AEC Matador gun tractor

[Mike Cecil]

Cliff,

The one in the image you posted appears to be a base coat of KG3 or KG-J, with a disruptive pattern of light earth.

Mike

[lynx42]

After the Matadors at Mt. Taylor went to China, I was able to purchase the Maintenance Manuals they had there. 1943 Book No. 101/FW1 which is for (modified for Australia) and 1944 Book No. 101/FW1A Air Publication with a different cover and no mention of (modified for Australia).

Here are the covers.

img116.jpg

101/FW1

img115.jpg

101/FW1A

img117.jpg

Pictures from inside of the 3/4 front view,

img118.jpg

and the 3/4 rear view. but these may be the British colour scheme as it looks like Micky Mouse cammo.

Regards Rick.

[Philliphastings]

I purchased the AEC Armoured Command Vehicle off Bob Dimer in 2006 and began slowly restoring it for display in the Merredin (WA) Military Museum. I was in good running order and drove well - albeit minus air brakes ! I have a newspaper article from the time it arrived in Merredin.

I had collected a full set of correct radio gear (which I still have) and had sets of the plans and stowage sketches.

Unfortunately after exhausting my meagre funds on the AEC and M3 Stuart Tank, I had to let one go and so after being pestered endlessly for some time it passed to another collector who restored it externally. Last I heard it was resident in the Merredin Military Museum with a different interior fit out than the plans I had.

Perhaps one of our WA based MLUers can provide updated info on it's current whereabouts ?

Regards

Phill

[Dinty]

Two of the local sawmills in Millfield had AEC's, 2 have been scrapped, but one still exists, it has been fitted with a crane, cheers Dennis

[Lynn Eades]

Hi Phillip, It was still in the Merredin museum in mid 2014, when Rob Endersbee showed me through. She looked very smart, from the outside at least. A very classic vehicle! You have owned some impressive M.Vs.in the past.

[Philliphastings]

Hi Lynn, thanks

I have been very fortunate over the decades having owned, restored, preserved (and mostly driven) a fair variety of different Armoured and soft skin vehicles.

Having learned to drive in a Chevrolet CMP C15A 'Blitz' about 1979, I've never lost the passion. 10 years Army service only heightened my interest.

The AEC Armoured Command Vehicle was one of the highlights without a doubt.

I have also ensured that every vehicle I had went to a good home with only one notable exception - Daimler Ferret Mk2, ARN 115-328 which had been cut up and stripped. I sent the bare remains to the smelter...

Cheers

Phill

[Mike Cecil]

Rick,

The 1944 Manual was also released in April 1943, without the 'Air Publication' numbering in the top right corner. The contents of both the 1943 'modified for Aust' manual and the British April 1943 manual appear to be the same at first glance, so I don't know what the mods for Australia were. Any idea?

In any event, the 'Mod for Aust' would mean that the Matadors in Australia were a purchase from the UK, rather than refugee cargo as some of the OY Bedford appear to be. This would also support the idea that some of the (later) OY Bedfords were also a purchase, rather than all being refugee cargo.

The big difference between the Matador two manuals is the quality of paper: the Brit manual is on far better quality paper, with a hard card cover, compared to the 'austerity' paper and flimsy card cover used for the 'Modified for Australia' version.

There was also a small driver's handbook for the AEC Matador - my copy is also marked with the Air Publication number and is dated April 1944. All three of the publications I have were obtained in Australia, so all must have been supplied for use with the vehicles. Registrations are spread over two series, so I wonder if the Matadors arrived in Australia in two batches, several months apart? That might account for the 1943 v 1944 dated publications.

The cam pattern as pictured in the images in all the manuals is the Brit 'Mickey Mouse' ears black/green disruptive pattern.

Mike