ID Needed - Is This an Armoured Car Chassis?
 

Hello all

I found this rather unusual vehicle today in country Western Australia. It has been converted to a winch truck for the sole purpose of winching large fishing boats onto the beach. It has a large drum winch mounted directly in front of the driver and is powered by a driveshaft from the motor.

My first thought were that it is the chassis from an armoured car as it has a very short wheelbase and appears to have the original rear mounted motor and the front drivers positions. Whether the motor is the original is unknown as I could not get access to it to find out.

The chassis does not look as if it has been cut/shortened and the running gear look original.

The plating in front of the of the drivers position appears to be original armoured body plate cut to form the front and side panels of the 'dash'. The instrument panel and steering wheel may give some clues.

Can anyone shed some light on the original configuration of this vehicle?

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10593.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10599.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10594.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10600.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10601.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10602.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10603.jpg

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q...m/SDC10605.jpg

Short answer: Yes.
 

It's a Ford Lynx chassis.

Thanks Keith.

I've had a look at some pix of the Lynx and that bracket in photo#3 is for the rear shock absorber.

Tommy,
That bracket in photo 3 is actually the right front shock mount.
The hull number may still be stamped into the horizontal plate on the left of that windscreen bit. If the radiator is still good then that will save someone a lot of dollars. The hardest bit to find is the gearbox. It wasn't fitted to any other military vehicle. The rear diff is the Lynx's achillies heal. A heavy body and a small diff is asking for trouble. There is a plate on the vehicle originally which had the advise as follows. " At all times when using 1st, 2nd, or reverse gear and high or near high engine revolutions, ENGAGE Front axle." Mine still has that plate.
Regards Rick.

Rumours
 

Stuart, for the longest time there has been talk of a bunch of Lynxes which were used here in WA. As far as I know this is the first example which has turned up. I have found some of the front ditching rails for Lynxes but nothing else.

It is definately worth trying to save.

Cheers

Phill

By the bricks it's standing on looks like someone's already trying to save it..?

Regards

Alex

Photo
 

G'day All,

Just thought I would add a photo of what one looked like. I did not know so went hunting - :sheep:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...I-latrun-2.jpg

Kind Regards
Lionel

For those interested this is my Lynx Chassis and what it should look like!

Very nice Darren, do you have the upper hull as well ?

Tony