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  #1  
Old 11-07-09, 21:38
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Hanno Spoelstra Hanno Spoelstra is offline
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Default Commer Q2: Truck, 15-cwt, 4x2, Van

I'm trying to gather some more information on the Commer Q2 15-cwt as used by the RAF during WW2. Here's what I found in Vanderveen's books (text) and the internet (pictures):

6-cyl. 66-bhp engine (own 20.9 hp 3180-cc sv) driving rear wheels via 4-speed gearbox. Hydraulic brakes. Leaf-spring suspension. Tyre size 10.50-16. Wheelbase 120 in.
Overall dimensions 189x78x90 in. Weight 5375 lb.
Composite construction integral bodywork by Mulliners of Birmingham for RAF, production starting July 1940. Later production had 80-hp 4-litre engine. Several other body styles.


Who has handbooks, more historic / technical background, photos?

Thanks!
Hanno

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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Murray View Post
I imagine this is a Commer Q2 and should be ex RAF according to Bart's books.
In this case a beute photographed in Russia according to the ebay seller. From a year or so ago.
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  #2  
Old 11-07-09, 23:37
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Hanno I have these two photos of Commer 'Vans'. Not sure where I got these from and also not sure if they are the same model as those you pictured.

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  #3  
Old 12-07-09, 04:04
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Default Commer

Hanno
here is one in the Czech republic
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  #4  
Old 12-07-09, 22:19
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Cliff, Mike,

Thanks for the input!

Could it be the Czech survivor is the one shown in HMVF Forum > Commer Q2 30cwt GS 1939? That thread also shows a picture of a survivor in the UK.

- Hanno
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  #5  
Old 12-07-09, 23:57
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Default Is this one?

just down the road from my place in Gympie about 12 months ago. Is this one of the same type?
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"and on the 8th day he made trucks so that man, made on the 7th day, had shelter when woman threw him out for the night"
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  #6  
Old 13-07-09, 00:36
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Default Commer

I believe that theres a similar truck in Bishop Auckland County Durham UK.

Noth East Military Vehicle club member Possibly MVT as well

Regards stephen
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  #7  
Old 13-07-09, 03:46
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cliff View Post
just down the road from my place in Gympie about 12 months ago. Is this one of the same type?
yes Cliff,

They were marketed here post ww2 and sold through Rootes dealers as a civilian truck . Rather rare as I've never seen one myself, but I've seen pics of them, mostly small trucks with ute type bodies . I think they ran the contemporary Humber 6 side valve motor but I could be wrong I have an article on a restored example here, the owner chose to install a later OHV 4 cyl. motor.

Mike
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  #8  
Old 13-07-09, 04:03
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Default Cooma nsw 1950

A snowy mountains hydro series 1 Land Rover tows a Commer, circa 1950 Cooma, NSW .

National archives pic . The SMHA purchased approx. 2000 of the 1950 model Land Rovers.

Mike
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  #9  
Old 13-07-09, 05:31
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Default restored Comma

In West Aussie ...its a 48 model..common with many post war models.. a carry over from the earlier models eg WW2.

http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p29160070.html

Mike
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  #10  
Old 13-07-09, 09:30
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Default Q15

Another surviving Commer. This one is the Q2´s smaller brother, the Q15. Hailing from the UK, it nowadays resides in Holland! Source: www.spear-head.nl

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  #11  
Old 13-07-09, 09:36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by S LATHERON View Post
I believe that theres a similar truck in Bishop Auckland County Durham UK.
Noth East Military Vehicle club member Possibly MVT as well
Stephen,

You mean this one? Source: http://www.scottishmvg.org/8.html
Apparently it is owned by Malcolm Bogaert, he´s a member of this forum, too.

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  #12  
Old 13-07-09, 09:50
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Besides the GS, Explosives Van and Van, the Q2 came in the guise of a Tractor as well.

I´ll make an effort to list the differences between the various Q2´s from the sources I have.

Pic source: www.ianhardy.net
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  #13  
Old 13-07-09, 15:33
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Default Very Interesting Link

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Kelly View Post
In West Aussie ...its a 48 model..common with many post war models.. a carry over from the earlier models eg WW2.
http://ccmv.fotopic.net/p29160070.html
Hi Mike

Your link to CCMV leads to a really interesting collection of photos of Military and Civilian Trucks, I spent a long time wondering around it the pictures.

Their home page is http://ccmv.fotopic.net/ thanks for giving me another reason to sit in front of the computer screen when I should be out in the shop working. But it is an interesting bunch of photos.

Cheers Phil
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  #14  
Old 13-07-09, 20:39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Kelly View Post
Hanno
here is one in the Czech republic
Here is the same Commer after the renovation of the forum member Higgins
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  #15  
Old 14-07-09, 05:40
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Default Yes ..........

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil Waterman View Post
Your link to CCMV leads to a really interesting collection of photos of Military and Civilian Trucks, I spent a long time wondering around it the pictures.

Their home page is http://ccmv.fotopic.net/ thanks for giving me another reason to sit in front of the computer screen when I should be out in the shop working. But it is an interesting bunch of photos.
Yes Phil,

I did the same ..many restored old trucks there ..hours of pics to look at. Many military trucks as well . I think anyone can send in pics to add to the list.
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  #16  
Old 16-07-09, 00:38
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
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I remember seeing another British-owned 30cwt Commer Q2 at the Dutch liberation day in 1995; will scan a pic of the truck in question in the next few days (also remember we discussed the truck in another MLU thread)

There should be another closed cab Commer (Q2?) in one of the bigger Australian MV museums; saw it on a DVD, just last week.

