Spotted today in Trafalgar in Gippsland Vic.

lynx42 · #1 24-05-12, 13:29

Grant on the move.

Today I went through the town of Trafalgar in Gippsland Vic. and spotted a Grant tank on the back of a red semi. This Grant looked like it had been used in the bush or on a farm and had been cut down to just above the tracks and had a pipe frame over the driving position.

Where was it going?

Someone must know where it was heading. Hopefully not to the scrapman.

Rick

Luke R · #2 24-05-12, 13:52

Did it happen to have or look like it had a dozer blade on the front Rick?
Luke

Mike Kelly · #3 24-05-12, 14:10

There are still a few Grants and Stuarts and the odd Matilda hiding in the Gippsland hills . A few people " in the know " have locations . The Shady Creek consortium sold quite a number of them after the war .

The Grant down the road here was unmolested and uncut , it sat for many years and it was covered in thick wild scrub and tall grass , it was almost impossible to find unless you came within 10 feet of it , only the barrel poking out gave a clue as to what was hiding under the foliage . If you don't know where they are hidden away on bush blocks , you could look for a thousand years and not find one, but they are there still.

lynx42 · #4 25-05-12, 11:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke R

Did it happen to have or look like it had a dozer blade on the front Rick?
Luke

No Luke no blade at all. Didn't have time to take a photo as I would have had to go further down the highway and then turn back and then try to get a photo on the move. (Well get the other half to take it anyway.)
.

Tony Wheeler · #5 26-05-12, 19:01

Rick, I have some pics of a Grant which may be the one you saw, but I'm unable to send them for the moment as this is my first post on MLU and I'm not yet familiar with the process. I shall keep trying and in the meantime some info:

The Grant I refer to is one I spotted a few years ago on the road north out of Trafalgar towards Noojee, about halfway between. I finally got around to dropping in a few weeks ago for a stickybeak, and was informed by the owner that it had just been sold to Rod Sayers (I think that's his name) who I believe is a long time collector. Apparently he has a previous association with this Grant, having bought the motor some years ago and arranged the diesel replacement currently fitted.

From your description Rick it seems likely this was the one - it has a pipe frame over the driver as you mention, and has been used in the bush as a dozer (perhaps the blade was left behind for scrap). Next time I go past I'll check to see if it's gone.

Pics to follow....hopefully!

Tony Wheeler · #6 26-05-12, 19:12

attempting to post pic

Tony Wheeler · #7 26-05-12, 19:39

Some more pics. I presume this Grant is known about as it's visible from the road (just) and has been there for many years apparently.

Tony Wheeler · #8 26-05-12, 19:40

one more pic

Keith Webb · #9 26-05-12, 22:57

Good to see you've got into making some posts... how about starting a thread to properly introduce yourself and share some pics of your remarkable collection.

lynx42 · #10 27-05-12, 02:27

Hi Tony,
Welcome finally to the Forum. Thanks for those photos. I think you are right with that Grant. Passing a stationary semi at 100km doesn't give one much time to extract all the details but it certainly looks like the one. The pipe work for the canopy I thought was shorter length-wise along the hull but the actual cut off angle etc of the front armour is right. So I think you are on the button.

Regards Rick.

Ryan · #11 27-05-12, 05:16

Heading north to QLD I believe.

Mike Kelly · #12 27-05-12, 07:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan

Heading north to QLD I believe.

Might be going to Maleny, the Grant collector there ?

Ryan · #13 27-05-12, 08:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Might be going to Maleny, the Grant collector there ?

Don't know. QLD was all I was told. It sold in early Feb 2012 if memory serves me correctly.

easo · #14 30-05-12, 14:29

What would the bren carrier wheel be driving?

Easo

Luke R · #15 31-05-12, 07:42

Easo
Im pretty sure the carrier wheel is used as a brake for the winch, for lifting the dozer blade.

Luke

easo · #16 02-06-12, 14:16

Thanks, I'd love to have a vehicle like this at the Tank Museum as a display of what happened to them.

Easo

Luke R · #17 03-06-12, 03:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by easo

Thanks, I'd love to have a vehicle like this at the Tank Museum as a display of what happened to them.

Easo

Ill do a deal, ill get the museum a post army conversion of a tank in exchange for a complete M3 medium or matilda tank

Luke

Euan McDonald · #18 04-06-12, 01:57

Did anyone notice the roof suports made out of (4) #27 limber perches?

Luke R · #19 10-08-12, 10:03

Can confirm that the tank is gone, but the dozer blades sitting in the paddock.

easo · #20 11-08-12, 09:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luke R

Ill do a deal, ill get the museum a post army conversion of a tank in exchange for a complete M3 medium or matilda tank

Luke

I don't think any of them are complete. Never been in them.

Hanno Spoelstra · #21 11-08-12, 10:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Euan McDonald

Did anyone notice the roof suports made out of (4) #27 limber perches?

I do now - well spotted!