Ex-Military Traveller

[andrewe]

I have just bought a 1970 ex military Traveller.
It is "on the road", drives well and is in good solid condition having been professionally restored in 2005.
It has covered c30,000 miles since and been well looked after during this time judging by the invoices etc in the history file.
It needs a good polish and general clean and a service.
As I type this it is on-board a friends tilt bed recovery truck being delivered home to us.
It is painted bronze green with red front wings to look like a bomb disposal vehicle, unfortunately the military history card does not confirm that it was ever issued to this section.
It spent its whole service life with various Air Despatch units Royal Corps of Transport until cast in 1977.
I am now trying to find out where the units were based.
One job therefore is to repaint the front wings in bronze green probably over the winter.
Here's to a long and trouble free relationship.
Regards, Andrewe
North Yorkshire.

[pgp001]

Welcome to Traveller ownership from another Yorkshireman who owns one, where in North Yorks are you based ?

Phil

[andrewe]

Thanks for your welcome Phil.
I am located close to Northallerton.
Where are you ?
Regards

[simmitc]

Welcome to the forum and to Traveller ownership. We look forward to regular updates, and don't hesitate to ask any questions that you may have regarding the car.

[philthehill]

Give us an idea of the units it was allocated to and we might be able to help.

After the closure of Beverly Army Transport Museum some records were transferred to the RCT Museum at Deepcut. If it is still operating they might be able to help.

When I worked for REME we had a Morris 1098cc traveller as the staff car which replaced a Hillman Huskey.
The Minor was eventually replaced by a Ford Escort estate.

[andrewe]

Thank you for your welcomes.

The car was allocated to the following regiments during its service, if anyone knows their locations during the 1970's I would appreciate them letting me know.

55 (Air Despatch) Sqn Royal Corps of Transport
14 (AD) REGT
HQ 55 (AD) Sqn Royal Corps of Transport.

The military travellers were fitted with rubber floor mats instead of carpets, does anyone know of the whereabouts of one of these mats?

The car is now home and the service parts have arrived so it is time to get my hands mucky!

Does anyone know who can supply a new or good used jack?

Regards Andrewe

[philthehill]

Here is a link that may be useful:-

http://british-army-units1945on.co.uk/r ... 11-on.html

[andrewe]

By way of an update:
The car arrived home last Tuesday, Sue and I are pleased with the purchase.

I have applied to the DVLA for a 1970 age related registration number with written evidence from BL Cars and the military confirming it was built and delivered in November 1970 ( it is on a 1979 plate currently) I await their reply.

There were two after market switches and a 12v plug mounted under the dash all wired up with red plastic cable eventually leading to the fuse box at the power end and then both to the front and back of the car via the under bonnet area and to the rear end cable clipped to the brake pipes etc.
What a mess.!
None of the wiring was connected to anything so having checked the original circuits with my tester and found none were connected to the red wire rats nest I have removed it all together with the switches etc.
There was 64 feet of red wire!!!!!!!!.
I have bought some vinyl trim cleaner some T cut and polish which will be used over the next few days in a spring cleaning frenzy!
The service items have arrived so that will be my task probably over the weekend unless of course she who must be obeyed has other plans!
Regards
Drew

[andrewe]

Never believe a seller who says a car has been recently serviced!

I dropped the oil this morning and can honestly say I have never seen used engine oil as black and thin as the crap which came out.
Suffice it to say the car now has 6.5 pints of new 20/50 and a new filter. I will drain this and put in new oil in around 500 miles.
The yellow air filter was black with dirt so a new one was fitted also.
The diff and gearbox oils are probably the same so they will be changed also together with the brake fluid.

Regards
Andrewe

[rocco]

Thread ressurection!

I've found a Dutch LHD Traveller for sale and I am severely tempted. It's an ex-British army model (green) with some pretty unusual specifications.

I've done a little searching already but I wonder if anyone has a resource with some good info. For example, what engines did they come with?

Thanks to anyone who can give some info/advice please.

[rocco]

I can't edit this post for whatever reason. I wanted to remove the Dutch part. After looking at some other military Minors I now think the original licence plate it had, although Dutch in style, might actually be an Army plate which has a different format.

[geoberni]

I can't edit this post for whatever reason. I wanted to remove the Dutch part. After looking at some other military Minors I now think the original licence plate it had, although Dutch in style, might actually be an Army plate which has a different format.

Yes, UK Military registrations since around 1950 do bear a resemblance to Dutch plates.
Initially 2 numbers/2 letters/2 numbers, by the 1990s they were exhausted and the switch was made to 2 letters/2 numbers/2 letters.
Previously seen on all Ministry of Defence vehicles, since the late 1990s the 'White Fleet' i.e. cars, vans, buses etc have been contract hire with civil plates, so only specialist vehicles are MoD registered.
For example all fighting vehicles, and airfield related such as towing tugs, fuel bowsers etc.

[philipkearney]

Rocco, this may be of some help http://govminors.mmoc.org.uk/images/Rec ... cklist.png

Possibly worth contacting the ex government minor register as they should be able to confirm the provenance of the car.

[rocco]

Thank you both for the very helpful input. I had arranged a call with the seller on Friday evening and had already explained by email that I'd have a 9-10 hour drive each way with a trailer to pick it up, so I wanted to be as confident as I could be that I knew what I was buying. I've driven that far before with a trailer all for nothing because of unscrupulous sellers. It's wasn't fun at all.

It appears that she took my message as a rejection and I've not felt the need to explain myself further yet because she has had other interest in the car. I now think some old photos were used for the advert where the car was very presentable but after 3-years of being stood (covered) it looks a little bit tired now.

If I didn't already have two, I'd take the risk but I never really felt drawn towards the Traveller. It was the 1275cc engine and twin carbs that piqued my interest and that it is ex-military with supporting documents.