1942 Willys Jeep - 1941 Triumph 3SW Motorcycle & British Infantry MKV Bicycle!
www.roncobb.com
Willys MB Jeep 'BRT' Date of Manufacture 5th June 1942.
Chassis Number 148318 Body Number 148534 Bonnet Number 204 85714
1942 Willys Jeep MB - BRT Very original old war horse. Ex British army. On the top of the left front wing we have found embarkation marks. Seen some action, evidence of medium calibre damage on the front right wing, perforated from above then through to inner wing. Presumably abandoned when damaged, it was recovered at the end of the war by the US Army Butzbach Ordnance Depot. This depot collected and stored huge quantities of combat material, such as weapons, vehicles and spare parts with the intentions of having them reconditioned to serviceable stock.
in 1951 the Jeep was repaired and fitted with a reconditioned engine from the US Army 'Karlsfeld Ordnance Depot' This was the old BMW factory which during the war switched to producing aero engines for the German Luftwaffe. The vehicle was painted blue and is thought to have been used by US Army/Airforce Military Police in post war Germany.
In 1955, it was reconditioned again, this time by The German Railroad, Car and Machine factory, GMB Borsigwalde Berlin. Though post Marshal plan, it then made its way to Norway. The Norwegian army repainted it to O/D and fitted a heater along with thick underfelt on the bulkhead. In the late 1980's it was sold off from Norway and imported back into UK.
In storage for 10 years, then purchased by myself. The Odometer reading was 7,000 miles which was possibly correct from its last rebuild in 1955. The speedometer was found to be radio active whereupon it was immediately and carefully replaced with a new unit! (Jeep speedo's like WW2 aircraft instruments were painted with radium paint during the war).
Under the paint on the hood/bonnet we have found its registration number. This number was stenciled on by the Yanks in 1952, the number appears to correspond with the US Army Airforce use. The front of the bonnet in the same paint, still has the date marks.
The gearbox was found to be full up with water. Condensation had run down the gear stick filling it to the brim. On the selector plate a 3" stalagmite had formed! Repainted the underside as the Norwegian army underseal has dried out and flaked off in places. Have no plans to repaint the top side. Runs as good as any of the "ground up" restorations or low mileage Hotchkiss Jeeps that I have owned. The heater still works, all be it only as a toe warmer!
Coventry Blitz Survivor - 1940/1 Triumph 3SW Military Motor Cycle.
Military Contract number: C 11465.
Delivered (eventually), 28/8/1941 to: RAF Carlisle.
Civilian Registration number HPP 66
Frame number: TL 30296.
Engine number: 3SW 40296. Contract number: C 11465. (+piled arms)
Gearbox number: TE 40897
Gearbox casting numbers: T264. SW1040
Gearbox stamped: 16 M (along with military piled arms arrow).
‘HPP 66’ the Military Triumph 3SW was born in October 1940 in the old Triumph works Coventry. Whilst nearing completion on the 14th November 1940, the German Luftwaffe bombed & destroyed the works along with most of the city centre, during ‘The Coventry Blitz’.
From the ashes a few battered & burned motorcycles were recovered.
A temporary factory was set up at Cape Warwick to resume production whilst work commenced to build the new Triumph factory at Meridian.
Cape Warwick repaired & put together one hundred & fifty Triumph 3SW side valve models for delivery to RAF Carlisle, Quedgeley & Stafford. HPP was one of these. After completion it was delivered to RAF Carlisle 22nd of August 1941. Eighty two Triumph 3HW motorcycles were also saved & delivered to RAF Hartlebury
After the war, in 1946, HPP was sold off in one of the military sales. An ex RAF man who co incidentally was based at RAF Carlisle during the war was the new owner. He laid the bike up in 1950 after the clutch jammed & eventually sold it in 2001.
The next owner completely dismantled the bike but it remained untouched until
I purchased it in April 2009, Fortunately it had been taken apart in a small garden shed. Every part including the original nuts & bolts were found. Post war it had been painted black, but underneath, the original Olive paint was still very evident.
Fortunately all parts were in good salvageable condition.
The metal parts were carefully cleaned off. It was found that unlike the front half of the frame, the rear half had no red oxide primer beneath the olive paint. Instead, the metal was black and scorched from fire. Upper sides of the frame including the field stand were pitted with small particles embedded in the metal tubing. Metallurgist’s opinion confirmed these are old bomb blast scars.
The restoration has focused on originality where possible all original parts have been reused including most of the tin work.
British Infantry Bicycle, MKV Made by BSA, Lee Enfield SMLE MK 3 dated 1917 also made by BSA, (this deact courtesy of Mick Collins). I am looking to purchase another of the same to live on this bicycle, Great war to WW2 dated. Old spec deact. If you have one for sale please contact me.
These vehicles are not for sale but are available for Film, TV, Promotional, Advertising or Special Occasion work.
Some military props available with vehicle(s) please enquire.
*MILITARY HOME - Military vehicles including - Militaria - MV's -Jeeps - Motorcycles - For Sale!
*EMAIL Ron Cobb .....or Tel 01462 815511 Mobile 07885 512027.
WANTED FOR CASH CLASSIC BIKES, CARS, MILITARY VEHICLES, JEEPS, LANDROVERS
Also Wanted: Hand book and Parts book for 1941 Triumph 3SW 350SV military.
www.roncobb.com
Export - Import - Established 1975.