Retriever
 

Work on rebuilding the cab has now started this would be about 1999 nothing can be saved except the scuttle and the seat boxes, everything else is new using the remains as patterns

Retriever
 

A move to a new workshop built by the combine constructional might of the OCMPG causes a slight hiatus but then steady progress is made.
My son David working on the frame

Retriever
 

Engine in place and new cab frame work fabricated first coat of undercoat G3 is on.

about 2004

Front scuttle on and the cab complete apart from floor boards autumn 2005.

And so it goes on. !!!

Pete

:dh:

Pete
Looking forward to the day your Retriever is out on the road are you intending to fit a GS body or something a bit more dramatic, its looking good at this stage
Les

Rear body
 

Thanks Les

This restoration is something of a labour of love and has no real end date. As to whether I ever put the truck on the road is always a subject of debate in the OCMPG, there are those who say I should and those who say I should only if they are in front !!.
The truth is the roads are very congested here in the south of England with an average traffic speed of around 60mph on most roads outside of built up areas it means the Retriever at around 25mph would be a bit of a traffic hazard. I may well just love it and pat it and perhaps take it to the odd show on a transporter.

The sad truth is most MV enthusiasts wouldn't know what it was if it ran over them, it's not a jeep or Land Rover and isn't a GMC or tank so not much interest I fear, the public care even less, unless they were behind me in which case they gladly try to run me off the road and have me prosecuted for holding up the traffic.

Rant over,

Now, as to the body, I'm going to build a mobile workshop (machinery Mk3) from scratch I had the luck to measure and photograph one and made a set of constructional drawings that I can work from.
That is unless someone has one lying around that they don’t want ??

Pete

I'd certainly love to see it at an MV show like Kemble, beats the hell out of a GMC, Dodge, Jeep or Landy any day!

Yes i will second that, when something different or unusual turns up at a rally it will most certainly cause a lot of interest. I dont think one will ever change the Landrover, Jeep, GMC brigades attitudes but each to there own remember when those two Albion FT15N gun tractors appeared at Beltring what a sensation they caused. Pete you say a MK3 machinery what type would that be and its original purpose i might have some info that will help
cheers
Les

Retriever mobile workshop
 

Here is a Retriever mobile workshop. The body would appear not to be original. I know the location of the photo as I took it and also am sure I know the present location of this lorry. It would be interesting to hear comments on it. there is bound to be someone here who will recognise it!

For interest to Pete, the chassis number was WLW 1/308739 and engine number 74253. All the lovely brass plates were in the cab, inc. the large lubrication chart.

Machinery Body No4 Mk111
 

Les

This is the body I intend to fit IWM photo 1641/DC1

the body came as a standard design and then was classified depending on the type of machines it was fitted out with the picture shows a type 'M' for general engineering duties

Pete

Re: Retriever mobile workshop
 

Richard

the body looks like a home grown version I'm guessing it in Aus ?

That’s amazing the truck in your picture is 153 units after mine on the same contract ! Contract No 294/V/3929

My frame No is 308586 it was part of a total order for 1215 trucks mine was part of a batch of 500 search light trucks 4409889 to 4410388
The one in your photo was part of 374 machinery trucks 4410454 to 4410827

Small world isn't it !

Pete

One more
 

This is a nice early war picture of a pre war Retriever I came by.

note early reg number in the 41 series and the cardboard black out masks on the head lights.

The picture is on a post card and there are no other details, I wonder where it was taken and what became of the proud young man beside the truck.
Pete

Re: Re: Retriever mobile workshop
 

Hi Pete,

Small world indeed and there is more..........

The photo was taken in 1997 at an auction of museum exhibits in Newcastle, NSW. The workshop body I was told, was originally from an Australian Blitz 3 tonner, there was a Royal Navy serial number painted on the front of the cab, it may have been copied from original, we will never know.

After a Beltring show, several years ago, where I was looking after a friends Austin K6 Breakdown Gantry, a chap from the West of England, phoned me to see if I knew of a similar Gantry body to fit his............Retriever! I commented on how there were very few around and related about the one I saw in Australia, a few years before. He told me that it had been brought back to England and was being restored in Norfolk. Now....is that a small world, or what?

Richard

Don't recall seeing this one yet. A Crossley.
Bill

A couple more. Albions supposedly 31 and 33 year models.
Bill

And the other.

Re: Re: Re: Retriever mobile workshop
 

Richard it gets smaller still The bloke who phoned you is called Steve Ponting I know him well and the Retriever in your photo is owned by Peter Sayer and I know him as well.

So there we go.......... all linked
:eek:

Pete

Hi Bill
The photo of the Cossley forms part of a RAF field photographic unit, some where i have a view of one with the trailer and will locate it for the thread. It is a model IGL 3ton

Yes, Les, it is that model. I forgot to post the info.
I am not sure of the Albions except that is what they are.

They are photos I downloaded some time ago and I believe are on test in New Zealand.
Bill

Calling Les
 

Les I'd gladly receive any information you may have

Pete

Does anyone know if the ex-Australian Retriever mentioned in this thread ever got restored with the correct body?

And if it did, can we have the Workshop body back now, please?

Retriever
 

Photos of a Retriever and MCC CDF are in the latest issue of ROADSCENE magazine issue 99. Going monthly from issue 100!

Luftwaffe Crossley (IGL8 ?)
 

This image is on ebay.de at the moment.

http://img46.imageshack.us/img46/5724/205e1hg1.th.jpg

Time to have another look at this thread methinks so a mixture of 3 ton 6x4 trucks
A leyland Retriever with Coles crane, im not sure about this but it could be ex military note the modified cab roof. A Crossley IGL gantry recovery,Thornycroft Tarter house type workshop and i believe this restored Crossley is still on the rally scene in the UK, i suspect the body is from a Austin K6 at one time but she still looks the part and a rare vehicle to boot
cheers
Les

I note the ex-Australian example is still being advertised on the MVT newsletter so presumably it is not generating much interest.

If anyone knows it would be interesting to know how far the restoration as progressed.

Another thread revival this one is the Leyland Retriever 3 ton F.B.E

OK funny looking Leyland lets have another go