C15TA CZ4288021 added to the collection

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A new addition to the “Maple Leaf Up collection”: today I picked up the C15TA which I bought last March. Some 20 years ago, it was expertly restored from a range wreck by the late Harry Bruin. Harry drove this C15TA a lot but he sadly passed away and his family decided to auction off his vehicle collection. I made use of the opportunity to strike off an item from my wish list.

I was busy with the Normandy event coming up, so I decided to have it serviced by Van Oorspronk Classic Cars - Hendrik Van Oorspronk is a member of this forum and a CMP owner. As it had been standing for some years, Hendrik had to replace all wheel brake cylinders and fix an exhaust leak and an oil leak. He gave it a full service to put it back in operation.

Today my friends Bert and Alex and myself drove the C15TA home, a distance of some 125 kms. The truck drove perfectly and is now stored in my barn. Later this month I will take it out for a 10-day event to remember operation Market Garden. Looking forward to experience ownership of wheeled armour - Canadian to boot!

[Ed Storey]

What a nice looking C15TA - congratulations!

[Jordan Baker]

Nice to see you branching out from the Ford. Great looking truck.

[Tim Bell]

Lovely vehicle!

Congratulations.

Tim

[Brian Gough]

Hanno,

This is great news. Congratulations - I know it has been a long time coming.

What a beautiful truck.

Brian

[Barry Churcher]

Congratulations Hanno. Harry would be pleased that his TA has been passed on to such a deserving owner. I had anticipated an announcement in Normandy or even a viewing. Way to go.
Barry


The photo is VE Day parade in 2005

[rob love]

Congrats Hanno. That is one lovely truck. What a treasure.

[maple_leaf_eh]

As the others are adding, good find and great news.

Something I learned from a man with a genuine 1800s buffalo hunting breechloading rifle, we do not own these artifacts - we just take care of them for the next generation. He shot that rifle in competition, and I'm pleased that you had an uneventful road trip.

[Alex van de Wetering]

It's testimony to the restoration of Harry and the work done by Hendrik, that the only reason we really had to stop on our route was for the crew to go to the loo and refill with coffee!

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks all!

I will try to reconstruct and document the known history of this C15TA. Photos like Barry posted are very welcome.

Here is a photo I took of CZ4288021 while in Normandy in June 2009. Harry also brought it to Normandy in 2004 when he won a prize for "Best Armoured Vehicle". He was - rightly so - very proud of this, hence the event plaques attached to the nose of the truck.

One day I hope to bring it to Normandy, too.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Trying out the Ben Hur trailer loaded with camping gear for Liberation Task Force’s Garden 80 event next week. It tows nicely!

#xxxcorps

[Mike Kelly]

A pic for you Hanno

https://collection.nam.ac.uk/detail....c=1999-03-47-6

Another

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1131237

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Mike. The C15TA had quite a long postwar career.