C30 Update

[Keith Orpin]

Fellow CMPers,
Hopefully attached to this message will be the latest pictures of my C30 LAAT nearing the end of her rebuild. The last major item she requires will be the canvas, which will be in the new year. Hopefully, she will be out for the 04 season. Hope you enjoy the pictures.
Keith

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Keith,

I'd love to see your pictures, but apparently attaching them did not work. Try to attach them one by one, each one to a new posting.

Anyone interested in seeing what Keith's C30 looked like, see the thread "30cwt Photos" on the Old Forum.

Hanno

[Keith Orpin]

Hi Hanno,
Unfortunately, the files I tried to post are too big ( Scanned photos, approx 175kb in J Peg format, I also have them as a pdf file). Any idea how I can reduce them?
Thanks
Keith

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Keith,

Resize your jpeg-format scans using Microsoft Photo Editor (or a similar program) to a maximum width of 700 pixels.
Or, when scanning, set the size of the scan to a maximum width of 700 pixels.
If it does not work, e-mail them to me and I'll help.

Regards,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I'll leave it up to Keith to provide captions.

Looks great, Keith!

[Keith Orpin]

At last, with many thanks to Hanno ( I owe you one ), you can now see the latest pictures of the C30. When I get chance, I'll take some shots of the underside.
Thanks again Hanno,
Keith

[Pete Ashby]

Nice one Keith, the Oxford CMP crew look forward to the first run !!.

What Keith is too modest to tell you guys is that the whole restoration was carried out in a standard width sectional concrete garage, he did raise the roof by eighteen inches however to get the truck inside with the hoops on.

I believe our colonial friends would say good on ya mate

Cheers old boy, mines a pint

Pete

[Keith Webb]

Originally posted by Pete Ashby
I believe our colonial friends would say good on ya mate

Cheers old boy, mines a pint

Onyamayte, She's a real beaut, no wuckers!
Seriously, though, it looks really good.

Make mine a Darwin depthcharge

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by keith.orpin in LAA tractor
Hi Dave & Hanno,
Hopefully below are the latest pictures of my 1942 C30 LAAT which has just been though a 4 1/2 year rebuild.She took to the road a couple of weeks ago with a C15A as backup (Thanks Pete). Drives very well and the engine is settling down nicely.Still a few odd jobs to be completed, but they can wait till the winter, (canvas still needs mesh windows in the back etc), in the meantime, she is booked into a few local shows this summer around our area (Oxfordshire, England),then I'll venture further afield!
Dave, this C30 was used by 6th Anti Aircraft Div in and around the Thames Estuary by the Royal Leicestershire Regt during 1942/43.
Hope you all enjoy the pictures
Keith

Here are the latest pictures of Keith's C30 LAAT:

dash

rear cable rollers

front cable rollers

driver's seat

[Hanno Spoelstra]

wooden artillery crow bars (for lack of a better description)

rear end

left-hand door displaying census no.

front end

dash and ID plates

She looks great, Keith - very well done!

Cheers,
H.

[David_Hayward (RIP)]

H 4999629 to 4999724 Contract SM 2573 'TRACTOR 4 X 4 LT. AA'
ARTICIZED

I have a print of H 4999629 [IWM PHOTO # KID 1416], an official shot.

Firstly, many thanks to Hanno for his comments and for posting the latest pics for everyone to enjoy. The shots of the front and rear roller system were taken for the other post on "winch cable puzzle" to show how Chevy fitted a different system to Ford, which may help others. As David points out, this C30 was one of a batch fitted with Articized equipment, however 95% had been removed long ago. If as time goes on, I find the heater matrices, vents etc, I'll fit them on, but for the time being, I'll show her as seen in the pictures. The big question I have is, is this the only C30 LAAT that has been rebuilt ? I know possibly of one other as a chassis/cab. The odd thing is that there seems to be a few F60S LAAT's around, but there all late (44/45) ones. Any thoughts ?
If anyone was wondering,the small box/canvas holder behind the drivers seat contains a pair of 1942 field ranging binos, and the other peice behind the passenger seat is a 42 mapboard. The bag for the side doors has yet to be fitted.
I must just say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few years restoring this vehicle and conversing with like minded collectors thoughout the world
Cheers
Keith

[Pete Ashby]

I can confirm that the truck runs and drives as good as she looks in the photos
A real credit to your skills as a restorer Keith, the OCMPC salutes you and welcomes you into our LRDG

Pete

[Phil Waterman]

Vehicles like this are why our local MV club quit having judging. Just to hard to compete when a well done job like this shows.

Congradulations on a well done job.

Cheers Phil

[Hanno Spoelstra]

MLU member Keith Orpin's C30 LAAT is for sale!

Yes I have a connection as I know Keith personally, but have no interest in the sale - none other than I hope to see this truck goes to a good home. It is a very nice example of a rare breed!

1942 C30 LAAT

Only known restored example of a Chevrolet C30 LAAT in Europe. One of 96 built in August 1942 for a British Army contract. Fully rebuilt several years ago, including a new engine block and head. Major show winner with very high attention to detail,and has attended many shows and ceremonies over the last few years, comes with manuals, parts book and lots of spares. Being sold to make way for a new project. £13,000 ovno.
01865 407872
Keith Orpin

[Keith Orpin]

Here's the latest guys,
The Chevy has been sold to a serious collector here in the UK. He is a guy by the name of Paul, who frequents MLU, I'll leave him to fill in the details.
Yes, I'll be sorry to let her go, but I have another project in the wings, details shortly......

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Here’s Keith’s C30 LAAT pictured at Beltring this year by Martin Eaton. Keith sold his C30, good to see it is still being rallied.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Keith’s old LAAT as pictured at War & Peace, 2019 (nmp). Still looking very good. I don’t know who the current owner is, but he's taking good care of her.