I began playing with ex military vehicles during 1975 when , aged 19 , I bought a very modified 1942 MB Jeep. Without knowing anything at all about the MV scene , I stepped into the cauldron and paid way too much for what was a s***heap . Most of us seem to make a start with the ubiquitous WW2 Jeep, and in my case, it certainly was a useful learning experience . I joined the local MV club in 1976 and met people with similar interests . About that time the club was expanding into the historical side of things and there were a few CMP's and the odd Dodge WC along with the usual myriad of WW2 Jeeps around. The only British vehicle around then in the club was an original unrestored Fordson WOA2 Heavy Utility that had been imported by a club member after a trip to the UK . After reading Mike Connifords excellent book on British Light MV's I had a better idea of what to look out for . In late 1979 I spied a advert in Restored Cars magazine, two Fordson WOT2 's for sale . It turns out that as early as 1944 the Country Fire Authority here in Victoria used quite a few WW2 vintage 15 cwt British truck as bush fire brigade trucks , Bedford MW 's , Morris CS8 's and Fordson WOT2 's were all used . Back in 1979 , responding the the advert , a drive up to central Victoria revealed two WOT2D trucks hiding in a shed . One was in running condition and the other usefull for spares . A deal was done and I and another club member bought them together . Eventually we got one of the WOT2D's on the road and used it on many rallies around the place in the early 80's . We were quite surprised at its road speed and it happily cruised along at 50 mph along flat roads , hills it did not take to though. The engine did not need rebuilding at all as the vehicle had sat in the fire shed 99% of its civilian life .
During the early 1980's a new club member joined with a Standard tilly . The vehicle had been in his family since 1947 and was remarkably original . Although still heavily outnumbered by the US and Canadian built vehicles at least there was some interest beginning to appear . Although, all these years later it is sad to report that only a handfull of British vehicles are in the club at the moment . People seem to be put off by the lack of spares and just will not take the plunge .
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