Lynx II, hull # 4225

[Peter Duggan]

Dave,

The frame was cut as well as the hull. Doesn't appear to be much missing material. I've started to remove and tag all the exterior items. Surprisingly a fair number of the bolts yield without too much effort. Once the frame is stripped, I'll be able to decide to repair or perhaps replace. Long ways to go yet.

Peter

[rob love]

I did a fair bit of work on the Lynx in the Shilo collection. For the most part, the Lynx is not that different from working on a truck of that vintage. It is one of my favorite vehicles to drive out of the collection, and that says a lot. Hopefully a Lynx is in my future, but then again I have so many projects underway now I don't know in which decade I would fit it in.

Unless you happen to find a frame somewhere, I would suggest removing the hull and fishplating/welding the frame. I think the hull will add a lot of structural integrity to the frame, even if it wasn't 100% up to scratch.

[Michael R.]

Regards the hull number 4225, and the published images showing what some suggest is the highest production number of 3255: does anyone know if the number 3255 shown in the Milestone image is a production number, not related to a hull or serial number?

Where did the serial numbers start, i.e.: 1000? Are there any existing original, unaltered data plates that display a hull number, serial number and engine number with a month and year of production? Could a hull have a number 4225, but was actually produced as the 3225th vehicle off the line?

I ask, as about the same time the last of the Ford Canada built MK-II* Universal Carriers were in production. Although the Milestone image of the last Universal Carrier is displayed as being in the 28,9XX range, there are multiple examples of original data plates of Ford Canada MK-II* Universal Carriers for a British contract with serial numbers well above the Milestone 28,9XX 'last U.C.' produced number.

Do not confuse Ford Canada Universal Carrier production with Ford Canada Windsor Carriers, the latter being produced through April, 1945.

IIRC, years earlier an MLU contributor wrote that T-16 U.C.'s started their serial numbers at 1,000. Was that Rod S. in AZ? Could the same practice have existed for the Lynx? We know it did not for the Ford Canada Universal Carriers MK-I*.

[lynx42]

Micheal R. here is the parts book which confirms that the numbers started at Number 0001.
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The earliest Lynx I. that Australia received seems to be Hull No.240 with (Army Registration Number) ARN 123833. The first 15 are listed with just the engine number.(The first ARN. No123810 to ARN No.123824) and the latest Hull No.2025. ARN.123970. The hull numbers are all over the place. Just as they drove in the gate off the ship I think.

The last one listed in the ARN. books is Hull No. 1726 Serial No. 1726 and ARN.123980. That one is mine. There are another 30 spaces unfilled as if they were waiting for a further shipment. Maybe Mike C. can answer that one.

The identification Plate gives the Model. - Serial ID No.- Hull No.- Engine No. and build date with the month and year.

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Above are 3 of my Lynx plates. The Identification Plate, The gear Change and info plate and the WARNING plate. The Warning plate is fixed on the drivers hatch immediately next to his right eye.

Peters Lynx may not have this plate as it has the later diffs with the 8 stud wheels and no armoured roof. the earlier 6 stud axles were a problem as they were too weak.

The 4th one, not pictured, is the Publication plate afixed to the book holder near to the drivers right knee.

The Hulls were built by International Harvester and fitted to Ford chassis. There will be an IHC stamp on the flat horizontal piece immediately in front of the armoured vertical windscreen on the right hand side, right near the outer edge. The Serial Number, Ford Stamp and build date is right near the edge on the LEFT side of the horizontal plate.


Hope that this helps although it does not explain how Peter has a Lynx with the Hull No 4225 if there were only 3255 built.

Regards Rick.

[Lynn Eades]

The cover of the parts book identifies a MkIII and a MkIII* What is the difference? Were the MkIII's built in the U.K.?..... or for the Brits?
Were there only 3255 MkI's built, but did MkIIIs run into higher numbers?
I know nothing about them, but with carriers and firearms the "*" denotes Canadian built, so what does a a MkIII with no * denote?

[Michael R.]

Thank-you Rick. As I know SFA about the Lynx, I wonder if there are any indications of serial number ranges in the parts book showing a part used to a certain serial number..... perhaps showing numbers greater than 3255?

By way of example, the FUC-03 parts book for Universal Carriers has an indication where a part is used for a MK-I* U.C. to serial number 240XX, suggesting the MK-I* had a production range that may have reached that serial number range. I have no exposure to the Lynx, so please bear with my musings.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Peter,

Nice find, good luck with the restoration

PS: for those who would wonder where it came from, see the CMPs for sale in Italy thread

Hanno

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