brianthesnail96 Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Thanks Mike & all for this excellent thread, fascinating photos and stories. I kind of wanted a Matador before, now I really want one. Mike, I'm holding you personally responsible for the financial distress this is likely to cause:drive: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted January 24, 2010 Share Posted January 24, 2010 Do you want to buy my one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Ask me this time next year... yours is a very nice example, just what I'd be looking for- but I'm still a skint student at the moment, s' dependent on me getting a halfway decent graduate job. Want to get one sooner rather than later, before buying houses, settling down and real life in general gets in the way. What is the "going rate" these days for a useable, roadworthy example? Don't want perfection, I'd never use it if it was and could never afford it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younggun Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Ask me this time next year... yours is a very nice example, just what I'd be looking for- but I'm still a skint student at the moment, s' dependent on me getting a halfway decent graduate job. Want to get one sooner rather than later, before buying houses, settling down and real life in general gets in the way. What is the "going rate" these days for a useable, roadworthy example? Don't want perfection, I'd never use it if it was and could never afford it anyway. ahh reminds me of when i was your age , well it was only 2 years ago . now i own an explorer of my own the wanting for the vehical of your choice will only get worse the more time u spend on the forum so i of hope to see u on here alot lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I'd love a big Scammell too- Pioneer, Explorer or Constructor, I'm not fussy:-D But a Matador is the number 1 choice, and it's almost sensible compared... You are only young once after all. Seems a better use of my money than widdling it up the wall like most folks my age seem to, that or on flash cars. And it's probably a safer investment than putting it in the bank, I'm unlikely to lose much should I have to sell it a few years down the line anyway- ignoring running and maintenance costs of course, but that's a small price to pay for the enjoyment factor methinks. Rambling now, s' bedtime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
younggun Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I'd love a big Scammell too- Pioneer, Explorer or Constructor, I'm not fussy:-D But a Matador is the number 1 choice, and it's almost sensible compared... You are only young once after all. Seems a better use of my money than widdling it up the wall like most folks my age seem to, that or on flash cars. And it's probably a safer investment than putting it in the bank, I'm unlikely to lose much should I have to sell it a few years down the line anyway- ignoring running and maintenance costs of course, but that's a small price to pay for the enjoyment factor methinks. Rambling now, s' bedtime! ramble on all u like mate nice to meet some one of my age group with the the same views and interests personly i cant see y so many kids our age just piss it up the wall on drink . when we can go to shows and have twice the fun and end up in the beer tent anyway ,lol hope to catch u around at some shows maybee if u can drag yourself away from all that uni work nick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Final year now so I'll be escaping soon, going to try and get to a few this summer:-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Batchelor Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 I spent the first year after uni "having a good time" then came to my senses and spent it more wisely. Now got 2 Matadors, 5 series 1 LandRovers and a Brace of Roadless Fordsons. Perhaps a bit OTT but you can't get any return from money invested in beer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davethejeep Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 Hi i bought this matador in the late 80s .It lived in harrow for about six years before i had to sell it.moved to Oxford had no place to put it. This Canvas roofed Mat was lurking in a shed at Skellingthorpe sawmills, when I bought a pole trailer from them.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alan turner (RIP) Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 something from RAWHS in 1951 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aecsouthall Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 0853 461 BTS (Borehamwood Travel Services) used WFX294 on recovery duties. Seen here a few years ago, at a yard in Willesden if I remember correctly. Neil F. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 That's a pretty example- how a bus recovery unit should look in my opinion. I wonder if she is still there... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownoak Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 C r jacksons matador still at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nptimber Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 Douglas simply turned the shaft around. However the rear bearing cap needs modifying to take an oil seal. you can't just swap housings as the rear one incorporates an gearbox mounting point. Some gearboxes had a double ended shaft, with a spline to drive the turner winch at the front, and a flange to take a hardy spicer coupling at the rear. They take some finding but they are out there. I have only ever seen two and I have both of them! I have one in my matador 774 fbd and another for spares the one fitted in the matador drives a short drive shaft with a drum brake on the end Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philb Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 That's a pretty example- how a bus recovery unit should look in my opinion. I wonder if she is still there... It was sold on e-Bay about three years ago for £1200 ( I think ) by a chap near Heathrow. There was no rear bodywork and the crane was loose. I guess someone is looking after it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nptimber Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 C r jacksons matador still at work Jacksons converted this about 20 years ago i sold them the jib and anchor from my scrap matador that came from NP Timber at Kettering ,they sold the same matador to NP 20 years before that .Hows that for a bit of recycling! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownoak Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 605 abm loading elm at chicksands about 1973 driver bernard berrows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nptimber Posted February 14, 2010 Share Posted February 14, 2010 605 abm loading elm at chicksands about 1973 driver bernard berrows Great picture i bought 605abm from NPtimber 23 years ago along with 618ayd for spares i made one motor out of the two this is why CR Jackson ended up with the spare jib .NP also had bcs675 i found this 2 years ago and bought it it now stands next to 605abm once again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maurice Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 2 Matador`s in Oosterbeek Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasshopper Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 0853 461 BTS (Borehamwood Travel Services) used WFX294 on recovery duties. Seen here a few years ago, at a yard in Willesden if I remember correctly. Neil F. Thats the other ex Alder Valley/Aldershot and District Matador. I had the sister vehicle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattyboy Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Don't think you can beat a few colour pictures of matador's working back in the day, these pictures must be from the late 60's or early 70's. As ever always immaculately turned out, this was George Fensom's matador. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antarmike Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Don't think you can beat a few colour pictures of matador's working back in the day, these pictures must be from the late 60's or early 70's. As ever always immaculately turned out, this was George Fensom's matador. The Fensoms have a reputation for immaculately turned out Matadors, but the truth is they had a couple of nice ones for the Walnut Vaneer trade, but they also ran some dogs. People who knew them said that they didn't know how some of them made it back into the yard. George is more normally remembered with his Federal. But Fensoms were using Matadors right up to the Middle 80's. When everone else had started using F86, F88's for timber haulage, Fensoms responded by re-engining several Matadors with bigger engines. These reved no faster, so Fensom's still carried on swapping diffs fbetween laden and unladen jouneys. Time to change diff according to Albert 10 to 15 minutes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brianthesnail96 Posted February 19, 2010 Share Posted February 19, 2010 Even if it's one of the "flagships" and an exception rather than the rule, it's still nice to see a working timber tractor so nicely turned out. Thanks for posting the piccies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robin craig Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I have made mention in another thread but I will post this here as well. In the late 1960s when I was a kid growing up in Sussex we lived between Fletching and Nutley. In the area around Sheffield Park and Splaynes Green there was a Matador often seen working timber. I credit that vehicle with starting my interest with good honest working vehicles. Anyone know who that was and have any pictures? R Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paddy Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Apologies if this link has been posted before. Some nice Matador pictures. Extraordinary site this, lots of WW2 military stuff. http://anonymous-generaltopics.blogspot.com/search/label/Matador Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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