Than there is the Q2 tractor with Queen Mary that used to be in Holland a few years ago.....not a COE like the one on Ian Hardy's website, but one WITH a nose....Hanno, you probably know where that one is right now.


Anyway, back to the subject....I haven't seen too much information, nor surviving examples of the 15cwt. I do remember seeing a 1/76 scale modelling drawing of the truck in question.

Alex
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  #17  
Old 16-07-09, 00:41
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
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Quote:
This one is the Q2´s smaller brother, the Q15. Hailing from the UK, it nowadays resides in Holland!
Would this be a wartime combo....or is this a post-war rebuild of one of the 15cwt's...fitted with a closed cab from a Q2 or Q4? (can't remember seeing a 15cwt Commer with closed cab before...)

Alex

p.s. On the subject of Commer's.....any 3 ton Q4's surviving anywhere? or only the post-war ones?
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  #18  
Old 16-07-09, 11:07
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering View Post
I do remember seeing a 1/76 scale modelling drawing of the truck in question.
Alex,

Would be interesting to see that drawing.

Here´s a 1:76 scale kit of the 15-cwt RAF van: https://www.hannants.co.uk/product/FHP72213

Last edited by Hanno Spoelstra; 28-07-19 at 15:16. Reason: updated link
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  #19  
Old 30-07-09, 19:05
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Commer Q4 3-ton 4x2 truck in post-war civilian use, ca. 1947, The Netherlands.

Source: http://members.home.nl/rhsluik/wegtransport_twente.htm
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  #20  
Old 02-10-10, 23:40
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http://www.military-vehicle-photos.c...number2208.asp

Quote:
The Battered Wagon

This photograph was taken in 1942 by my late father, Ron Hunnisett in North Africa and shows what I'm reliably informed is a Commer Q2 15cwt truck as used by the RAF. This would make sense as my Dad was in the RAF Regiment

Contributor: Steve Hunnisett

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  #21  
Old 03-10-10, 00:04
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The webpage Rootes Wartime Vehicle Production has a complete breakdown of all vehicles built by the Rootes group reveals between the outbreak of War to the end of August 1943 6,559 Q2's were delivered. Never realised so many were produced!
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  #22  
Old 03-10-10, 15:12
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Default commer truck

yes can confirm one of these in north-east..belonging to long time North east Military vehicle Club member was recently used in the production of the TV film JOE MADDISONS WAR along with Denny Thompsons 3.7 and AEC Matador...cheers malcolm in a very wet north-northumberland
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  #23  
Old 03-10-10, 16:07
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
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Quote:
Alex,

Would be interesting to see that drawing.
hmm,

I see I made a promise a year ago; will have a look.
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  #24  
Old 07-10-10, 17:52
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering View Post
I see I made a promise a year ago; will have a look.
Please do.

Thanks in advance!
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  #25  
Old 07-10-10, 17:58
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Default Vanderveen's Historic Military Vehicles Directory

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
I´ll make an effort to list the differences between the various Q2´s from the sources I have.
Commer made 15-cwt 4x2 trucks in the following variants:
  • Q15 GS
  • Q2 Van
  • Q2 FFW
Entries from Vanderveen's Historic Military Vehicles Directory:

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  #26  
Old 08-10-10, 10:16
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Several dozen RAF Commer Q2 Vans lined up for an auction shortly after WW2. Note the lack of tilts.

Picture from Wheels & Tracks magazine no.5.

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  #27  
Old 01-07-12, 09:36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering View Post
Would this be a wartime combo....or is this a post-war rebuild of one of the 15cwt's...fitted with a closed cab from a Q2 or Q4? (can't remember seeing a 15cwt Commer with closed cab before...
Well, have a close look here for a survivor!

Quote:
Commer Q 15 1940
Untouched 15 cwt, 220 th of 294/V/4335 contract, running, to be restored, w/ builder plates, period parts list & instruction book, French papers, a rare survivor of early years of war. Located in Normandy.
0033 (0)232 583899
Ludovic Meyer
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ID:	108344 Click image for larger version

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Last edited by Hanno Spoelstra; 28-07-19 at 15:54. Reason: addtional photos from 2012
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  #28  
Old 01-07-12, 09:53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra View Post
Well, have a close look here for a survivor!
Hi Hanno,
What a find! This is one of 350, the contract was dated 21st May 1942. Described as Q15 Loose Tilt Van for War Office.
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Last edited by Richard Farrant; 01-07-12 at 10:06. Reason: should have had specs on, incorrect info, now corrected
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Old 01-07-12, 10:12
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Hanno,
I put the incorrect contract details on my previos post, now corrected. Going by a photocopy of original Rootes wartime contracts list, although the contract was for the WO, I think that the rear number plate might have an RAF number on it .......... or is it a French civilian number?
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  #30  
Old 01-07-12, 12:02
Alex van de Wetering Alex van de Wetering is offline
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Wow, very nice! I am glad my presumption of closed cabs on a 15cwt chassis being non-orginal proved to be wrong...what a nice truck.

Quote:
I think that the rear number plate might have an RAF number on it .......... or is it a French civilian number?
Richard, I think you might be right....does it say "RAF" on the first line of the licence plate? I guess if it was post-war French civilian, a licence plate on the left hand of the truck would be more logical? Although I am not sure if the rules were so strict that people actually had to move the plate from right to left on trucks like these.

@ Hanno....something for Bert? Location sounds good and I am positive you and I could help him pick the truck up
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