3 ton open cabbed 6x4 trucks

[Les Freathy]

Now here is a intererestig thread, typically British the open cab 3 ton 6x4. Built by a number of manufactures the prospect is almost endless an began before ww2 and though not built PW many served on. If you wish i see no reason why the 30cwt 6x4s cannot be included
To start two pre war Guy FBAX trucks the portee and gantry recovery
Les

[Les Freathy]

2nd

[cliff]

I have always been fasinated by the look of these trucks and in a way when compared to US vehicles of the same period it shows just how backward was the thinking of British designs of the time. Mind you they never learnt their lession judging by some of the Post war car & truck models they produced.

One day I may have enough data (and time) to do a model of one or two of them.

Cheers
Cliff

[Marco C.]

Picture I Are there chains under the loading area

[Les Freathy]

Yes i know whay you mean Cliff, about two steps up from a WW1 cab but i love em. two Leyland retrievers first original WW2 GS and a preserved example with the later windscreen in the UK
Les

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

There will be a photo of one in VINTAGE ROADSCENE next issue I think of an Albion WD131. I will be including Albion and Crossley in the future but VRS 89 has photos of AEC Marshall, Crossley IGL8, Guy FBAX, Thornycroft LE/DC4 and Leyland Cub prototype on WD Trials in North Wales.

[Bill Murray]

And this would be a?????
Could also fit in the Under New Management thread.
Bill

[Pete Ashby]

A Crossley IGL8 what say you David ?

Pete

[Bill Murray]

A few more.
Bill

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

1. The Leyland Retriever L 4144443 has the contract number on it which is unusual..V.3350?? However the Census List says that it is one of a batch L 4144434 to 4144683 to V.3740, 'Lorry 3-ton 6 x 4 Armoured Comd.'. Can anyone read the contract number better than I please? V.3330 was for Searchlight lorries, L 3910369 to 3912446 as was V.3380, L 4166193 to 4166245 but at this juncture I cannot find a V.3350.

2. The other Retriever is marked up as one of the batch H? 4580766 to 4580826 for a V.4126 'Machinery' lorry. The rego is 1947 Buckinghamshire.

3. I cannot read the Census Number of the mystery lorry either! It could be a Crossley IGL8. This is one posted previously



4. The last photo is one I published in VINTAGE ROADSCENE, and is believed to be a Karrier FM6 3-tonner circa 1934, with winch and for bodying as a breakdown lorry for India.

However, as regards 3. and 4. I am no expert and seek those who should know out, and blame them when it goes wrong!

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
1. The Leyland Retriever L 4144443 has the contract number on it which is unusual..V.3350?? However the Census List says that it is one of a batch L 4144434 to 4144683 to V.3740, 'Lorry 3-ton 6 x 4 Armoured Comd.'. Can anyone read the contract number better than I please? V.3330 was for Searchlight lorries, L 3910369 to 3912446 as was V.3380, L 4166193 to 4166245 but at this juncture I cannot find a V.3350.


4. The last photo is one I published in VINTAGE ROADSCENE, and is believed to be a Karrier FM6 3-tonner circa 1934, with winch and for bodying as a breakdown lorry for India.

David,

Firstly, the photo in your last message, is one I sent you. It is a Crossley IGL8 Breakdown Gantry. I first came upon this lorry, derelict in a scrapyard in Kent around 1978. The pic was taken on the London to Brighton Run in early 80's, it subsequently dissappeared but in the last few months an article appeared in one of the classic commercial magazines, it has been totally restored back to full gantry configuration.

Now, the 6x4 suspended on the crane, the census number is six figures and appears to start with L251*** or L261***. This comes up on the Census List as 251 ; allotted to Royal Engineers and 261 ; Not Taken Up. This narrows it down to 251*** which may well be correct as the unit sign to right of radiator is "48" which indicates it operated with a Field Company of the Royal Engineers.

