AKA Cambridge carrier

[Jon Bradshaw]

So the Cambridge has been researched and I have looked at the options for what to do with it.

For the power pack I have pulled and sold the old B80 and the transmission. The new engine will be a non turbo charged V8 diesel engine from an MLVW (Canadian 2 1/2 ton troop lift truck. This should give more than enough power and will make for a very solid old engine with plenty of power. The transmission is an automatic.
After opening up the final drive casing there is no 5 speed built in, it was simply linked back under the grime to the transmission. The final drive still had a good coating of oil on the gears so still functions very well. The advantage of the forward and reverse lever on the final drive is that the engine rotation is not an issue. Just reversing the lever sorts that problem out.

The strange radiator is in good shape with no leaks and should be easy to fit to the newer engine. Keeping the unique radiator is going to make the fitting of a rad to the vehicle very easy since the cowl was welded to the hull. It will fit right back into place.

As I get more time to work on this chassis I will finish cleaning out the gunk and give it a sand blast and paint before dropping in the engine. I have to paint the Bofors and a CMP anyways so why not go all the way to green on it while I am at if...

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Jon Bradshaw

The wheel pattern is closest to a Panzer 38T, but there are plenty of these out there and there is no need to make another one out of a non original chassis.
The 38T was made into several successful variants- Hetzer, Marder, Grille etc. The one that doesn't have any surviving examples of it (that I can find) is the Aufklarungspanzer 38(t) Sdkfz 140/1 (recce tank) This vehicle was made in 2 variants- one with an open top and a short 75mm gun and the second was a semi closed turreted version with a 20mm gun. I have decided to go with the 20mm version. There were about 70 of these made but I haven't seen any online pics of one in a museum... Just some wartime ones and one set of post war "junk" parking lot shots.

AFAIK, there aren't any surviving Aufklärungspanzer 38(t). Also checked http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving...n_Vehicles.pdf

So you're good to go...

[Ed Storey]

Just what the world needs is one more fake German SWW AFV. It is no wonder everyone is in love with German SWW armour as no one cares to preserve and restore what is perceived to be a less glamorous vehicle and use it to explain to the public the story behind that particular vehicle and why it was manufactured. Instead the first thing that seems to come to mind is how can it be turned into something German. Don't get me wrong, I like German SWW armour as much as the next guy; but I find parading around another reproduced German vehicle just perpetuates the myth to the public that destroying one thing to fake something else is somehow what collecting is all about.

[Bob Phillips]

So joy of ownership being what it is, you can do what you want with this chassis. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
I don't always agree with Ed, but I think he is right on this one. It remains a relatively rare and unusual item and worthy of restoration. If you don't have the funds, time or expertise why not move it along to someone who has? B80 engines and related parts are readily available in the UK. There are probably lots of bits and pieces out there for this machine if you look long and hard.
There are lots of tracked vehicle parts available cheap for a project ( M113 diffs , APC suspension parts, I can sell you a pallet of M18 roadwheels cheap).
Ask the guy who 30 years ago, chopped the top off a UC to weld a truck cab on top - if he wishes he still had a more or less complete carrier today.
Just my 2 cents, good luck with your project!
BP

[Mike Cecil]

Hi Jon,

Your carrier, your toy, your choice, but ... I, like Ed and Bob, will lament the fact that such a rare and unusual carrier has been buried under a replica of something unrelated.

Want a German vehicle replica? Check out Jonathan Moore's thread on this forum about how he has built one from scratch. Fantastic piece of work, and nothing significant lost to history.

Mike

[David Herbert]

I am sorry Jon but I must add my name to Ed, Bob and Mikes. You own the Cambridge and have the right to do what you want but your proposed project will involve far more work than restoring it to its original form and at the end you will have a poor representation that might fool the paintball enthusiasts but will have no intrinsic value other than as a toy. There have been quite a number of FV432s converted into pretend Stug3s but if you know what a Stug3 looks like they look silly. There are still lots of 432s about but you have the only Cambridge in Canada and there are only a couple more in the world. I agree that yours is a prototype but they were used in Korea (where China got their one from) so have an operational history but I for one find a prototype more interesting than a production vehicle. It is a significant part of the story of the evolution from Universal carrier to Fv432.
Sorry to be grumpy,

David

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by David Herbert

There are still lots of 432s about but you have the only Cambridge in Canada and there are only a couple more in the world. I agree that yours is a prototype but they were used in Korea (where China got their one from) so have an operational history but I for one find a prototype more interesting than a production vehicle. It is a significant part of the story of the evolution from Universal carrier to Fv432.
Sorry to be grumpy,

David

Hi David,
I think you are incorrect about a Cambridge being in Korea and now in a Chinese museum. That is actually an Oxford Carrier. I have a particular interest as I am involved in restoring an Oxford to running condition.

I also agree with you and the others about this Cambridge carrier, it does not deserve being converted.

Richard

[Jon Bradshaw]

So to all of you that voiced the opinion for an original build I will heed your wisdom in this. An original Cambridge carrier APC will be rebuilt. I looked again today and could not find any hull numbers so have to assume they are under too much paint, sandblasting will show more.

To those of you that messaged me in support of my other plan thank you as well.

However on a side note- I would still like a bigger tank if anyone out there has a chassis that is bigger than a universal carrier? And preferably in Canada/ North america.