AEC Matador in Portugal

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The Matador pictured below is on display at the Museu Militar, Coimbra, Portugal.

Anyone know if there are any other Commonwealth vehicles on display there?


source

[gjamo]

I have always wondered what the function of the flimsy steel tray hanging out of the front of vehicles is.
Its too far to reach to rest your beer on and a little short for a diving board.
Learned ladies and gentlemen please enlighten me.

[Phil Waterman]

Either Drive in Service or Gas Detection

The function is to have a space to spread gas detection crystals or paste or paint.

On CMPs there was a small area of the hood visible by the driver that was to be painted with gas detection paint.

The crystals, paste or paint was supposed to change color in the presences of the standard chemical weapons.

[gjamo]

Thanks Phil it has always had me wondering.

[Les Freathy]

It would be nice if they took some time out to restore the Matador, it looks to be a reasonable restoration
Les

[Dinty]

G'day All, They could ship it over to me and I would restore it, but, I would be very reluctant to send it back , shame it's not restored as I have a real spot for AEC's, cheers Dennis

[Neil Ashley]

Denis

There are lot's of surviving cheap AEC's available in the UK.

The nice thing about this example like so many other Portugese vehicles, it has never gone through a post-war British army rebuild so it is still in full war-time spec.

Original gas detector trays rarely survive over here.

[dodgenut]

interesting place, is there much to see at that museum?? might be close by there soon

ta,
Rick

[Alan Brock]

Not sure if that is correct about ex-Portuguese vehicles being original. I bought a load of Dingos a few years ago from Portugal and they were all rebuilt/overhauled in British Army workshops in the 1950's before being sold to Portugal through Nato Mutual Aid.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Neil Ashley
There are lot's of surviving cheap AEC's available in the UK.

Here's an example of one being recovered: http://www.cmvt.org/marksimm

[Dinty]

G'day All, Bloody luverly, thanks for that Hanno, I have a real spot for AEC's, my late father did his apprenticeship with Albion Motors during the early 30's, then went to work for AEC, he joined the Royal Engineers in 1939 and toured Nth Africa, Sicily and was in Italy when the surrender came, he used to talk about the AEC trucks. Here where I live the local bus company had 4 x 4 Matador's as articulated buses until stocks of buses were easily obtained, I must go and get those pix from the bus company and scan them anyway lucky bugger with that Matador, wish I were younger and had a bigger property ( I have 5 Land Rovers (ex mil) and another under construction at present and space is a bit tight as you could imagine, anyway thanks again Hanno cheers Dennis

[Bruce Gilbert]

Hello Dennis/Dinty

I know of 2 AEC's Matadors in Inverell. Reply here if you need more info.

Regards

Bruce G

[João Freitas]

Almost all the preserved army vehicles are now at the Military Museum, placed in Elvas (200 Km from Lisbon and very near the spanish border) .
If you go to FaceBook, look for "APVM Associação Portuguesa de Veículos Militares" . There you will find some videos about the museum and our work there.
Notice that we work there (more or less 10 people) one weekend every month as civilians and our work is completly volunteer.
In a 2 years time, now we have in working order : severall Unimogs, a Matador, one Dingo, a Saladin, severall jeeps UMM, severall Berliet trucks, and many other small staff cars.
The Matador that you see on the photo is a donner of parts for the working one.
João

[Lynn Eades]

I love that crank handle. Handles crank, two man, for the use of, Qty. 1.

They are a classic truck and I particularly loved the Armoured one in Merredin, W.A.
This photo lends itself to a photo caption contest.

What is the young lady thinking? eg. ....... and the British won the war,... right?