AEC Matador Found - Western Australia

[Stuart Kirkham]

G'day Members

This one is for the English 'Lorry' brains trust.

I recently found this AEC truck here in a country town in Western Australia. I believe it is an ex military Matador.
Although it is just a bare chassis, it does have military style split rims and a forward mounted roller fairlead for the winch. You can also see the mounting hole on the fairlead for the front mounted spring leaf pintle hook.

Many years ago I found the body of an AEC Dorchester in an industrial yard in Perth, Western Australia. It was just the body, no chassis. After a long search, a suitable chassis was eventually found in central Australia and has been mated to complete the vehicle.

I was wondering if this Matador chassis may have come from the Dorchester body.

Was there any differences between the standard Matador chassis and the Dorchester that could identify this chassis. I'm not 100% sure but I do not think Matadors were used here in Australia during the war.

[Stuart Kirkham]

More Photos.

[Stuart Kirkham]

Photos of the Dorchester as found in industrial yard.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I see the remains of a cab, so I don’t think it’s a Dorchester chassis.

It is a rare find though.

[Philliphastings]

Hello Stuart,

The AEC Dorchester chassis was never fitted with a winch.

I think I was offered that chassis in your pics during the time I owned the WA dorchester after buying it off the late Bob Dimer.

It is now fully restored (although the interior is not correct) and resides in NSW

Cheers

Phill

[Stuart Kirkham]

Hi Phill

Thanks for that info.
Do you remember any Matadors in Australia? This truck has me stumped. How did it get to WA? Did it come from RAF Station Butterworth or was it imported by someone?

[Philliphastings]

Yes there were a few Matadors made their way to Australia.

I ‘think’ I recall being told we got some shipped here to tow artillery (maybe 3.7 AA) or specialised Radar equipment.

We also received 2-3 Dorchester Armoured Command Variants and a few AEC’s might have been brought in for logging post war.

Cheers

Phill

[wally dugan]

A small number of MK2 MATADORS where shipped to AEC AUSTRALIA in 1953

[Mike K]

Is this one ? Brisbane 1942.

I believe I found a few in the AWM126 ledgers.

https://collections.slq.qld.gov.au/viewer/IE13822

[Philliphastings]

Hi Mike,

It might be a Matador Artillery Tractor. I’m no expert but it has the right size and shape.

Cheers

Phill

[wally dugan]

three MATADORS Chassis numbers 085310837 to 0853839 were sold to Victoria sawmills the Gold Coast one to MIM TIMBER company the Gold Coast 085310840 One 085310847 sent to AEC Australia the picture is of a Matador A T

[Mike Cecil]

Records indicate 66 AEC Matador tractors were received during the Second World War, along with 7 AEC Dorchester ACVs.
The tractors were classed a medium artillery tractors and were used for towing the 3.7 inch HAA gun and 155 mm Medium artillery. They were superseded by the US military Mack 6x6 artillery tractor.

Most of the ACVs remained in service post-war, being disposed on in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The chassis Bob Dimer sourced for the ACV hull came from near Geelong, Victoria. It was an artillery tractor chassis that had been converted into a crane. The crane was removed and retained by the owner, Bob acquiring the rolling chassis with engine, etc. He retrieved it himself, driving Perth-Melb & return in his Ford? truck with the red & white cab. He delivered a Humber Box to Melb on the outward journey, and returned to Perth with the AEC chassis - a mammoth effort!

Mike

[Lynn Eades]

I Assume the complete Dorchester is still in the Meriden Museum?

[Mike Cecil]

No: Newcastle, NSW, I think. There is video of it on FB.

[Mike K]

I did have a wartime dated AEC Matador maintenance manual. Printed on the front cover was something like: 'For Australia' or 'Australian delivery'

The AEC factory was in a suburb of London. Bevan F told me: as a kid he used to see the brand new Matadors being driven around with the drivers rugged up in Winter outfits.

https://www.nationaltransporttrust.o...works-southall

Remains of a AEC Matador sat beside the Hume Hwy up towards Holbrook NSW. Used to see this AEC as you turned off the Hume to head towards Wagga , a cab and other bits, this was many years ago.

[Mike K]

1946 Convoy

And a pic: https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1140360