Wanted: Wartime Commer Project

[KevinHann]

With only a few finishing touches to carry out on our 30cwt Commer, mainly the painting of the decals and insignia which I will be undertaking myself over the next month or so we are now looking forward.

We very much enjoy the restoration side of these projects and so we have decided to go for another project, as Commers ore our thing I have started to put out feelers here and there for the next project...

Trouble is we all know that wartime Commers are very rare but we will keep looking cause you just never know what will turn up one day. Be it a 15cwt RAF van or a Q4 3 tonner we would be interested to hear and be keen to save another wonderful vehicle of this marque.

If anyone hears or knows of anything that would be up our street then please get in touch.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

With only a few finishing touches to carry out on our 30cwt Commer, mainly the painting of the decals and insignia which I will be undertaking myself over the next month or so we are now looking forward.

We very much enjoy the restoration side of these projects and so we have decided to go for another project, as Commers ore our thing I have started to put out feelers here and there for the next project...

Trouble is we all know that wartime Commers are very rare but we will keep looking cause you just never know what will turn up one day. Be it a 15cwt RAF van or a Q4 3 tonner we would be interested to hear and be keen to save another wonderful vehicle of this marque.

If anyone hears or knows of anything that would be up our street then please get in touch.

Hello Kevin, congrats on finishing the restoration of this 30-cwt truck!

I'd love to see a Q2 15-cwt RAF Van restored but AFAIK there are none left...

As for leads for projects:

1) See the Q2 Tractor in the Commer Q2 thread: it may be worthwhile to contact the current owner as there may come a time he's willing to let it go?

2) As Alex mentioned, a Commer project was mentioned on here a long time ago. I can't find the tread, but here is the link to the seller's website: https://kfjhandel.dk/biler/72-biler-...angravemaskine
This is a wartime Q4 truck in Denmark which was converted with an excavator on the back. Asking price is approx 5,650 EUR/ 4,800 GBP, but this has been for sale for approx. 10 years and there is no interest in these sort of vehicles in Denmark, I have been assured. So there should be some room to haggle?

Automated translation:

DESCRIPTION
year : 1950
COMMER 6 cyl. petrol.with mounted wire excavator pulled by Danish "AASÅ" pet. engine.
it is built at a machine factory in Sønderborg, an owner
PS. There is no instruction book for it, you have to practice.
driven as a motor vehicle - paper
has been in a barn for a number of years, your neighbor is guaranteed NOT to have another similar one
INFORMATION
DKK 42,000.00

[KevinHann]

Thanks for that Hanno.

If that were in the UK we would be chasing that one up. Looks just about right for a good restoration.

I do wonder though how expensive and difficult it would be transporting a truck over to the UK?

[Niels V]

The owner is not easy to deal with Hanno.
Most like problem with getting it to the Uk would be the height, when lowloading I suspect it could be pushing the limit of 4.1m

[KevinHann]

Originally Posted by Niels V

The owner is not easy to deal with Hanno.
Most like problem with getting it to the Uk would be the height, when lowloading I suspect it could be pushing the limit of 4.1m

Agreed, it would ideally need the crane to be removed before it were transported.

Out of interest, I have actually contacted the vendor to find out more information. Even if its just to fill out a few of my records of surviving Commers.

[Niels V]

Hi Kevin
It was about half price last time it was listed on facebook (25kdkk), where the seller is also active. But he is some what of a character
If you dont get a reply on the other you could try and contact him that way.

Its not that far away from me, so if you go for it, I could potentially provide a temporary, pitstop for getting rid of the crane.

[KevinHann]

So, after coming to the end of restoring our 1942 Commer 30cwt truck we are looking for another project, two provisos, It has to be 1939-45 and it has to be a Commer (any model) as that's our specialism.

Any leads I would be welcome to hear from you.

[KevinHann]

Still no reply from the vendor...

Maybe just one that we will leave to simmer and see what happens.

I must admit to being quite taken by the truck, without the crane its the sort of project we are looking for. I do wonder about putting some feelers out to see how much it would be to transport something like this back to the UK before we get too carried away?

