New Find British Tilly

[wayne lane]

Found and recovered from north-west NSW
Info from the previous owner his grandfather bought the vehicle from end of war sales in the 40's. Was painted white and used for the towns local hospital run about vehicle till the 50's, then obseleted. He then took the vehicle back to the farm for light duties but was soon abandoned for a more practical vehicle.
Was sheded up till the last 6 years and was last driven in the mid 70's. Vehicle is mostly complete, has several millitary id tags, crank handle, remains of rear canvas cover, all doors and windows open and shut freeley, still have not finished looking through vehicle, have yet to open up rear seating deck floor, engine is complete and turns over with 13510 miles on the clock.
Previous owner was happy to see the tilly go to someone with an intrest with restoring the old girl.
I expect to source an ignition and fuel source this coming weekend and give the old tilly a run.
Can anybody offer any info to weather this vehicle is rare in Australia.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Wayne ..
That looks like a converted Naffi wagon..There is a restored one in the Canadian War museum ,even the paint on yours looks the same and is the original colour..
Sort of a light grey-white.
Here is an example of how they were built..but with different vehicles..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/john_64/4589855040/

The NAFFI body was probably replaced but could have been used buy the hospital and purchased from the military..The open backed body was probably used to replace the original NAFFI body..
Nice find and that would be an excellent way to restore it..That would be a winner at events..Pay for your trip..Sell tea and 'roo burgers out of it..


There is a picture of it..on this forum..go to the search function across the top header and type in MObile Canteen..
It is a Fordson,but many vehicles were converted.

[Haridimos]

Originally Posted by Alex Blair

Wayne ..
That looks like a converted Naffi wagon..

I agree with Alex..it looks to me a coverted Austin Van, but Im not an expert on the Austins.

There were some photos on the Windscreen magazine (114 issue) from an Austin Van.

[Richard Farrant]

This is a Hillman utility and looks to be genuine (not a converted van). Never seen a NAAFI van based on a Tilly, I think Alex is getting confused with the Ford E83W that was normally bodied as a tea wagon.

I would think it will be rare in Australia, although not uncommon to find them, I once saw a couple of Morris tillys and a Standard, in NSW and I think a few might have been shipped back to the UK in the past.

Regards, Richard

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Haridimos

I agree with Alex..it looks to me a coverted Austin Van, but Im not an expert on the Austins.

There were some photos on the Windscreen magazine (114 issue) from an Austin Van.

These photos are of a Hillman van, not an Austin.

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

This is a Hillman utility and looks to be genuine (not a converted van). Never seen a NAAFI van based on a Tilly, I think Alex is getting confused with the Ford E83W that was normally bodied as a tea wagon.

I would think it will be rare in Australia, although not uncommon to find them, I once saw a couple of Morris tillys and a Standard, in NSW and I think a few might have been shipped back to the UK in the past.

Regards, Richard

Richard
This is the picture that I am referring too..

http://www.servicepub.com/images/adsc01648.jpg

Looks to me similar for'ard amidships..Any kind of box can be scabbed onto the cab..

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by Alex Blair

Richard
This is the picture that I am referring too..

http://www.servicepub.com/images/adsc01648.jpg

Looks to me similar for'ard amidships..Any kind of box can be scabbed onto the cab..

Alex,

Sorry, I was not refering to your Austin K2 photo. Just pointing out that the subject vehicle is a genuine Hillman Tilly and that also the photos posted by Haridimos, are also of a Hillman (or Commer - early case of badge engineering), but a van version.

To see what a Hillman 10hp Utility looks like check this link out;
http://hillman.tillyregister.com/about.html

[ted angus]

Beat me to it Richard it looks like a virtually unmolested Hillman Tilly, It was the only 10hp tilly used by the RAF as a standard vehicle. turning to the van; The RAF had hundreds of the Hillman van, many were equipped with a ladder rack for use by the aerodrome lighting teams.
regards TED

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

Alex,

Sorry, I was not refering to your Austin K2 photo. Just pointing out that the subject vehicle is a genuine Hillman Tilly and that also the photos posted by Haridimos, are also of a Hillman (or Commer - early case of badge engineering), but a van version.

To see what a Hillman 10hp Utility looks like check this link out;
http://hillman.tillyregister.com/about.html

Richard.
I see the similarity now and am in full agreement with your analysis..
It almost seems to me that the Brits took a standard auto,model and make notwithstanding and sawed it off behind the post of the drivers door and fitted many a different ,multi purpose box on the back..
Where American and Canadian manufacturers made the full cab and frame..THEN added the box..
Great find anyway and looking forward to following the restoration.
By the way..Will and Kate are downtown tonight partying with us here in Ottawa..I think the people here want to keep them...
Watch tomorrow on Canada Day(Our 144th birthday..They expect 300,000 folks on Parliament Hill..)

[mshackleton]

Hello Wayne
This is the only known Hillman Tilly in Australia and joins a very small clique of other Tillys down under. This particular machine came to our attention in 2006 when it came up for sale on Ebay. We contacted the owner and did a short piece in our magazine Tilly Text. However, we have heard nothing since and it would be great if you could get in touch us. Go to the link below and you will find out a lot more about the British Tilly.

Cheers
Mike Shackleton
Tilly Register
http://www.tillyregister.com/home.html

[Mike K]

blimey ..it's a rarity here , and so complete.

An older VMVC member ( who really knows what's what about ex military cars ), has mentioned to me a few times, a firm in Melbourne was running a fleet of tillies in the early 1950's . I'm sure he said they were Hillmans .

I know of a Morris tilly being restored in West. Aust. The tassie Morris tilly went to the UK, it was badly rusted and almost beyond it.

I know of a restored Standard being shipped to the UK , but they are by far the most numerous here.

Mike

[warren brown]

What an extraordinarily interesting vehicle...

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Wayne - what a ripper little vehicle you found. It is the sort I would like in my fleet. Well done.

Bob

[gordon]

It'll fit in an ordinary garage, tow on a trailer, when it's done you will be able to run down to the shops for a can of beans in it, without spending your life savings on fuel, and while you are working on it I'd guess ever single part of it could be lifted by hand.

Nice.

[jack neville]

Wayne,

PM sent

Jack

[Larry Hayward]

Out of interest going back to the first post and the photos of this Hillman Tilly, does anyone know whether the vents in the side of the engine cover are early or late mods, as I have seen a few photos of Hillman Tillies without this, and one in the UK being restored without vents was built in 1942 (for the British Army).