Mystery Arty Tractor

[Dennis Cardy]

Looking for some help identifying this truck.

Lot 447…At the legendary Ernie's airplane auction..
Tillsonburg Ontario….5 Sept 1970.

While everyone was off buying airplanes…farm tractors.. and motorcycles…….this rusty wreck...languished in the background.

Did a bit of research….surprised to find….possibly... a very historic vehicle.

Looking at the cab ...and what we can see of the rear drive train

Appears to be Ford sheet metal and a very early example of the suspension system used on the famous WW2 American half-tracks…

So...Marmon Harrington …?

Could it…might it.. been part of the pre-war experimental Gun Tractor trials in Shilo..??


1) Anyone out Shilo way have any info on this.…? What is an 18 pdr..

2) Anyone know where Lot 447 ended up.?

[rob love]

18pr was the standard howitzer for WW1, and in the 1930s received the Martin-Perry rubber tire conversion. They were training guns at the beginning of the war.

I think the same truck may be shown on p27 of blueprint for victory as bought by an Ontario collector at auction in 1970.

[Bob Phillips]

I believe it was bought by Ford collector Phil Gravelle, currently restored and at the war museum, Ottawa.

[Stew Robertson]

I do not think they are the same truck
back when Bill Gregg was collecting he had a military vehicle drive through the area and one of those trucks showed up and made the trip through the trails
From my recollection the vehicle was from the Milton area and was pulled from a barn and was in dire need of repairs but was running but had no rear box just the half track suspension

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Stew Robertson

I do not think they are the same truck
back when Bill Gregg was collecting he had a military vehicle drive through the area and one of those trucks showed up and made the trip through the trails
From my recollection the vehicle was from the Milton area and was pulled from a barn and was in dire need of repairs but was running but had no rear box just the half track suspension

I recall that too...vaguely. Did that vehicle have this type of rear suspension or a 'cardon-loyd' type resembling a bren carrier?

[Dennis Cardy]

Thanks to all for input and suggestions.

Went on CWM website. Came up with this.
Part of their collection..

Not much info..but they call it a Model 51 Innes-Cunningham/Ford.
Never heard of I.C.
Were they a competitor to MH..?

Said to be a pioneering Canadian Artillery Tractor.
According to Museum..Tested by RCA..PPCLI and Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada.

I wonder if this is the same truck from the auction..?

At the same time …given it's recorded use by the Artillery…still a possibility it was part of the Shilo trials.

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Difficult to say for sure with grainy photographs but I'm starting to think yes.

Originally Posted by Dennis Cardy

Thanks to all for input and suggestions.

Went on CWM website. Came up with this.
Part of their collection..

Not much info..but they call it a Model 51 Innes-Cunningham/Ford.
Never heard of I.C.
Were they a competitor to MH..?

Said to be a pioneering Canadian Artillery Tractor.
According to Museum..Tested by RCA..PPCLI and Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada.

I wonder if this is the same truck from the auction..?

At the same time …given it's recorded use by the Artillery…still a possibility it was part of the Shilo trials.