AEC Matador Found - Western Australia

[Stuart Kirkham]

G'day Members

This one is for the English 'Lorry' brains trust.

I recently found this AEC truck here in a country town in Western Australia. I believe it is an ex military Matador.
Although it is just a bare chassis, it does have military style split rims and a forward mounted roller fairlead for the winch. You can also see the mounting hole on the fairlead for the front mounted spring leaf pintle hook.

Many years ago I found the body of an AEC Dorchester in an industrial yard in Perth, Western Australia. It was just the body, no chassis. After a long search, a suitable chassis was eventually found in central Australia and has been mated to complete the vehicle.

I was wondering if this Matador chassis may have come from the Dorchester body.

Was there any differences between the standard Matador chassis and the Dorchester that could identify this chassis. I'm not 100% sure but I do not think Matadors were used here in Australia during the war.

[Stuart Kirkham]

More Photos.

[Stuart Kirkham]

Photos of the Dorchester as found in industrial yard.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

I see the remains of a cab, so I don’t think it’s a Dorchester chassis.

It is a rare find though.

[Philliphastings]

Hello Stuart,

The AEC Dorchester chassis was never fitted with a winch.

I think I was offered that chassis in your pics during the time I owned the WA dorchester after buying it off the late Bob Dimer.

It is now fully restored (although the interior is not correct) and resides in NSW

Cheers

Phill

[Stuart Kirkham]

Hi Phill

Thanks for that info.
Do you remember any Matadors in Australia? This truck has me stumped. How did it get to WA? Did it come from RAF Station Butterworth or was it imported by someone?