Stupid plan maybe, bit is it a good stupid plan?

Fran asked what i'm gonna restore after the beetle is done. Don't think she expected me to say one of these.

1940's AEC Matador.
7.6L diesel, 7+ tons, 4wd, crash box, 30mph max speed. Bit like a bigger version of a series 1 Land Rover.

Not the most environmentally friendly, fast or practical of motors but i've wanted one for the best part of 20 or more years.
Found one fairly local to me for £3k. Its needing a cab rebuild and loads of other stuff but it runs and drives but has been off the road for years.

Stupid idea? Yes
Am i still gonna do it? If possible.

 

Awesome.

Simply awesome.

 

I see no problem, go for it.

 

The right thing to do . I spent ten years working on a 15 Tonne Marshall Steam Roller . We need to ensure that these vehicles are around in another 100 years .

 

It would take you to another world of summer shows as in the photo. You said you have wanted one for 20 years, so buy it and restore it, and enjoy it, before you get too old like me.

 

They are a wonderful thing
Yes go for it

 

No piccies at the moment as its a bit difficult to get to and is under masses of brambles. It was used as a timber crane until it lunched a diff or 1/2 shaft or something rendering it 2wd only.
Its in pretty much this sort of state but now without crane:

Matador has a timber framed cab with a steel skin on it so i'd have to brush up on my GCSE woodwork.

Theres also a 6 wheel AEC Militant wrecker there but its much bigger, heavier and rustier. Even the huge 6mm+ thick steels in the chassis rails has rusted through in places.
One of these beasts:

 

Best she wishes she kept her mouth shut
Good luck, looks awesome

 

That's gonna need a BIG garage.

 

I'm sure BRM alloys will fit straight on!!

 

That'll be interesting at an eskdale camp!

 

You know it's not going to fit in the garage not even if you lower it

 

They're nearly 21ft long, 8ft wide and 9.5ft tall plus the wheels are 4ft high.

It'll fit on the hardstanding next to my inlaws bungalow nicely.

 

It'll be as big as the bungalow - hope they have understanding neighbours

 

You park that on the garage

 

There great those old timber tractors . Judging from the type of attachment on the back it was used for timber pulling work .
Whose was it and where abouts are you from .
You always used to see them lying inthe back of a saw mill yard rotting away just like the photo .

You will find just like with the buses scene there is all ways plenty help on restoration and problem jobs ' and the knowledge of where to locate parts .
I have one similar but it is a Foden . Get it , it will turn more heads than your bus will .

 

you need to get it very cheap as you would clearly need a fair bit of cash during restoration and some cash for evening classes in welding and woodwork. I am at lots of summer shows with the mgb and my van sometimes and the folks with the big stuff always are fun and quirky. ideally for this one you should try to restore it with crane to its log hauling condition.

then you could take part in the big shows doing some hauling.

 

I remember making an Airfix model of one of those . Always liked Matadors. Be aware that you'll need to upgrade your Halfords socket set...

 

One of my mates from college has this little beauty:


I'm up in Cumbria and it is indeed sat at the back of an old shut down wood yard. All the paint and most of the wood has rotted away so the names gone.
It spent about 20 or more years doing exciting stuff like this probably:

There used to be a couple parked at Brough on the A66 with snow plows on the front. Went too look at them with my dad when i was a kid. Massive things when you're only 6 or 7.

I don't think its worth £3k in the state its in and does need a helluva lot of work.
There was one in my local scrappy about 10 years back and he was quite happy to give it away at its scrap value which was about £200 at the time.

Yeah, everything is massively scaled. 6ft torque wrenches and scanners the size of your arm are in order.
The engine weighs nearly a ton and a cylinder head is nearly the size of a complete bay engine.