DUKW Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 Hi, Anyone have photos, plans or ideas on type of recovery equipment that was used on a 1948 6X6 Thornycroft? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 have been scratching my head all day on this one only thing I can come up with is the breakdown 3 ton body as fitted to Austin's etc got any pictures of the chassis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 17, 2014 Share Posted November 17, 2014 failing that there was a pre war chassis that was converted to recovery I believe called hathi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MatchFuzee Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I assume that you have tried the Thornycroft Register:- http://www.thornycroft.org.uk/index.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted November 18, 2014 Share Posted November 18, 2014 I'm interested in the 6x6 format you have. Can you supply some photos of the vehicle in question? I would suspect that given the date you have of 1948 it would be ex military design. Thornycroft production tended to be 6x4 as in the Amazon model with Coles cranes attached and mainly for use by the RAF. The Nubian model was a 4x4, again ex military design. However aside from production runs individual trucks for specialst applications were made to order. This has become noticable when looking at export orders ( ie variations on imports seen here). It was all about gaining money. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUKW Posted November 18, 2014 Author Share Posted November 18, 2014 It is of military design as it has the gunners hatch on the cab roof and bar grip tyres on the rear axles. Trying to get a picture up ............. I used this truck 22 years ago to tow a bus off a motorway and it has recently come up for sale. Thinking of buying it but unfortunately the recovery equipment has gone missing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUKW Posted November 19, 2014 Author Share Posted November 19, 2014 The winch is still there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 It is of military design as it has the gunners hatch on the cab roof and bar grip tyres on the rear axles.Trying to get a picture up ............. I used this truck 22 years ago to tow a bus off a motorway and it has recently come up for sale. Thinking of buying it but unfortunately the recovery equipment has gone missing. That is not a 6x6, this is what was confusing us! It is a Thornycroft Big Ben 6x4, used in the army as 10 ton cargo trucks or artic tractors. There were not any army recovery versions but have seen a few converted in their civvy use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) Thornycroft Big Ben as Richard wrote but other than a prototype I have never seen a 6x6 version. A few were converted to recovery by L W Vass. Edited November 19, 2014 by radiomike7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeePig Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Would the 1948 date be the build date or the date it was first registered for civilian use after being sold off from the military? trevor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Would the 1948 date be the build date or the date it was first registered for civilian use after being sold off from the military? trevor Trevor, The Big Ben came into service at the beginning of the 1950's, it was not a wartime vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) I don't think they built as early a 48 I don't know but would suggest around mid 50 to late 50s the one I had came out of ruddington 81. very heavy rugged built chassis. simple design. Huge petrol engine but enough room to fit desiel in eg Leyland 680 etc I put a Scania in mine. The dealer who I bought it off said he still had an agent in india who were refurbing the for the indian army. Paid £650 for it with cracked block and recon engine in crate. Edited November 19, 2014 by cosrec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 Oh a word of warning if you do buy the two engine side panels inside the cab where lagged with blue asbestos 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wally dugan Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 the THORNYCROFT {BIG BEN } came into service in the early 1950s definitely by 1953/4 there were two types fv11402 the cargo version and the fv11401 tractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 (edited) The Big Ben name was also used for a 'lightweight Antar' IIRC and which was offered as a 6x6 for oilfield use. http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p505443443/h27566c0f#h27566c0f Edited November 19, 2014 by radiomike7 Found a photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 every day a school day first time I have seen baby antar labelled as big ben certainly has big ben type rear bogie fitted dual wheels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nz2 Posted November 19, 2014 Share Posted November 19, 2014 The 6x6 format was used by Thornycroft during the 1960's and 70's as airfield crash fire appliances. This was also called a Nubian. A specialist role than continued to the end of Thornycroft production in 1976. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DUKW Posted November 28, 2014 Author Share Posted November 28, 2014 Guys Thank you all for the information. I have yet to go have a look at it and determine exactly what it is. It has been for sale for almost a year but at 4,000 euros, I don't think its going anywhere soon. Was going to offer 1K. ?? Would a general cargo version have a winch fitted behind the cab? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gritineye Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 The Big Ben name was also used for a 'lightweight Antar' IIRC and which was offered as a 6x6 for oilfield use. http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p505443443/h27566c0f#h27566c0f Was tempted but intimidated by one of those at Aston Down 1995, it sold way too cheap! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosrec Posted November 28, 2014 Share Posted November 28, 2014 Hi sure winch is civilian mod. Hard to say from picture but guess Garwood. The PTO arrangement on them was a good set up for winching. The main gearbox was 4 speed + reverse unitary construction on the rear of gearbox was another gearstick with high low and PTO on it. so you could have 4 speed + reverse on PTO shaft. £1000 would be a good price if you could buy for that. As it stands I guess 8.5 tons @ £180 scrap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigada Posted December 22, 2014 Share Posted December 22, 2014 Hi,Anyone have photos, plans or ideas on type of recovery equipment that was used on a 1948 6X6 Thornycroft? hi maybe able to help you here.That photo of the thornycroft you posted is if im not mistaken the remains of the one my dad built and drove in birmingham as a recovery vehicle for many years.it was sold to a garage in ireland years ago.if youre intrested i still have loads of photos of it with its recovery gear.paperwork about it.It stood out as it has the yellow/red bumper.feel free to contact me love that old truck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mammoth Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 In addition to the 6x4 Big Ben Thornycroft also produced a Big Ben crane carrier chassis, typically with a Jones electric crane. I thought from 1949. It carried a transfer gearbox behind the main 5 speed box. The PTO came out the top of the transfer case to drive the crane and which would also be handy to drive a winch. A friend this side of the water is desperate to source one of these transfer gearboxes. The 11 litre petrol Big Ben mentioned also had the transfer case, but without the PTO internals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 24, 2014 Share Posted December 24, 2014 The PTO came out the top of the transfer case to drive the crane and which would also be handy to drive a winch. Do you mean the PTO drove a dynamo for the electric crane rather like the wartime EMA? While on the subject of Big Ben cranes, here is a prototype on the 'lightweight Antar' chassis: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boley Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Hi All I purchased this Thornycroft about 4 months ago and have been enjoying the restoration so far. A big thanks to Cosrec for the warning about the asbestos, I would never have thought of it. If anyone has any information on the vehicle I would love to learn the history of it. I also have acquired parts lists, drivers handbook and wiring manuals which I will gladly pass on if any use to anyone. Thanks Aidan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phliponeau Posted March 7, 2020 Share Posted March 7, 2020 Hi, here in France I am working at a book about vintage toys and the real vehicles that inspired them. I would be very glad to incorporate the photo of the Big Ben Crane on Antar chassis. Can I do that, crediting HMVF of course ? Thank you for your reply. Best regards Pierre Phliponeau pierre.phliponeau@gmail.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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