The army used these mainly as 10 ton load carriers. Matadors were used as gun tractors, I don’t remember these in that field. Crash box a doddle and the range change lever next to the drivers door was great fun. Slept in them, had meals in them, been shot at in them too. This doesn’t look like army spec.perfect vehicles in the day.
The cabin on this truck has been cut down at some stage, thus looking different to the amry spec cabins that i can find pictures off. Going from the model number is conferms that it is a Gun Tractor, going from the information on the users manual i have the Good Carrier vechile had a longer wheel base than the truck i have. Also google searchs list these trucks as military used vechiles. Keep in mind this is post ww2 vechile. I beleave the matadors were ww2 era gun tractors. Those im no expert in this field
Hello its great to see someone tacking an interest in our old BRITISH trucks. You can see its EX WD because of the euro hitch, which most Miletry vehicles use 👍👍👍. The number of old BRITISH trucks I remember on the roads in the 50s and 60s brings back so many memories. Best of luck with your project 🇬🇧. Geoff Lewis Wales UK 🏴
@@hurricanedaniel Hello Dan, what I ment W, D. You were right to say "War Department" having worked with so many Ex Servicemen they would talk quite a bit about military service. They told me (hope you don't mind me telling you" that the Euro Hitch was chosen for the Miletry use, at night when driving, the trucks would be driving close to each other and with the rear lights on and small front lights on if a truck would miss the correct line of the road the trailer could roll over it is less likely to spin the truck over as well, it might have other advantages I don't know.
@@hurricanedaniel Hello Dan forgot to mention I am a Joiner and had a workshop. I knew this chap who was an owner of an LDV van and truck franchise and he had this enormous SCAMMEL Tow Motor, it had 2 steering wheels and 8 driving wheels. He wanted me to build a brand new rear back on it, from chassis up. This would be used to house oils, diesel containers, chain,s chocks etc.It had lockable doors. He used to take it to Shows. It had a Winch on the front and back. Mechanically it was in really good condition, you had to have a step ladder to get into it.When it was finished, he had it all repainted, it was a treat to see. Best of luck with your projects. Geoff Lewis Wales UK 🏴
@@geofflewis4815 well there you go. War department was a good guess then. I could see how the rotating hitch would help with trailer roll over. I also assume it would be better for offroad use.
@@geofflewis4815 oh. That Scamnel would be a nice truck to own. I think the large military tank transporters were Scammels? Im not 100% sure. Im going to look it up now
It's an AEC Militant Mk1 6x6, hence the 0860 on the plate, the 6x4 were 0859. The SWB, like this one have 12ft 10 in wheelbase, and the LWB version are 16ft. The SWB version were used as gun tractors and tippers. The LWB were mostly cargo & tankers. The cab on this isn't an AEC one, lacks the side windows behind the doors. I believe that the handbrake is of the multi pull ratchet variety, which flies off once the lever is pulled and the trigger actuated. Some were later fitted with Atlas folding knuckle cranes. Power steering wasn't fitted, hence boot marks on the dash as drivers fought the tendency in low gear to go straight ahead. There was no inter axle diff on the rear bogie, so some preserved examples have the last prop shaft removed to stop wind up. Like the Matador, best described as 'go anywhere - eventually'.
Thanks for the info Robert. Im not sure who made the cabin for it. Ive been told it was possibly import to Australia for the snowy mountain hydro project and used as a offroad water tanker. It has signs that some thing was running off the PTO shaft via chain drive. Its defantly not a fast truck thats for sure haha, but it looks cool.
The Millie you have is maybe an ex British Army hybrid, the cab, headlamps above the bumper are civilian and non standard as is the wheels and tyres. I think your Millie is a one off hybrid built by AEC Southall to special order for a customer in Australia, hence the civilian cab with sun visor and lack of slinging flanges on the rear bogie hubs. Prior to the 1970,s very few Millie Mk 1,s found their way to civilian applications, but AEC offered the Millie as a 6x6 off road quarry dumper, . Crane maker Coles also used the Millie for their lorry mounted mobile crane . Douglas Engineering of Cheltenham UK built a limited number of 6x6 timber tractors based on Mk 1 Millie mechanicals, engine gearbox transfer box front axle and winch, only difference is Douglas bought in from John I Thornycroft of Basingstoke Hampshire the rear bogie from their 6x4 'Big Ben' Tractor.
interesting info you have there, one bloke that came out to see it though it might have been bought into australia buy Theise brothers? for the Snowy mountians Hydro Electic dam project in the 50/60. ive not seen another like it in AUS, i have seen the larger military cabins around, but not the short cabin i have
@@hurricanedaniel Thanks much appreciated, and very interesting that AEC tendered for the contract to supply Muftied Millies for the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Dam Project. Do you have any information regarding the Millie,s bodywork or what work she did on the project, a water, fuel tanker ,flatbed lorry?. Only the long wheelbase Troop Supply Transport Millies have the short cab, while the Gun Tractors have the larger cab for the gun crew plus driver.
