Wanted: Project vehicle ? Preferably tracked

[RichardT10829]

Folks, a pal of mine had a good idea about perhaps creating a small syndicate to get me back on the ladder ? The vehicle would be kept away from home, and thus safer ! And between us we could manage costs to restore and run, more easily.

I know syndicates do have a draw back, but at the minute it's probably my best option.

If anyone has anything for sale please email me with details etc

In a perfect world it would be a carrier, but I / we are open minded.

Would like to stick with ww2 era kit though.

Funds ready and waiting.


Thanks again

Richie

[kevin powles]

Rich, didn't you have a dingo on your vehicle list once ?. You still working on it?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

There are a couple of Weasel projects up for grabs in Norway.....

[RichardT10829]

Cheers Hanno, can they be used on roads ?

[Jim Burrill]

Richard, I think the "official" wartime tracks have some deep track grousers on them. I followed a weasel in my bren carrier at one of the winter battle of the Bulge reenactments here in Pennsylvania, and I was watching him chew up the ice. The same ice that my tracks were spinning on.

They may well be some post war rubber ones that don't use the grousers, but just be aware that the cleated ones are on a lot of them.

[Marc van Aalderen]

Weasel.... poor man's carrier....

[RichardT10829]

True.

The ideal would be a carrier not even snobby enough to ask for Mk 1's only !

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

Cheers Hanno, can they be used on roads ?

Yes, they have rubber pads on their tracks. Tracks are their weakest link though, but newly-made ones are available as well as refurbishment technologies.

[RichardT10829]

Thanks Hanno.

Will have a look see. I really really really miss my carrier. It's new owner has had it to numerous shows since buying it....keeps sending me pics of it which is great but stings at the same time.

I am happy that it went to a good home though.

[eddy8men]

wait for a carrier to come along, it won't be too long before one comes up

[ozm29c]

Richie,
For interest, here are links to the two weasel aftermarket track manufacturers.
https://www.facebook.com/LibertyAutoRestoration/
http://www.staman.nl/
If you were to decide to restore a weasel and fit Staman tracks, could I suggest that you ring Tony at Axholm signs and gauge his opinion on both owning a weasel and the rubber track system. I don't think Liberty are making their tracks nowadays, but if they were, you would need to take a second mortgage out on your house to pay for them and the shipping from the USA to UK. As an example, back in 2013 my LAR tracks cost $9500USD plus shipping. Good luck with your final vehicle choice although as an added incentive, weasels do float if you are nautically inclined . Just out of interest, will a carrier float without added buoyancy?
Cheers
John W.

[horsa]

You can re-band your existing grousers and then essentially have new tracks for approximately $1500-$2000US plus your own sweat equity. I know because I rebuilt the pair on our M29C Weasel right after I finished the work on my T-16.

With a good engine, it will fly over rough ground without beating you to death like a jeep would do. Gives the smooth sensation of being in a boat. Very fun to drive but its not the same as armor.

They are referenced in some wartime British regimental war diaries as continuous tracked carriers and are one of something like 28 patterns of "universal carriers" that were in British service. They were even used in the Netherlands by some of the tank units so vehicle commanders could be gathered for briefings since conditions often made it difficult for them to go in their tanks.

[horsa]

Three short video clips showing my father driving the Weasel after the track rebuild. He's pretty big at roughly 240lbs and over 65 years of age when this was shot.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTSLWEdTIfU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9RhHaAHzqQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHGpt4XRubM

[Lynn Eades]

Richard, My advice is to go with Ricks advice. You said that a carrier is what you want.
If it must be joint owned go with a 51% share holding.

[RichardT10829]

Thanks folks, I still need to hash out the terms of the syndicate with my pal, it's not something I have done before.

[Lynn Eades]

Hi Richard, I'd have trouble with the joint ownership.
I'd like to see you get one of your own (if it's at all possible, with the blessing of your partner)

[RichardT10829]

would love one on my own, but it couldn't live at home, and what I could afford on my own plus shipping at the minute is on the meagre side.

[horsa]

Ease back into the restoration world with a jeep. That way you can take the wife for a Sunday drive with it and get her to go with you to a vehicle rally. Then she'll feel part of the group and you'll be free to expand into other ventures with her blessing. Gotta keep the softer half happy

I take the wife and kids to casual outdoor cars shows with our jeep and it's usually the only OD vehicle in attendance. But the spectators love to see it and the wife enjoys talking with them. Occasionally it pisses off the high-end custom vehicle owners because it draws people away from their expensive trailer queens but that's life.

PS- I agree with Lynn that sharing a project with a friend will never go well.