New Rover in the stable

[Darren Abbott]

Hi all,
I thought I would share a few photos with you of our latest purchase. Some of you may have seen this vehicle on Ebay last year. I was fortunate to be the winner of one of Australias' rarest Armoured Vehicles. It is the MkI Rover Armoured Car. It was built on a Ford cab 12 F60L chassis. Weighing in at around 5 ton, it was in the same category as the Dingo Armoured Car, way too heavy to really perform in the wet. Only 238? were built before Australia was able to get more suitable vehicles from the US and England.
As you can see from the photos it really is quite complete and will be a great vehicle when restored. It will make a great mate for our Dingo. I've attched a few photos of the Dingo, outside, Drivers compartment and radios.
I do require a few items for the restoration of the Rover though if anyone can help? It is sadly missing the bonnet. I can make one if I can afford to buy enough 3/8 plate, but I thought I would try first to find an original. You just never know what someone has in the back yard? I also need some Cab 12 parts like the inner guards, inner and outer cowls, engine cover, for starters. One the other hand it has some very rare items still intact like the mesh "trench" covers, machine gun mounts, all storage compartments, all armoured visor covers. it came with one original fuel tank and a swag of spares. After I bought it I flew over to Perth to pack it and load it onto the transport. The chap I bought it from was a wonderful bloke. He also generously gave me a good going V8 sidevalve to get the old girl running again and a heap of extras. I hope someday in the not too distant future to send him some photos of her moving again.
It's also missing the rear floor plates. Apparently the gunners seats folded into holes in the floor plates? If anyone has any info on how these worked I would appreciate it. It had a crew of five which means I need 5 37 kits, 5 ground sheets/ponchos, 5 respirators, 5 water bottles etc. It was armed with two Vickers Guns, two brens, a Thompson, a Sten, Owen and several .303's. Does anyone have any spare Bren and Vickers ammo boxes?



Cheers
Darren

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Darren Abbott

Does anyone have any spare Bren and Vickers ammo boxes?

I guess you're not going to Corowa? Know anyone who is there who could bring stuff back for you?

Toole's Disposals had a couple of pallets of Bren Mag chests, but many were repainted for the L2A1 AR or L4A4 7.62 Bren mags. I picked up a couple of NOS Bren ones out of the stack, but there's plenty more there to sort through.

[Mike Kelly]

Just goes to show how desperate we were to build something like that

The Japs would have laughed

MIKE

[Philliphastings]

Hello Darren, a good save that one, we (Nungarin Army Museum) tried to acquire that one several times but could not pin the owner down. We have the cut down hulls of several Mk1 and Mk2 Rovers in our collection. I can photograph a rear floor panel for you if you wish.

If it was the same vehicle it transited here while we loaded some other trade good onto the same semi- trailer. We were greatly impressed with how authentic and untouched your Rover is...

Cheers and good luck with the restoration.

Phill

[lynx42]

Darren,
About 10 years ago I picked up a Rover Bonnet and gave it to Colin Anderson in Sheparton Vic. for his. His Rover had a repro bonnet, so I don't know if he ever used it or not. I don't remember the bonnet being as thick as 3/8 plate. more like 3/16 as it wasn't all that heavy. Colins Rover went to Adelaide with his Dingo. Now with further owners.
Regards rick.