Some details of a rare surviving 1939 civilian Q25 Lorry. It may well have been used by the armed forces during WW2.
From the
National Transport Trust, May 2021:
"This Commer was restored by Roger Turpin from Gedney in Lincs. Purchased as a dismantled chassis cab in October 2018 as the classic ""basket case"" and found to be missing many parts. Through the help of a sympathetic land owner a second very rotten Q2 was obtained and sufficient axle/brake parts were present to make the restoration a possibility to it's original form.
It is said to be the earliest Q2 in existence. It is chassis number 12A0042 which is dated June'39, the model first appearing in April'39. Many of these vehicles were impressed by HM Govt in Sept '39 and were subsequently lost in France in 1940. Traces of RAF blue were found when the cab and panels were taken back to bare metal.
Stage one is complete as the Commer has been returned to ""flat bed"" configuration, engine rebuilt along with all brake equipment. Once cab internals finished, vehicle could be driven.
Stage two, planned for this winter, is the completion of cab interior and the mounting of a 500 gallon tank to the rear bed. this would be in the style of a kerosene delivery vehicle of the period."
It has changed hands recently and is now in the care of Alexander Scott in the UK. While this had a six cylinders engine originally, it is now fitted with a more modern engine and gearbox and is driven regularly.
