madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Well folks its been a year or so since I sold on the Pioneer, Stolly and Tatra projects, I found myself with a limited budget and a yearning for something big and Scammell shaped! Realising that my budget wouldn't stretch to anything other than a basket-case Scammell (Been there - done that!) I had a little look about for something else.... it was at this point that a rather lovely Leyland Martian Artillery Tractor came up on Milweb. :nut: The owner wanted to tow it to the scrap yard to cash in on its bulk but a friend of his had put it on Milweb hoping it could be saved, fearing the worst we put together a crack team (Possibly on crack) to drive from far flung corners of the UK to save the old girl. A price was negotiated and agreed on the basis that she would run. A wide selection of imperial hammers, petrol, cable and batteries were assembled and the 400 mile drive begun at 3am one Sunday morning. Team backfire convened at an amazing storage yard deep in the Berkshire countryside, Andy's fantasy barn has already been completed and the Leyland was in very good company with a number of Scammells plus various other interesting friends! :cool2: Tea was served :coffee: and then we set to work, first job was some temp wiring to the electric fuel pump, a fresh 20L can of Scotlands finest 95 octane was hooked up and the carb was feb. Spinning her over for the first time we got nothing, checked the king-lead and no spark. Another temp wire was run to the coil, this time a spark of sorts was observed! Tried to fire her up but we were only getting a spark once every second Tuesday. Luckily in the truck was a Shiny new Dizzy so we decided to change the top half on the basis that the dizzy cap looked almost as old as Gritineye That didn't make much difference so we decided to change out the dizzy base as well as it had new points and condenser, that didn't make much difference either. At this point we brought out the multimeter and observed the need for sandpaper and an application of Gritineye, he was so excited by his input that he decided to leave out the rotor arm! With the rotor arm back in we got her coughing and spluttering into life, the oil and air pressures came up and a wad of cash and a handshake was exchanged :-D Andy had taken up residence in the cab and was getting quote aroused by the exhaust note, whilst giving her some beans the old girl decided to perform what can old be described and an EPIC BACKFIRE! Such was the power of this explosion a man chopping wood nearly lost his hand, and some of the audience who had gathered had to go away and change their underwear :blush: this backfire completely destroyed an undersized exhaust box which had been fitted, she sounded much nice afterwards :cool2: We tried in vain to unstick her clutch using one of two Scammell Constructor's that happened to be lying around, but there just wasn't enough room to free her off. That can wait until she is back up the road. So there ended a long and exciting day, Mr Constructor helped her back into the bar to await collection. The drive home was uneventful until the last 5 miles when we hit a deer in the car :shocked: then got into a small police "chase" getting pulled over on our own driveway by bored cops wanting to know what we were doing at 3am, then the next day an unconnected speeding fine! Yikes! Massive thanks to Andy and Gritineye for coming along to make sure I didn't back out!! Thanks Lads!! A few images on the truck in past and present condition: She was so hungry she tried to eat Andy before we could get her a drink of petrol :-D Mrs Madrat and MiniMadrat! posing for a picture Taken in 1996 I believe, she is still in very nice condition! And at the end of a long day she goes back inside to rest up! Something went wrong... Edited February 21, 2012 by madrat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Saw this and thought you might want to get one of these mate ! Thanks for a cracking day ! :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Mad, completly barmy, more barking than Battersea dogs home, the bricks concrete, even the planning permission short of wall!! So ! Can I have a go? :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 So ! Can I have a go? :-D Absolutely!! Space for about 11 people in there! The more the merrier :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Glad we persuaded you to buy it, mostly because if you hadn't I would have had to! Love proper days out days like that, thanks for the excuse.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 Saw this and thought you might want to get one of these mate ! Thanks for a cracking day ! :-D No worries mate, you did make an outstanding contribution! I think having not slept for 30 hours it was a good thing you boys were around! Yeah, get me one of those Volvo's and save the ozone layer...:angel: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Absolutely!! Space for about 11 people in there! The more the merrier :cool2: Hold you to that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony B Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Wasn't there a twin engined half or 3/4 track version of the Martian? An experimental tool, but may have been earlier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ford 369 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 lovely bit of kit ,makes the mark 4 zodiac in the shed look like a kids toy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'd love to see any pictures anyone hunts down that aren't in the Leyland Pictures gallery, this thing made the Scammell Constructor look small, even made me look like a short a$$ :cool2: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 (edited) Gentlemen, a shocking video has come to light, this may explain how the EPIC BACKFIRE was initiated Subtitles have been added for the hard of hearing... Click on the link unless someone can tell me how to embed photobucket videos? Edited February 21, 2012 by madrat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scammell4199 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 nice work. do you per chance own an oil well or two from which to feed the beast? Looking forward to seeing progress, Richard Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 nice work. do you per chance own an oil well or two from which to feed the beast? Looking forward to seeing progress, Richard I am currently in talks with Iran which I understand has a surplus right now.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 has it been white in its past mate ? used to be one up here years ago .............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 21, 2012 Author Share Posted February 21, 2012 has it been white in its past mate ? used to be one up here years ago .............. I think its been white for the last 15 years at least and possibly longer, any info on its history would be greatly appreciated! I've never seen another white one so I think its likely to be the same truck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I think its been white for the last 15 years at least and possibly longer, any info on its history would be greatly appreciated! I've never seen another white one so I think its likely to be the same truck? i remember seeing a white one in bad snow years ago (about 1981) i think it was Dutton forshaws (local garage) they were an austin rover /BL dealership................ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff998 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 willy it was blue and white used to be at dutton forshaw on vicerage lane, it was there when i woked there in 1980 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willyslancs Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 thought so mate , i went to st georges Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeff998 Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 so did i lol do i know you ? left in 1978 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N.O.S. Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 Gentlemen, a shocking video has come to light, this may explain how the EPIC BACKFIRE was initiated Subtitles have been added for the hard of hearing... .. I'm pretty certain 'Nah' wasn't exactly what Bernard said....... :whistle: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyFowler Posted February 21, 2012 Share Posted February 21, 2012 I'm pretty certain 'Nah' wasn't exactly what Bernard said....... :whistle: In my defence I was only trying to gently encourage a full set of eight cylinders to play in tune your honour ! Certain outside influences :-X did seem more interested in producing a good bang movie if you'll pardon the expression ! :-D I was impressed with the Martians fuel economy though ! Approximately 3 gallons of petrol to run at idle for 3 minutes and then run back and forth about 200 yds in total !:wow: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 They do have a healthy appetite for fuel. I ran mine once when I had the choke disconnected, and unfortunately was set fully on at the carb, 5 galls juice gone in about 5 to 10 minutes! They do sound very nice running, tho' maybe with an intact exhaust system it would be a bit muted. Simon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I was impressed with the Martians fuel economy though ! Approximately 3 gallons of petrol to run at idle for 3 minutes and then run back and forth about 200 yds in total !:wow: I make that about 26 gallons to the mile :clap:worth every penny in my opinion! Simon, I was checking out your blog last night, impressive stuff mate!! I think I'll need to pick your brains at some point.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvinthemartian Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 That wont take long, there's not much left :nut:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madrat Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 That wont take long, there's not much left :nut:. :rotfl:Haha, I feel like that sometimes!! So how many FV1103's do you think are left? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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