I enjoy this detective work

Richard

[Bill Murray]

I found these two in an old scanner file.
They may have been posted somewhere before some time ago but maybe it is better to have them here in a thread devoted to such vehicles.
Bill

[Bill Murray]

The second

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
I found these two in an old scanner file.
They may have been posted somewhere before some time ago but maybe it is better to have them here in a thread devoted to such vehicles.
Bill

Bill,

I think this pic is in one of Bart's books, but anyway, it is a Morris Commercial CDF

Richard

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

The photo of the CDF Wire Laying was in VINTAGE ROADSCENE # 85.

Thanks for the Census Number suggestion. No trace so far but I will ask David Fletcher when I next ask him to look up some other numbers I have queries on. If no-one else comes up trumps beforehand!

[Les Freathy]

Bill
The second photo of the Morris D type is interesting ive not seen that one before, iwould guess it is ex military converted for civilian use by Scotturn trailers could be a emergency generator or for civilian aviation
The pictures that have appeared in barts book are OK by me in the book they are only thumbnail size so larger images are always welcome plus i would suspect that some of our members have not seen them before, i am amazed how many do not have copies of BARTS BOOKS but they have been out of print a long time and at times difficult to find mostly now commanding high prices
Les

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

This has been identified as a very early IGL8 not IGL3..so apologies if I am wrong. This photo, in its full extent, was in VINTAGE ROADSCENE 87. Compare with the lotrry in the air above...

[Les Freathy]

A early Albion 3 ton bridging pontoon carrier probably a BY3 in the UK. Any luck with your 6x4 finds yet Bill

[Bill Murray]

OK Boys & Girls:

Only a start and there is a story attached.

I, as did Les, had a longstanding relationship with Bart Vanderveen and Mike Conniford amongst others. We shared a lot of hard copy photos over many years.

Also, like Les, I am going to share some of them here only because they scan much better usually than scans from Bart's and Mike's books. There are a couple of scans from a defunct magazine also only because the photos are interesting.

I am not concerned about copyright problems by the way as both authors got the stuff from the manufacturers or stockists in most cases and they never worried about it either.

First photo is a magazine scan of a Crossley 20/60 hp wireless truck on test by the Canadian Army 19219/1930

[Bill Murray]

A 30/100 for the RAF

[Bill Murray]

Next should be an IGL3 of 1927

[Bill Murray]

Then 3 IGL8 vehicles of later vintage, a searchlight carrier, a GS and I am not sure of the third.
Bill

[Bill Murray]

Next. Please note the tracks on the rear wheels.

[Bill Murray]

Last for now
Bill

[cliff]

Bill. Excellent photos thanks for sharing.

cheers
Cliff

[Richard Farrant]

Bill,

I reckon the truck in the sling is a searchlight carrier as in last photo, see the door near front end of body, identical to one on other side in last photo.

The middle pic is probably a GS, but note that it is carrying a section of bridge, the same type as it is crossing.

Richard

[Bill Murray]

Evening Richard:

I think I posted this before, but if not, my British friends sent me tons of stuff that consisted of mainly British vehicles of the 1930's and 1940's in exchange for photos of mainly American or American vehicles used by other countries which is my field of research primarily.

As it turned out, I got a lot of photos, some identified and some not and I am going to try to scan and post as many as I can as quickly as I can without worrying all that much about exactly which vehicle is which. I will try of course, to at least give the makers name but beyond that, I am not all that good when it comes to pre WWII British vehicles as I have already posted.

If it works for you fellows, I hope you can help the forum members to make specific identification of photos as and when I post them.

Bill

[cliff]

found this one from the AWM in amongst photos of the North/South Road (Stuart Highway) in Northern Australia. It shows a British open can 6 wheeler passing road works. Looks like a gantry truck

[Richard Farrant]

Originally posted by cliff
found this one from the AWM in amongst photos of the North/South Road (Stuart Highway) in Northern Australia. It shows a British open can 6 wheeler passing road works. Looks like a gantry truck

Hi Cliff,

It is a gantry and would say that it looks like a Leyland Retriever.

Richard

[Pete Ashby]

I'll go with that Richard,

this is a good thread thanks Bill

Pete