Canadian Lynx Armoured Scout Car

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi folks !

Does anyone have any idea how many of these have survived and what sort of price a reasnable runner would be ?

[maple_leaf_eh]

Every so often someone does a survey of surviving whatevers and publishes their findings. I don't remember seeing any lists of these little ACs, but hope springs eternal.

[Harry Moon]

We have a restored Mk1 at the CMEC In Chilliwack B.C.

[rob love]

Here is a link to a list of survivors.
http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving...Scout_Cars.pdf

I did a reasonable bit of work last year to the example in the RCA museum here in Shilo. Fresh brakes, fresh wiring, and a bit of cosmetics. It is fun to drive, and sure a crowd pleaser. The one change I made was installing an electric fuel pump (controlled by a toggle switch on the dash) for guaranteed starting along with an oversized fuel filter on the frame. After sitting for a year, I can hop into it, flip the master switch, and it starts every time.

As for value, one sold the other year for around $30K from Australia. I heard rumour it was coming to Canada, so by the time you factor in the shipping, I guess she ran $35 to 40K.

The example in Shilo is in the 5000 serial range, which is puzzling since most reports give a significantly lower production number.

[Andrew Rowe]

Hi all, the one Rob talks about I think you will find is the one I imported last year from Aussie. I have both the MkI and MkII
New Zealand forces used these in action in Italy during WWII
Here is a thought, was there about 3225 total built? and the parts books show the different axles on MkII starting from serial number 3000, does this mean only 225 MkII built ( Has bigger diff, different ratio ) can anyone shed light on this fact??

[rob love]

Andrew

Sounds like you may have beat someone else here who was talking about importing it.

Your observation about the axles is along the lines of my thoughts as well. I think Bill Gregg's used the expression "at least" 3325, and that has since morphed into that being used as the production number.

Again, Shilo's hull serial number is in the 4000+ range with a date of 1945. I think that may lead credence to the production being in that neighborhood.

What other serial numbers are observed on existing mk2 hulls?

[Dave42MB]

There is a book, Faces of Ford The Windsor Years, by Michael Gladstone White, 1993 that has a photo of the scout car with 3,255th painted on it and the date January 31, 1945

[Michael R.]

The milestone images are interesting references for production dates and numbers.

[Andrew Rowe]

Does this mean we have conclusive proof for numbers made??

[rob love]

The Lynx here in Shilo has a hull number of 4542, with a build date of 1-1945. Doubtful that they would have built an additional 1200+ in the month of Jan, 1945, but it's hard to explain the high number. Could the number on the mk2 be the production number just for the mk2, which would, combined with the 1000 or more mk1s explain the high number?

If anyone has access to a parts manual, does it give any cutoff numbers by serials?

[marco]

Just a suggestion, could it be that the first production car had serial number 1001?
Chevrolet serial numbering for Staghound starts with 1001 also.


Marco

[David Dunlop]

I checked my Lynx Manuals and there are no parts changes at all referenced as "before or after" any given serial number. Just the usual "when stock depleted use…". The introductory sections of both the Parts and Maintenance Books do mention that both the Serial Numbers and Hull Numbers start at " 1 (One) ".

Also took a quick look at my INFOEX book and it looks like Ford did not bother separating the Mk I and Mk II Carriers by different Serial Number Blocks. It is possible, therefore, that Ford simply kept adding from '1' as they transitioned through the various versions of the Lynx.

Perhaps, historically, we just have not yet discovered all production contracts for the Lynx to get a complete picture of the numbers built.


David

[Andrew Rowe]

Just a bit more info to throw out there. I have a Ford illustrated major assembly catalogue FMA-01 issued Dec 1944, about 2 1/2'' thick , It shows great pictures and includes all part numbers that have been used in the assembly of Engines, gearboxes, Transfer cases , axles , steering boxes of all military vehicles made in Canada during the war. You can cross reference most parts back through any vehicle made. The Lynx section for the 5 major components in the book clearly state from what serial number the assemblies are supplied for, like the axles for Mk 2 , the ratio changed and were to be fitted in vehicles from serial 3000# and onwards, it's a great book.

[marco]

Just found this stowage diagram for the Ford Lynx.
It measures 83,5 x 55,5 cm.
For those interested: pm me your email address and I'll sent you a version in a higher resolution.

Marco

[Bob Cohoon]

A friend of mine told me that 2 or 3 Lynx scout cars were brought in from Greece by a friend of his about 15 or 20 years ago to the port of Montreal , and he had a tough time getting them in the country. I think ,maybe, the one at the Ottawa war museum may be one of those

[peter simundson]

Bill Gregg brought in three of them from Portugal. One went to the
War Museum, he kept one for his collection (The Shilo one), and the other he sold in Europe.


Peter S

[Bob Cohoon]

I know a lot of vehicles came from Portugal, but I looked a bit and it seems it was Greece http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/lynx_(wheeled).htm . The person I knew was Denis Payeur from St, Hubert, Quebec, and he had a lot of dealings with Bill Gregg. If the link works, it even has serial numbers

[peter simundson]

Greece it was. I checked my records.

Peter S

[Richard Farrant]

Originally Posted by peter simundson

Greece it was. I checked my records.

Peter S

I think it was longer than 15 years ago too. Recollect that the Lynx's being disposed of in Greece were being cut in half and three were sent specially to Canada for museums. There were a lot of armoured cars I think that all had to be cut in half before disposal, could have been M8 or M20. If I were to wade back through Wheels & Tracks, I am sure it was mentioned in there.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Richard Farrant

I think it was longer than 15 years ago too. Recollect that the Lynx's being disposed of in Greece were being cut in half and three were sent specially to Canada for museums. There were a lot of armoured cars I think that all had to be cut in half before disposal, could have been M8 or M20. If I were to wade back through Wheels & Tracks, I am sure it was mentioned in there.

M8 Greyhounds, M20's, M3A1 Scout Cars, plenty of Jeeps, Beeps & Jimmy's too, many of them in the tell-tale Greek camouflage scheme - see attached picture. Typically the armour was cut, but some escaped the gas axe. Saw plenty of US stuff passing through the hands of traders, but apart from the South African Reconnaissance Car, Mark IVF I never saw CMPs (-related) coming through. This must have been during the late 80's / early 90's.

Could well have been Bill Gregg was the early bird catching the worm....

H.