FWD Su-Coe Gun Tractor | SM2018 | chassis 61132

[Melvyn Bean]

Hello All,
I have just bought a FWD Su-Coe, from what I have been told I believe it to be a 1941 build from contract SM2018 (chassis 61132).
It is ex-Danish though I am unsure if it is Army or Civil Defence?
Any help with information would be greatly appreciated?
I am also looking for a rear Artillery body and any other FWD related items for the restoration back to its original configuration if anyone can help or offer any leads?
Mel

[Lionelgee]

Hello Melvyn,

I know nothing about these trucks. However, you piqued my curiosity and I found a Danish website dedicated to the FWD SU-COE. Here is photograph of an artillery body like you want to copy. Accessed 17th June 2016 from, http://www.armyvehicles.dk/fwdsucoegt.htm

It is a very rugged looking truck and will certainly turn heads once it is restored. All the best with it

Here is one still earning its living Accessed 17th June 2016 from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5eMZkKFvzY

Another one that looks like a breakdown version - viewed briefly Accessed 17th June 2016 from, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOuAyJrAVws

Kind Regards
Lionel

[derk derin]

Hello Melvyn,
I hope that manual you bought from me helps you. Hope it arrived to you already? That truck looks to be in great condition for it's age. Does it run and can you drive it around the yard?
Regards,Derk

[Melvyn Bean]

Originally Posted by Lionelgee

Hello Melvyn,

I know nothing about these trucks. However, you piqued my curiosity and I found a Danish website dedicated to the FWD SU-COE. Here is photograph of an artillery body like you want to copy. Accessed 17th June 2016 from, http://www.armyvehicles.dk/fwdsucoegt.htm

Hi Lionel,
Many thanks for the links, very interesting pictures. The Artillery body on the first link is a post war Danish body. The WW2 version would be the same as fitted on the AEC Matador for my truck.
Regards
Mel

[Melvyn Bean]

Originally Posted by derk derin

Hello Melvyn,
I hope that manual you bought from me helps you. Hope it arrived to you already? That truck looks to be in great condition for it's age. Does it run and can you drive it around the yard?
Regards,Derk

Hi Derk,
Yes the manual arrived & is spot on thanks
The truck doesn't run at the moment, one of the previous owners has removed the rear cylinder head (I don't know why) and disposed of the old gasket too, so I am currently searching for a gasket set before I can even try to get it started. It does still have the correct Waukesha petrol engine fitted though.
Regards
Mel

[David Dunlop]

Melvyn.

FWD used to have a plant in Kitchener, Ontario during the war that built the right hand versions of these trucks, while the parent, American plant built left hand models. Canadian production ceased at some point shortly after 1945 and the facility became the North American parts warehouse for FWD. A pair of these trucks showed up in a Winnipeg scrap yard in the Transcona area in the late 1980's and I phoned the Kitchener operation to see if they still had manuals available. They only had a few sets used for parts references, but did mention they probably had enough parts in storage to built a brand new truck.

Around 2005, FWD merged with Seagrave and the Kitchener facility was shut down. I don't know if all the parts stored there were scrapped, sold to a third party somewhere for servicing purposes or relocated somewhere by Seagrave.

Seagrave specializes in fire trucks. There website is below:

http://seagrave.com

Might be worth contacting them to see what they might be able to help with for your truck.

David

[Melvyn Bean]

Originally Posted by David Dunlop

A pair of these trucks showed up in a Winnipeg scrap yard in the Transcona area in the late 1980's and I phoned the Kitchener operation to see if they still had manuals available.

Hello David,
Did you save the trucks from the Scrapyard?
Thanks for the info on the 'post war' dealings of FWD, I will contact Seagrave and see if they can help out in any way.
Much appreciated.
Regards
Mel

[David Dunlop]

Mel.

Lovely big rigs but far more than I could ever handle on my own. The scrappers had the bodies off both trucks and destroyed in the first 24 hours of their arrival. They were not interested in selling the cab and chassis assemblies with the winches still attached and pulled them for separate sale, Once cab and chassis was sold to a local chap who tossed the cab and mounted a 1940's panel delivery van body on it to build a 'Mud Truck'. The other FWD disappeared from the scrap yard a couple of weeks later.

For what it is worth, FWD was an independent operation in England in the inter war years and in some way or another merged with/became AEC in the 1930's.

Back in the 1980's or 90's here in Canada, I think there was a fully restored FWD Gun Tractor somewhere in the British Columbia area of Canada. Might have been on Vancouver Island. Don't know whatever became of it.


David

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

The best FWD cab over I ever saw was one painted yellow with a de Havilland logo on the doors. It was a wrecker that had been used at the aircraft plant during the war and must have seen little use, and most of that indoors. Sadly, it has perished over the years.

[Melvyn Bean]

A few more pictures. Still fitted with 3 wartime dated tyres!!