Hydraulic driven carrier?
 

Hello,

The company i work for used to be part of the lucas group. Talking to one of the old chaps today about my new project, and he told me they had a bren gun carrier at the old works. Lucas used to do alot of development work and had a department "z" and this carrier was in there. The carrier had been converted to hydraulic drive, two hydaulic motors had replaced the back axle. He enquired what it was and he was promptly taken out in it. It still had its V8 engine. He said the cornering was really smooth and it could go from forward to reverse with a fick of a switch. This was in the early sixties, he was told it was a bren gun carrier but not sure which one.

Has anyone ever come across one?

Thanks

John

Hi John,
the Carrier was probably just used as a testbed to test the principle. I know of another later type of Carrier which had a conversion to hydraulic steering and that was done at FVRDE Chertsey I think. Vehicle was well outdated but adaptable to suit their purpose.

cheers Richard

Richard,

In 2009 you directed me to Banisters looking for Saracen bits and in a shed out the back was this one.
Attachment 65499

I can't remember exactly what it was but it might have been a CT20 Oxford. Converted to hydraulics it has two hydraulic motors driven by the Cadillac V8 powered pump. I have no idea when it was built or converted but was very complete and the only one ever converted to hydraulic drive.

It was a great example to buy and restore but at that time was not for sale. I did try.

Regards Rick.

There it is!!
 

Hello Rick,

Thanks for that :thup2:, will show the picture to my friend and see if it rings any bells,

John

Hi Rick,
That was the vehicle I was referring to. This is in the private collection as I understand.