Thread: ARN books
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Old 08-01-17, 03:00
Mike Cecil Mike Cecil is offline
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Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Cody, Wyoming, USA
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Default The Martian that wasn't .. well, sort of....

Almost right, Richard: the chassis is a Leyland Martian, FV1103A, but the bodywork, while broadly based on the Leyland bodywork, was wholly Australian, hence the differences you have observed. Only the single rolling chassis and mechanicals were imported. Testing was carried out in 1957.

The project was shelved once the Army testing authorities realised the pilot model was (1) overwidth at 8 foot 6 inches and (2) overweight on each tyre when laden and would therefore require State issued permits everytime the type ventured onto Australian roads.

Now why both those issues were not evident in a desk-top study prior to committing considerable resources to importing the chassis, then constructing a complete set of bodywork, followed by testing of the vehicle, is anyone's guess!

Mike
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