Ian43 Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Hello All, I would like to know more about this type of Matador shown in the photo. Pat Ware's book 'Tugs of War' describes this as a 'Matador prototype with flat bed body, 1937/38. Steve Richards' description in his book 'Taking the rough with the smooth' is 'A post-war platform Matador. Until their acceptance by the RAF, vehicles carried their FVRDE registration, in this case RGX 309.' My feeling is that the latter is more accurate but can anyone give any more details? Thanks in advance. Ian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ivor Ramsden Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 I'd say that the big reflectors and the RGX registration put this firmly in the 50s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted December 14, 2014 Share Posted December 14, 2014 Afraid once again Pat Ware is Dreaming and Steve Richards has made an assumption RGX was one of the registration blocks used by Ministry vehicles on experimental and research establishments, RGX 309 was one of a pair which were purpose built for the Ministry of Supply to use on the test ranges at PENDINE in the early 1950s. The statement saying" until acceptance by the RAF" is not accurate- Raf vehicles being subject to research test conditions would normally bear an RAF Reg or manufacturers trade plates; There were occassions when Ministry vehicles swapped their civillian plates for military or vice versa; such as when Establishments on re-organisations of government depts, moved from Ministry to direct military control or vice versa, TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RAFMT Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 The vehicle itself is nothing special, the RAF used lots of them. It's exactly what it seems, a Matador chassis with a flat bed, it could be used to carry outsized load that wouldn't fit in a standard GS body. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Hi Ian, hope this finds you well in the sunny south; Yes & No the chassis cab are no different but, The flatbed is slightly higher and a lot shorter that the RAF ( both early & late pattern flatbeds ) ones, It has a spare wheel with handling derick behind the cab and much beefier towing attachments at the rear; An interesting subject for model makers; I am told it was finished in gloss deep bronze green gloss. regards TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 For comparison: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Ted, is it also a slightly shorter wheelbase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 (edited) Sean don't believe so, I have never unearthed anything to suggest changes to wheelbases. I think its an illusion created because the flatbed ends at the rear short of the rear crossmember, whereas on the gun tractor RAF GS and later RAF flatbeds they all overhung. Also the rear mudguard appears to be a slightly larger radius and is mounted higher as is the actual bed . TED Edited December 15, 2014 by ted angus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Yes, it may be that the reduced overhang and higher bed change the proportions as you say. I fancied it was a bit shorter from comparison with Mike's photo and what's in my head, but the different angle probably doesn't help either. Nice looking truck, I like that short pugnacious look. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RattlesnakeBob Posted December 15, 2014 Share Posted December 15, 2014 Nice looking truck, I like that short pugnacious look. Yes I agree she looks a proper bruiser ...a very purposeful looking truck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 (edited) According to John Harrington RGX309 was chassis no 10761 and ended up as 52EP40 in 1965. Edited December 16, 2014 by radiomike7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 According to John Harrington RGX509 was chassis no 10761 and ended up as 52EP40 in 1965. That is a classic example of movement from Ministry to military control as I mentioned in message 3 of this thread Mike you stay away from the Christmas sherry for a few more days Its RGX 309 LOL Maybe I should take my own advice - I have that rereg info but didn't hook crook & look as our instructors used to say ! the twin was RGX 308 and became 52EP39 I will contact John and see if he has a build date for the chassis Regards TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
radiomike7 Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Thanks Ted, corrected. It was actually 15 year old Glenfiddich..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ploughman Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Would the shorter overhang be due to it being winch fitted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sean N Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Many Matadors with the standard bodies were also winch fitted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ted angus Posted December 16, 2014 Share Posted December 16, 2014 Would the shorter overhang be due to it being winch fitted? That is a headscratcher ! the original batch of RAF platform tractors had no overhang, and the vast majority of matadors built had a winch ?/ TED Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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