Seeking info on vintage transporter

NSU27 · 19 Dec 2003, 17:08 (Ref:816244)

Hopefully this information will get to the right person.

I have a 1969/70 British 2 car race car transporter built in England on a British Ford 56 Passenger bus chassis. The chassis number is BC04JB6822R226. Model Number is R225. It is a left hand drive chassis. Wheelbase is 226". Engine Ford Industrial Turbo Diesel, 363 CID, 150HP. The coachword was done by Reall Coach Builders, Ltd and Boyne coachworks.

I am trying to document it's history. I have been told that it was built in 1969 for March Engineering formula Two Racing Team by Ford Motor Co. Ltd. However I have not been able to substantiate that information. I have also been told that while Lister used Ford vehicles in the early years, they might have used this one. I believe that the original vehicle was either red or blue, maybe with yellow trim.

Any help or leads that you may be able to supply would be most appreciated. Photo attached. I can e-mail more photos if requested.

Thanks...Bill Allen sales@upfrontcoolers.com

**Aysedasi** · 19 Dec 2003, 18:16 (Ref:816287)

Intriguing stuff, Bill, but there was no photo attached and I think those in the know will struggle without it.

Also, I think this will get more attention in our Historic Racing and Racing History Forum, so I'm going to send it on over there (with a link remaining here for anyone interested). Those "historic" guys know damn well near everything (from my experience), so we'll see what they can come up with.

**Aysedasi** · 19 Dec 2003, 18:18 (Ref:816291)

Oh dear - having moved it, I see you've posted there already.........

I'll leave the mods there to merge the threads as they see fit.

NSU27 · 20 Dec 2003, 00:26 (Ref:816530)

Aysedasi...Thanks for the help...Bill

josvandeperre · 22 Dec 2003, 09:47 (Ref:818047)

Do you know the English registration plate - I'm sure that would be a great help for identifying it in any photos - something like ABC 123 D - also I'd suggest the era does not tie in well for Lister use

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 01:20 (Ref:818615)

Hi josvandeperre...thanks for responding. The number on the 'British Number Plate' is TDG123H. I think it is a phony number! I have been in contact with the British Dept of Motor Vehicles and they say that there is no such number plate number!

Thanks for the tip on the Lister use. I haven't gotten too many replys. It seems as though this was an invisible transporter!

Anyway, thanks for your reply. If you can use any other information, please e-mail me, Bill Allen sales@upfrontcoolers.com

Andrew Fellowes · 23 Dec 2003, 04:15 (Ref:818660)

TDG 123H

DG = Gloucester

H = 1st August '69 to 31st July '70

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 04:52 (Ref:818677)

Andrew...Thanks for the info, but I'm not sure what I can do with it. As I said, the British 'DMV' returned my 5 Pound note some time ago, advising that such a number didn't exist. When I asked if they could search by chassis number, they said that they did not keep those records.

The dates, 1st Aug '69 to 31st July '71 certainly match with the info that I have. An engraved plaque on the vehicle says that the coachwork was done by Reall Coach Builders in 1969. I understand that Reall Coach Builders went out of business in 1989 and there was no record of Boyne Coachworks.

I really appreciate your sending that bit of information. Everylittle bit really helps.

...Bill Allen

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 04:55 (Ref:818678)

I have photos of this transporter. Can anyone help me with how to 'attach' a photo to this forum? I don't see where to 'attach' a file.

Thanks...Bill Allen

**GTRMagic** · 23 Dec 2003, 06:29 (Ref:818702)

Click on the 'quote' function on the menu, it will bring up a screen that allows you to attach files one at a time.

Locate the pics on your hard drive and attach...

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 07:29 (Ref:818724)

GTRMagic...The 'quote' button on my computer only brings up a text requester. However I have found that if I go to the 'Post Reply' screen an 'Attach File' requestor is located at the bottom of the screen.

So here is a photo of my transporter...Attached!

Thanks...Bill Allen

**Peter Mallett** · 23 Dec 2003, 08:12 (Ref:818743)

It's very er, white isn't it?

Good luck.

**GTRMagic** · 23 Dec 2003, 08:27 (Ref:818758)

Looks like the inspiration for the 240 Volvo

**Aysedasi** · 23 Dec 2003, 08:30 (Ref:818759)

I guess we were all hoping for some sign-writing, or at least the left-overs of something. Are there no other distinguishing features - nothing at all visible through all that virginal white paint?

josvandeperre · 23 Dec 2003, 13:52 (Ref:818989)

Its very large for a two car F2 transporter - I'll try to look in the March story book later - presumably its photographed on an airport apron as some sort of post-ironic comment on its turning circle !

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 15:36 (Ref:819075)

Thanks for all your replys.

When I acquired the vehicle it was white. The former owner used it to campaign a VW on behalf of Disney when the "Love Bug" films were released. Those were the only faintly visable graphics. We did notice 4 evenly spaced holes on each side, on the upper rear panels. I have always thought that that might have been a sign that was attached to the vehicle, rather than the graphics being applied directly to the vehicle. A lot of British trucks used that type of graphic.

It is rather large. It measures approx 25'long x 8'wide x 6'2" high inside. The original rear loading area was solid from the top down to about the middle. There were two ramps that slid into right and left side pockets that were just below the floor level. The actual rear door apparently folded down and the ramps were attached to it. When I got the vehicle the rear door had been replaced with a full size door but still using the two original ramps. We replaced the door and attached the ramps to the inside of the door so that they fold out and added an electric hoist. There is also a roll-up door on the right side. It is about 2.5'/3' wide.

The front cabin area has 4 airline recliner seats across the bulkhead. They were originally blue. Two on each side of the sliding door that seperates the cabin from the cargo area. Nothing else is special, the drivers seat, engine compartment, dash board, and very large windows.

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 15:38 (Ref:819076)

Here is another photo of the roll-up door.

NSU27 · 23 Dec 2003, 15:45 (Ref:819081)

Here is another photo of the roll-up door.

HiRich · 23 Dec 2003, 16:27 (Ref:819111)

Bill,
I'm guessing that the reason that the DVLA do not recognise the registration would be because it was exported - presumably as a "pre-computerised records" listing, they have it down as withdrawn.

There is a possibility that you might be able to get some build information from Ford UK (or now Iveco Ford for trucks). At the least, you might get some explanation of the VIN number (each of those numbers and letters means something). It was probably built as a Special Vehicle Order, and there might be a record of the original purchaser on there. It's a very long shot, but a sweet begging letter to either Ford UK (or perhaps start with Ford US asking for contacts in the UK) might yield results.

One final point. As an H-plate (69-70) let's assume that it was ordered for the start of the 1970 season, which might make sense as this was the first season for March. Now (thanks to Google), the Herbie films were:
- The Love Bug (1968)
- Herbie Rides Again (1974)
- Herbie Goes To Monte Carlo (1977)
- Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)
The odds would be that the truck made a pretty quick exit to sunnier climes - either direct from March, or perhaps just one other UK owner.

DaveM · 24 Dec 2003, 18:28 (Ref:820133)

Bill,

You might get some joy by contacting the PSV Circle. PSV stands for Passenger Service Vehicle, and the society specialises in documenting the histories of buses and coaches, by operator, chassis or body maker.

This link: http://www.psv-circle.org.uk/pub/pub...jul%202003.doc should hopefully take you to the publications page of their site and you will see that they have two publications on the Ford R192 and 226 chassis. Good luck!

(and Happy Christmas)

David

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