Morris-Commercial C8 Gun Tractor body id please?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by David_Hayward
Comparing the bodies this seems to be correct, but was it a rebuild or a version of the No. 5 body?

David,

I love those riddles you let loose on us every now and then

It is not a "version" of the C8/FAT Mk III with Number 5 body, in the sense that it was produced in any numbers. The No.5 body was open-topped with fixed sides and proper doors (much like the CMP FAT-6 pictured here which was patterned on the M-C FAT with No.5 body). But this wood-'n-canvas body was clearly patterned on it.

No doubt it is experimental, and therefore likely to be based on an existing FAT so it can be classified as a "rebuild" if you like. If your pictures are all of the same tractor H5847572, they must show a tractor in different prototyping stages. Note that in the top photographs the tractor has a fixed windscreen surround, making it too high to fit into a glider. The lower one has no windscreen but small aero screens, looking much more like a FAT that would fit in a glider.

I'll notify Richard Notton so he can ask his neighbour and Morris-Commercial connoisseur Rory Ballard. And our resident forum member Mike Kelly can probably add some constructive comments, if not the definitive answer.

- Hanno