Heads Up: LAAT body in UK

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Just a heads up as I understand Nigel Watson's LAAT body is still available.

See this thread which dates back to 2009:

Originally Posted by Nigel Watson

This is the picture of the LAAT after it was salvaged. It has now been dismantled, good parts sold/retained and the back body I still have. It has some panels bowed from heat although all structure items seem ok. The other body is much worse. Am hoping to be able to sell/alter this one and wood panel the other one.

[Nigel Watson]

This body is now part dismantled. I have started to cut out buckled panels with a view of replacing them. I have another donor LAAT body which was going to provide all the door and hatches for the first one.
I have a lot of parts on the donor vehicle which I am hoping to part. Things like winch, chassis, wheels, springs, axles, lower cab and various brackets. All unrestored at the moment if anyone is interested. Could bring down to Stoneleigh at end of January.

Nigel

[RichardT10829]

Nigel, that looks tragic, what happened ?

[Nigel Watson]

Originally Posted by RichardT10829

Nigel, that looks tragic, what happened ?

Hi Richard
It happened a few years back now. I had a very large wartime hanger and was setting up a vehicle storage facility in one half with a living history museum in the other. Had just opened and had several military vehicles in store, about four luxury caravans, a couple of containers of personal household items and six classic cars.

At about 4am one night it was set alight and because the outer skin and main structure was metal, it burnt to a heat internally like an oven and the beams simply slowly melted inwards with all vehicles burnt.

I had divided the area with a curtain which unintentially was made of heat resistant material fabric and this saved my Dingo and several other vehicles including this truck from literally being melted down. The front of this CMP still had its paint on and engine was ok with only rubber parts gone. As you can see the heat buckled the thin panels but the rest were fine.

I bought the salvage of my Dingo and had it rebuilt badly by a so called professional, but eventually got it right and it was a joy to have running again. Luckily the carrier wasn't there.

Now aren't you glad you asked!? Lol