Very nice video. I can truly appreciate the work into the tires. Having it sit up straight with good tires makes it a whole different truck. It was nice to see it with the 2 rear wheels off, a person could see everything much better. That’s interesting how the hand brake lever operates the wheel brakes. On old big trucks here which I have seen the hand brake lever operates a drum, band or disc brake on the driveshaft. Is there a air actuator chamber for each rear wheel? You are definitely right, it is cool and if you have a prime mover it may as well be a cool one. If anyone ever says your too slow tell them that’s so people can get a better look. Oh and that is a strange setup for the air compressor. Keep up the good work.
Yes, she looks a whole lot better sitting on some rubber thats round. There was a few things i forgot to show and mention, but maybe ill remember next time. Handbrake i thought was interesting how it acts on the main brakes, well as far as i can tell. Main brakes are straight air. Haha, thats a good response to driving slow. The compressor mounting is a odd one, even never seen a gearbox with a belt drive on it ether.
The winch I saw on one looked like the matador unit in style. Might even be the same? The whole winch is on a pivot and disengages at overload. From talking to folk I think some had a big recovery winch mounted on the chassis?
Im not 100% sure but i think the winch might be the same at the matadors. I think they share a number of items? Im sure the motor is just a bored out Matador unit. I have seen plenty of pictures of the recovery winch tractors using a larger winch mounted ontop of the chassis. I have plans to do something similar with a 45,000lbs garwood winch.
The army used these mainly as 10 ton load carriers. Matadors were used as gun tractors, I don’t remember these in that field. Crash box a doddle and the range change lever next to the drivers door was great fun. Slept in them, had meals in them, been shot at in them too. This doesn’t look like army spec.perfect vehicles in the day.
The cabin on this truck has been cut down at some stage, thus looking different to the amry spec cabins that i can find pictures off.
Going from the model number is conferms that it is a Gun Tractor, going from the information on the users manual i have the Good Carrier vechile had a longer wheel base than the truck i have.
Also google searchs list these trucks as military used vechiles.
Keep in mind this is post ww2 vechile.
I beleave the matadors were ww2 era gun tractors.
Those im no expert in this field
Hello its great to see someone tacking an interest in our old BRITISH trucks. You can see its EX WD because of the euro hitch, which most Miletry vehicles use 👍👍👍.
The number of old BRITISH trucks I remember on the roads in the 50s and 60s brings back so many memories.
Best of luck with your project 🇬🇧.
Geoff Lewis Wales UK 🏴
hi Geoff. thanks for the reply.
What do you mean by EX WD? War Department ?
i do like the old British trucks, they have a nice look to most of them.
@@hurricanedaniel Hello Dan, what I ment W, D. You were right to say "War Department" having worked with so many Ex Servicemen they would talk quite a bit about military service.
They told me (hope you don't mind me telling you" that the Euro Hitch was chosen for the Miletry use, at night when driving,
the trucks would be driving close to each other and with the rear lights on and small front lights on if a truck would miss the correct line of the road the trailer could roll over it is less likely to spin the truck over as well, it might have other advantages I don't know.
@@hurricanedaniel Hello Dan forgot to mention I am a Joiner and had a workshop. I knew this chap who was an owner of an LDV van and truck franchise and he had this enormous SCAMMEL Tow Motor, it had 2 steering wheels and 8 driving wheels. He wanted me to build a brand new rear back on it, from chassis up.
This would be used to house oils, diesel containers, chain,s chocks etc.It had lockable doors. He used to take it to Shows. It had a Winch on the front and back. Mechanically it was in really good condition, you had to have a step ladder to get into it.When it was finished, he had it all repainted, it was a treat to see. Best of luck with your projects.
Geoff Lewis Wales UK 🏴
@@geofflewis4815 well there you go. War department was a good guess then.
