spoked wheels which is unusual: The gearbox case looks lovely As are the gears: With perhaps a couple of exceptions: Lid even had the date of casting in it: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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