Sorry to be a bore - a change from the norm - have some questions about a
British WW2 vehicle ;-)
I have just acquired a Bedford MW, it has an original Type "E" RAF Wireless
Shell. The chassis was made by Vauxhall Motors in Feb 1944 (?). Overall the
vehicle is relatively complete. The Type "E" shell has an elongated rear
wheel arch which gives the impression that there should be a double rear
axle - this however is not correct - the elongation of the wheelarch was to
enable the body to be fitted (without any modification) onto any 15cwt truck
in RAF service.
Vehicle Plate Data:
Brass Data Plate next to Central Windscreen support pillar:
Chassis 15CWT 4 x 2 - MW (Blank)
VM Contract Number 55779
Chassis No (Blank) Catalogue No (Blank)
WD No (Blank)
Brass Data Plate on Nearside Forward Bottom corner of Body:
Body, Wireless Shell 15CWT
Type E RAF No 156318
CL Cont No 23/6540
Ser No 526
Data from Log Book:
Chassis No MW55944
Engine No MW71463
Here are my questions:
Where can I get info about Vauxhall Motors Contract Numbers?
The Body has a CL contract Number - Who were CL?
When would the body have been made?
Is this body type rare?
What paint colour would be appropriate?
What would the RAF have used this vehicle for? (Mobile Air Traffic Control?)
Does anyone have one of these vehicles - private or museum?
I need the following bits:
One rear wheel arch panel
One floor panel to go around gear column
Winscreen panelling - especially the bottom channelling - either ready made
or the number in UK of a good engineer who could make the bits from my
patterns.
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Tim Bell
Bletchley Park Military Vehicle Section (UK)
GPW '45
MWV '44
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