I could see how the rotating hitch would help with trailer roll over.
I also assume it would be better for offroad use.
@@geofflewis4815 oh. That Scamnel would be a nice truck to own. I think the large military tank transporters were Scammels? Im not 100% sure. Im going to look it up now
It's an AEC Militant Mk1 6x6, hence the 0860 on the plate, the 6x4 were 0859. The SWB, like this one have 12ft 10 in wheelbase, and the LWB version are 16ft. The SWB version were used as gun tractors and tippers. The LWB were mostly cargo & tankers. The cab on this isn't an AEC one, lacks the side windows behind the doors. I believe that the handbrake is of the multi pull ratchet variety, which flies off once the lever is pulled and the trigger actuated. Some were later fitted with Atlas folding knuckle cranes. Power steering wasn't fitted, hence boot marks on the dash as drivers fought the tendency in low gear to go straight ahead. There was no inter axle diff on the rear bogie, so some preserved examples have the last prop shaft removed to stop wind up. Like the Matador, best described as 'go anywhere - eventually'.
Thanks for the info Robert.
Im not sure who made the cabin for it. Ive been told it was possibly import to Australia for the snowy mountain hydro project and used as a offroad water tanker.
It has signs that some thing was running off the PTO shaft via chain drive. Its defantly not a fast truck thats for sure haha, but it looks cool.
The Millie you have is maybe an ex British Army hybrid, the cab, headlamps above the bumper are civilian and non standard as is the wheels and tyres. I think your Millie is a one off hybrid built by AEC Southall to special order for a customer in Australia, hence the civilian cab with sun visor and lack of slinging flanges on the rear bogie hubs. Prior to the 1970,s very few Millie Mk 1,s found their way to civilian applications, but AEC offered the Millie as a 6x6 off road quarry dumper, . Crane maker Coles also used the Millie for their lorry mounted mobile crane . Douglas Engineering of Cheltenham UK built a limited number of 6x6 timber tractors based on Mk 1 Millie mechanicals, engine gearbox transfer box front axle and winch, only difference is Douglas bought in from John I Thornycroft of Basingstoke Hampshire the rear bogie from their 6x4 'Big Ben' Tractor.
interesting info you have there, one bloke that came out to see it though it might have been bought into australia buy Theise brothers? for the Snowy mountians Hydro Electic dam project in the 50/60. ive not seen another like it in AUS, i have seen the larger military cabins around, but not the short cabin i have
@@hurricanedaniel Thanks much appreciated, and very interesting that AEC tendered for the contract to supply Muftied Millies for the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Dam Project. Do you have any information regarding the Millie,s bodywork or what work she did on the project, a water, fuel tanker ,flatbed lorry?. Only the long wheelbase Troop Supply Transport Millies have the short cab, while the Gun Tractors have the larger cab for the gun crew plus driver.
Very nice video. I can truly appreciate the work into the tires. Having it sit up straight with good tires makes it a whole different truck. It was nice to see it with the 2 rear wheels off, a person could see everything much better. That’s interesting how the hand brake lever operates the wheel brakes. On old big trucks here which I have seen the hand brake lever operates a drum, band or disc brake on the driveshaft. Is there a air actuator chamber for each rear wheel? You are definitely right, it is cool and if you have a prime mover it may as well be a cool one. If anyone ever says your too slow tell them that’s so people can get a better look. Oh and that is a strange setup for the air compressor. Keep up the good work.
Yes, she looks a whole lot better sitting on some rubber thats round.
There was a few things i forgot to show and mention, but maybe ill remember next time.
Handbrake i thought was interesting how it acts on the main brakes, well as far as i can tell.
Main brakes are straight air.
Haha, thats a good response to driving slow.
The compressor mounting is a odd one, even never seen a gearbox with a belt drive on it ether.
The winch I saw on one looked like the matador unit in style. Might even be the same? The whole winch is on a pivot and disengages at overload. From talking to folk I think some had a big recovery winch mounted on the chassis?
Im not 100% sure but i think the winch might be the same at the matadors. I think they share a number of items? Im sure the motor is just a bored out Matador unit.
I have seen plenty of pictures of the recovery winch tractors using a larger winch mounted ontop of the chassis. I have plans to do something similar with a 45,000lbs garwood winch.
I will see if I have photos of one similar at ilfracombe and email to you Dan.
Yeah thanks. That would be great mate