[David_Hayward (RIP)]

Start with V3098; this is the HQ 1st Tank Brigade vehicle L384086 (HHX760), contract date 28.1.38 BUT date received 18.1.38 – Experimental Armoured Office Lorry CS11/30F type chassis with w/CS8 front end arrangement fitted with armoured office body. This, if it begat anything, is the forerunner of the fifteen vehicles, of random number sequence from V3068.

Now if we look at V3068 (17.8.37) it is for 99 Morris Chassis type CS9-LAC Morris-Commercial Reconnaissance Armoured Cars at £550.0.0 each 8 to be fitted with armoured office bodies (obviously changed later) These are F3543 to F3641 (HMH898 – HMH996) and on the reverse of the card it says ‘first chassis to be delivered to MEE & fitted with plywood & radiator louvres’ whatever that means.

Now the other picture you sent is shown in one of our photos bearing DMV939 which according to my records, culled from the MEE files, was F1983 described as CS Type chassis for armoured car. This is the one that begat the armoured cars on V3068.

I have two other contract cars; B8974 (8.4.1935 is for ‘experimental armoured car body for fitment to CS8T chassis’ which also went to MEE, It was L34557 (AMP987) AND V2976 (30.7.36) ‘CS8 type truck chassis if latest design fitted with Armoured Reconnaissance Car Body’ which went to MEE in September 1936. No WD or licence number is given for this but I suspect it is F1983.

The Q chassis was something else again. This was for a regular, turreted armoured car as a rival to the Guy/Humber design it has no connection at all with any other Morris type AFV

However there are others; F1682 & F1683 (CMM848 & 849) were unspecified chassis that went to the Royal Ordnance Factory in 1935 to receive hideous turreted bodies to an Army design.

I also have L35793 on my armoured list but no further details.

Unfortunately there are hundreds of Morris contract cards and they really need going through with great care; would that I had the time.

And finally there is a mysterious 6x4 (probably CDSW) that was armoured very professionally, probably by Morris and maybe for export, which Norman Painting sent me two photos of.

Thanks to David Fletcher!