[maple_leaf_eh]

I can't be much help on this side of the Atlantic. My suggestion for finding a candidate project would be to put a classified ad in Miliweb, or similiar UK equipment or vintage car/truck publication.

There are plenty of eyeballs on the page every month, and you are probably going to buy someone's abandoned project to give them a quick injection of 'how can I get rid of this headache?' cash.

[Andy Mitchell]

A friend of mine has got one, it could be for sale, but it’s pre war, June 39 civilian truck. There were lots of them left behind at Dunkirk and then used by Jerry! It looks more or less the same as a wartime military one.

Would you like his number ?

Cheers,

Andy

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

So, after coming to the end of restoring our 1942 Commer 30cwt truck we are looking for another project, two provisos, It has to be 1939-45 and it has to be a Commer (any model) as that's our specialism.

Any leads I would be welcome to hear from you.

I merged the Wanted thread you posted today with the earlier posts in the Commer Q2 thread to keep that more on topic.

[KevinHann]

I have a lead on a wartime Q4 in the UK, trouble is, I know its whereabouts from years ago and I have checked and its still registered but not on the road or taxed.

It's then almost impossible to trace the current owners.

[KevinHann]

Originally Posted by Andy Mitchell

A friend of mine has got one, it could be for sale, but it’s pre war, June 39 civilian truck. There were lots of them left behind at Dunkirk and then used by Jerry! It looks more or less the same as a wartime military one.

Would you like his number ?

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks Andy,

Do you know what model it is and what condition its currently in?

Kevin

[Andy Mitchell]

Hi Kevin,
Just sent you a message.
Andy

[KevinHann]

Thanks Andy.

I recall seeing the Commer in question for sale on FB.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

I recall seeing the Commer in question for sale on FB.

Added some background for future reference here: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...365#post293365

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

Still no reply from the vendor... Maybe just one that we will leave to simmer and see what happens.

I must admit to being quite taken by the truck, without the crane its the sort of project we are looking for. I do wonder about putting some feelers out to see how much it would be to transport something like this back to the UK before we get too carried away?

Kevin, I see a lot of potential in that Q4 in Denmark too. As Niels says, it may not be the easiest dealer and then there is the matter of transport to the UK. But the asking price has dropped considerably, and using an otherwise empty return freight to the UK may be an option? There are websites out there where you can put a freight on the market. And you have an offer for local help, so this may turn out to be doable?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Kevin,

Here's another lead for a Commer Q2 in Belgium. It needs a lot of work but at least the essentials seem to still be there. It has been for sale for quite a while and as far as I can tell was still present in 2021. If you're interested I can send you contact details.

As you can see, this has been fitted with a coach built cab after WW2. Looking closely at the scuttle/ cowl, I noticed the windscreen is part of the coachbuilt cab, and not of the original cab. It seems to have been a flat-face cowl supplied to a coachbuilder. I think this was a Welfare Van originally, as used by the Food Flying Squad. After WW2, a dozen Commer Welfare Vans were supplied to UNRRA and sent to Belgium. I think this could very well be one of them and it would make one heck of a resto - a very difficult one, but really unique!

[KevinHann]

Hi Hanno,

That does look like an interesting project, a lot of work to rebuild that body though especially without plans. But not impossible and like you say would make for a very rare and worthwhile project, very historically important too.

If you could pm me the details I would be grateful.

As yet, I still haven't heard anything back from the chap in Denmark with the Q4. I have in the meantime been looking around at costs of getting her back to the UK and its not actually as difficult as I first thought.

There are a few FB pages dedicated to UK hauliers looking for backloads from the continent, so getting a lorry back on a budget isn't impossible.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

Hi Hanno,

That does look like an interesting project, a lot of work to rebuild that body though especially without plans. But not impossible and like you say would make for a very rare and worthwhile project, very historically important too.

If you could pm me the details I would be grateful.

Hi Kevin, sorry to have kept you waiting, contact details are your mailbox.

[KevinHann]

It's all gone a bit quiet...I have messaged a few leads now, had some feedback but not much from the sellers.

Perhaps they don't see it as serious enquiries as we are so far away from them??

