The Ford tow hook again on the drop hitch.

Very distorted track links - the track almost looked hollow, like it had been pushed down in the centre

all round. Every track link was welded to some degree and the adjustment plates were bowed on

these non-adjustable pontoons. The rollers were all excellent (sigh)

Conventional dash, no sign of the serial plate (damn !) instruments were mostly 1950's Lucas as

were the top mounted wiper mechanisms (Landrover ?) The alloy panel looked to be the radio

power section, the ordinary guage blocks had been replaced by 2" round Lucas British civilian types.

Five-speed manual box replaced the standard type.

The cable lever on the steering column support is presumably a more effective hand throttle.

The mushroom-head dash control above is is Ki-gas (ether) injection for starting.

36,000 miles ? even with the correction for pontoons that's 16,500 miles. Somebody been driving it at

night when no-one was looking ? The crossing was 2158 miles.

Look at the air cleaner tube at the right hand side - all the ether has melted it !

Engine otherwise looked reasonably stock, except I remember they had mechanical tappet lifters.

Two shutters for the radiator, held with WW2 Bedford type spring latches. The boxes on both engine

side panels could be opened for extra ventillation but nothing technical. Bottom half of the radiator

was always exposed, and you can see a couple of lumps of steel welded on for a front tow assembly.

Radiator flaps opened

Engine from RH side

Front tow assembly from RH side - crude but strong.

Rear interior looking forward and to the right. Note division panel between cab and body - there was a

loose window in the back that filled this gap but probably just got in the way. Interior insulation is just

sprayed and not too thick, pole sticking up through roof could be remote-reading compass.

The whole of the back of it was full of racking made from Dexion-type angle just bolted together.

Looking forwards, up, and to the left from the rear hatch. Note relative lack of insulation, sample carrier,

racking for radios, etc. The BP ENERGOL sign is a collectors item now.

Left rear corner and radio mounts again

Right rear corner, that's the window from the drivers bulhead loose in there.

Looking back from front passengers seat through the bulkhead gap

Rear floor - more racking in centre.

On the right hand side you can see a fabricated clip to re-inforce the steering platform - referred to in the book.

Well, if you've read this far, you'll be wondering what it was really like...............

 

Objectively you'd have to say it was very sad and tired. It has been repainted at some time, not too recently, but the pontoons in particular are in pretty bad shape. In additon to the distortion of the track referred to above the front right pontoon was rusted clear through in one area, and all the pontoon sheet metal was heavily dented / repaired / reinforced. The panelling all showed signs of damage, but the basic structure was sound and the engine and mechanics looked quite good.

 

I was expecting it to be rather more heavily modified, or even more neatly, as the radiator shutters and hood flanges were actually quite crude. There was no real insulation present, although the door panels had been lined.

The extra metalwork was all just blacksmith work, though the jeep tow hook was a nice touch. the gauges and wipers were just standard commercial units fitted none too tidily although I'm sure it all worked well enough. the impression was of something that the army had knocked up to do a particular job - not surprising I suppose.

 

The first 'Cat (the one with no door code) probably got a lot more attention, but when they came to do the three later ones they just pitched in and did it.

 

Thanks again to Matthew for the access. It's inside in the warm and dry and should look just the same in another 100 years.

 

Gordon McMillan