Ron's MV's - Willys Jeep & Military Motorcycles
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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
Original old war horse. Ex British army and D day landed. During its advance towards Germany It was damaged by enemy fire. Evidence remains of medium calibre damage to the front right wing downwards, strafed from above, through to bulkhead, footwell, inner wing, to lower engine compartment. It was recovered post war by the US Army Butzbach Ordnance Depot where huge quantities of combat materials, weapons, vehicles and spare parts were collected and stored ready for reconditioning to serviceable stock. In 1951 it was repaired. Many bullet holes, and related localised damage was gas welded up,(scars remain). Accordingly it was fitted with a reconditioned engine from US Army's 'Karlsfeld Ordnance Depot' This was the old BMW factory which during the war had switched to producing aero engines for the Luftwaffe. Set to go again it was re painted blue, possibly for use by US Army/Airforce in post war Germany.
In 1955, it fitted with a full winter kit including a Jeep under dash 'Cabin heater' by The German Railroad, Car and Machine factory, 'GMB' Borsigwalde, Berlin. Though post Marshal plan, it made its way to Norway. The Norwegian army repainted it to O/D. The heater still works, all be it only as a toe warmer. In the 1980's it was sold off from Norway and imported back into UK.
The Odometer read 7,000 miles which was possibly correct from its stay in Norway as on inspection, the gearbox was full of water. Condensation had run down the gear stick filling it to the brim. The selector plate had formed a 3" oil and grease stalagmite where it had been stood for so long. Repainted the underside as the Norwegian army underseal had dried out and was flaking off. Have no plans to repaint the top side.
Drives great. Willys Jeep, like the Spitfire - perfect!
1940 Triumph 3SW
Triumph 3SW Date of manufacture 1940. Delivered (eventually), 28/8/1941 to: RAF Carlisle.
Military Contract number: C 11465.
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).
Coventry Blitz Survivor - 1940/1 Triumph 3SW Military Motor Cycle.
‘HPP 66’ the Military Triumph 3SW was born October 1940 in the old Triumph works Coventry. Whilst nearing completion on the 14th November 1940, the Luftwaffe bombed & destroyed the works along with most of the city centre in ‘The Coventry Blitz’.
From the ashes a few battered & burned motorcycles were recovered.
A temporary factory was set up at Cape Warwick to repair & salvage what they could whilst work commenced to build the new factory at Meridian.
Cape Warwick repaired & put together one hundred & fifty one Triumph 3SW side valve models for delivery to RAF Carlisle, Quedgeley & Stafford. HPP was one of these. On completion it was delivered to RAF Carlisle 22nd of August 1941. (RAF Carlisle Fighter Command provided day training for Hawker Hurricane pilots March 1941 - August 1942).
After the war HPP was sold off in one of the military sales. It was registered for civilian use in Buckinghamshire on the 25th of April 1946 & allocated the registration number HPP 66.
Co incidently? a ex RAF man formerly based at RAF Carlisle became the new owner. He laid the bike up in 1950 after the clutch jammed, eventually selling it as a non runner.
The next owner completely dismantled the bike, it remained dismantled & untouched for some years. Fortunately it had been taken apart in a very small garden shed. Everything including the original nuts & bolts were found. Post war it had been painted black, but underneath, the original Olive paint was still very evident.
Most all parts were in good salvageable condition.
The metalwork was carefully cleaned off. Unlike the front half of the frame, the rear half appeared to have no primer beneath the olive paint, for here the metal was black and severely scorched from fire. Upper sides of the frame & field stand were scarred & embedded with small particles. Metallurgist’s opinion confirmed these are old bomb damage scars.
The restoration has focused on originality, where possible all original parts re-used.
1925 Triumph Model 'P"
After World War One, Triumph Model 'H' machines still in War Office service were partially replaced with the Model 'P' Both types remained in service to the end of the decade.
This 'P' left the Triumph factory in January 1925. Engine 499cc, with 3 speed gearbox.
1944 BSA WM20.
1944 BSA WM20. Unused for over thirty years, after brushing up the spark plug, mag points, and fresh petrol it started third kick. Tough & reliable 2 wheeled British tank!
1928 Royal Enfield Model '355' 3.46 hp. Sports Overhead-valve.
1928 Royal Enfield Model '355' 3.46 hp. Sports Overhead-valve. During the years between WW1 - WW2 the Royal Signals of Corps grew in strength & in 1928 the Cavalry Signals organised a motorcycle display in combination with the equestrian team. Still researching the history of this bike, said to be associated with the original team but so far only word of mouth, any info welcomed.
Different to the standard OHV 351 Model, this sports model used the TT frame giving a lower saddle position, along with a specially tuned engine with high compression piston, basically the same as the Model 352 3.46 hp Double Port Overhead valve (no kick starter), the road race version of the successful RE TT racing bikes of the era. As far as exhaust notes go, this bike acheives the ultimate sounds of - 'farting up a drain pipe'
Detail - Rear mudguard
1944 James 'ML' Military Lightweight
1944 James ML powered by the Villiers 9D 125cc two stroke. The ML (Military Lightweight) saw use with front line assault troops & the commando's. A generally well made & reliable machine it soon became nicknamed the 'Clockwork Mouse'. Easy to manhandle over fences & ditches, a tank full of petrol kept it going all day.
British Infantry MKIV BSA Bicycle.
Pride of the Fleet - British Infantry Bicycle, MKIV Made by BSA, Lee Enfield SMLE No1 MK 3 dated 1917 also made by BSA.
"Permission to speak sir, 
I may be old but I can still give them the old cold steel, and they don't like it up 'em. You know, they do not like it!"
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