Bedford MWC water

[Larry Hayward]

Pete,

I agree with you - when I look at my photos of MV events from 1978 - 85 I see mostly old timers of the WW2 era. There were hardly any post war vehicles at all - perhaps a few Champs!

Apart from the odd Universal Carrier & M3 halftrack there was very little 'armour' but shows were full of Bedford MW, OXD, OY & QLs, Austin K2s, Morris Commercials CS8 & C8 types, perhaps a few Ford WOT, Guys and a few CMPs.

But now UK MV shows are 50% to 60% modern - much of which has been built, served and then been sold by the MOD since I first became interested in MV's. Luckily the GMCs, Dodges, Jeeps and M201s that have been released from reserve stocks in the 1990s have helped keep up the numbers of 'WW2 era' at shows - but without them the picture would be worse. Sadly it is those vehicles of the British design that seem to be becoming rarer at your average MV event.

So where have they gone? Well firstly with spares being harder to find for many British types and fuel at nearly £1 a Litre in the UK, its not surprizing that owners concertrate on major shows like Beltring and rarely go to others. Many of the owners from 1978 were middle aged, and could be in their late 70's now so may not feel able to attend shows so much. I suspect there are a fair number of vehicles that have been restored by their owners, who cannot bare to part with them, even though they may not have see the light of day for years.

As time goes by the spares situation will get worse for the less common types, who's numbers don't support a new parts trade, so perhaps an MV museum for them, will be the best option, rather than hearing that some un-caring executor has had some rare type dragged off to the breakers yard - possibly the same one it was dragged out of in the 1970s!!!