[Niels V]

Any updates Kevin, did you find anything useful ?
the Danish Commer is stil listed on facebook

[KevinHann]

Hi Niels,
I haven't had any reply at all from the chap in Denmark, I've messaged a couple times now. I should be able to view his advert on Fb from the UK site shouldn't I?
Kevin.

[Niels V]

Does this work
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...5863623299695/

Cheers Niels

[KevinHann]

Hi Niels,
Thanks for that, I have messaged the seller through FB now.
Kevin.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Hi Kevin,

I'm hoping the sellers in Denmark and Belgium are coming through sometime soon.

In the meantime, here is a third option for you to contemplate. It is a late production Commer Q2 and it is located in France. I found the ad on Leboncoin, the largest second hand sales site in France. Asking price has recently been lowered from €1.500 to a mere €800:
https://www.leboncoin.fr/collection/2117369087.htm

Laurent Golisset: "Commer to restore fully with gray card cylinder head disassembled engine stuck to see on site no send other photos"

Note: there is a second ad on Leboncoin, as I understand it this is an ad of the seller's friend who's still listing the initial price €1.500: https://www.leboncoin.fr/collection/2265522988.htm

Bonjour vend camion commer de la seconde guerre
mondial vendu dans l'état faire offre

See the next posting for more info and photos.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Because I have an interest in the Q2, I visited the seller, Mr Laurent Golisset in Triguères while on holiday in France. Mr Golisset went to a local estate sale of a deceased collector. It was a huge selection of mainly US WW2 vehicles from which he bought an M26 Pacific Tractor. Mr Golisset bought this Commer Q2 and a Ford CMP F30 as well, only to prevent them from being scrapped. He has no interest in them and has managed to sell the F30 in the meantime, but the Commer is still there. Mr Golisset has lowered the price recently - see the ad above - as he needs to move this on.

It is very complete down to two instruction plates and gun clamps inside the cab. The engine head has been taken off as it is stuck, but all the parts seem to be there - except for a missing left-hand half shaft which I think can be sourced from other Commer trucks. The rust in the cab is in the usual places, especially in the lower doors, but it is not bad at all for a truck which has stood outside since the mid 1980s.

I have not proceeded to buy this as a reality check proved I have too many projects at hand. So I hope you (or someone else) will save this - I fear it will be scrapped if not sold soon. I have attached some of the photos I made during my visit. I trust this is of use to you Kevin, and I hope you will save it! Let me know if you want to see some more photos of are in need of contact details other than those available through the Leboncoin ad.






Now, how did this Commer end up in France? Like in most European countries, most if not all of the transport was seized by the German occupying forces. So after WW2 there was a huge need to resupply vehicles to the armed forces, public services and vital civilian operators.

From the original "carte grise" (grey card = vehicle registration certificate) which comes with the truck it can be deducted it was first registered with a civilian owner in France in 1946 and it must have been one of a large number of British vehicles which were transferred to the French authorities for the reasons above. This is one of the late Q2's as shown in the Commer Q2 Van thread, I think this was delivered as a unused chassis/ cab, as it was fitted with a wooden flatbed body with removable sides in 1946 (which has since rotted away). I also have a period photo from a French magazine of a Commer with a van body somewhere. Who knows there may be another Commer truck sitting in a French barn somewhere? Chances are slim, I believe, so I hope this one will be saved and restored soon.

[KevinHann]

Hi Hanno,
Very interesting. I have taken a look at Lebancoin but it won't let me register as we are in the Uk.

Would you be able to private message me Mr Laurent Golisset email?

Thanks, Kevin.

[KevinHann]

Had a look through everything I have and as of yet can only find a couple if pictures of split screen Q2s, from the single photo I had of her previously I thought she was probably a Q4 as it didn't show the chassis past the cab.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by KevinHann

Hi Hanno,
Very interesting. I have taken a look at Lebancoin but it won't let me register as we are in the Uk.

Would you be able to private message me Mr Laurent Golisset email?

Hello Kevin,

I was in touch with him via the Leboncoin site. I see they have changed the login procedure - let me see if I can get back in.