I believe the USA had a similar beast in the Diamond T Roy?
Tony.
Tony.
Old school
- Thread starter miller1098
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Antar was produced first in the forties I think, then Scammel cos the Royal corps of transport wanted something a bit quicker and not such a pig to drive, as I remember the last one I know about is the Scammel Commander and think that had semi auto gears (late 80s early 90s). Antar was crash box with something like low, medium, high ranges plus all wheel transfer box, ( maybe had so many gears you just couldn't use em all ha ha ha) took a long training course to teach em to drive it properly. Diamond T as I know it was a breakdown truck from US, never knew they used em for tank transporters, but then I've been out of the know for some 30yrs or more.
You seem quite up on some of these old vehicles, maybe showing your age somewhat.
(Yeh I know what comes next.)
Roy.
I've got Dinky Toy model of that transporter and tank. Proper man's machinery....
According to my 1967 Observers Book of Commercial Vehicles, the Antar was made by a company called Thornycroft. It had a 6 cylinder 12 litre Rolls Royce turbo diesel rated at 279bhp. Not a lot of poke to move all that metal....
According to my 1967 Observers Book of Commercial Vehicles, the Antar was made by a company called Thornycroft. It had a 6 cylinder 12 litre Rolls Royce turbo diesel rated at 279bhp. Not a lot of poke to move all that metal....
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Those old diesels did not have huge horsepower but they probably had more torque at tick over than a Z3M has at its peak and that’s what you want for pulling heavy loads. Don’t get me started on trucks, everything I have I earned from either driving, owning, managing or maintaining them.
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They did develop a Diesel engine for the Antar Robert but I'm sure the lads in the day used to say the same petrol engine was in the Antar as was in the Centurion, anyway the Antar crew told me that it was a RollsRoyce from a aeroplane. Your observer book I reackon was stating a later engine. Long time ago now so memory has got worse which wasn't that good in the first place. So glad there's still a bit of interest in these old trucks and thanks to @miller1098 Hugh for starting this post, funny how things come back to an old brain when the subject is brought up, didn't think anyone would be interested in these older heavy machines unless they'd used them. That centurion was made with a crash (non synchromesh) gearbox and you had to be patient when double-de-clutching, horrible if you missed a gear on a hill, trying to slow down 56tons was a nightmare, my first tank commander used to make me change gear before we went down the slope in case I missed one. Brake fade after a few seconds was common and complete failure soon after. Road journey's were kept to a minimum for just this reason. When going cross country the weight of the tank on unfirm ground was the brake in most situations, we were made to do a brake test before venturing out on the public roads and quite often see a couple of tanks unable to proceed cos brakes weren't working well enough, have seen tank crushing VW beatle that got in its way but the driver managed to get out, lads took pics of it which had to be surrendered before films were developed but I'm sure someone will still have one somewhere. Politzie we're all over us untill the RPs arrived, no one was allowed to talk to Politzei
and I remember being amazed just how much clout the Brit army had in Germany at the time, cos things have turned full circle since Berlin was given back, how the mighty have fallen.
Roy.
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Yes Tony it was and those Polish drivers were all akin to Arnold Schwartzneger, I used to look on in amazement at how strong they really had to be, everything was so weighty. Me a skinny little runt tried my hardest not to ask for help even when doing track removal, don't know how I did it to be honest. Those were the days.
Roy.
Two merlin / spitfire engines, one in the Antar the other in the Centurion tank with combined weight of somewhere close to 100tons. Only 330hp pulling all that weight,
Rha,Roy.
Rolls Royce made an unsupercharged version of the Merlin which was used in a few very heavy vehicles and tanks, it was called the Meteor and was in production until 1964.
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Thanks Mike, perhaps I should google it now I’ve realised my memory isn’t up to it. Been on to my grandson and daughter’s who’ve borrowed my albums some years ago without returning them, sure I’ve got some pics somewhere in them as I have only a couple here in my home. Kids!!!!!!!!
Roy
Roy
Harold Shaun
Zorg Addict
Brings back memories of German driving Bedford TKs.
Got a good work out driving them cross country in the dark no lights expected convoy light
Was great then got my hands on 16 tonner at least had power steering.
But when in Berlin got MAN trucks and Buses to drive.
Passed my class 1 in Berlin did most of the driving test in East Berlin.
Happy Days.
Drove a ERF for 6 months hated hills but never broke down and glad I don't drive Hgv anymore
Got a good work out driving them cross country in the dark no lights expected convoy light
Was great then got my hands on 16 tonner at least had power steering.
But when in Berlin got MAN trucks and Buses to drive.
Passed my class 1 in Berlin did most of the driving test in East Berlin.
Happy Days.
Drove a ERF for 6 months hated hills but never broke down and glad I don't drive Hgv anymore
When I was in the. RAF, just out of apprenticeship, I applied for an RAF driving licence. I went to the MT section and the examiner put me in a Bedford RL and told me to drive around Bath city. When we got back, he said he couldn't pass me because I haad been going too fast. Passed on the second try and used to have a lot of fun driving them in the desert around Dubai. They would cope with soft sand better than a Land Rover.
Reg usually pulled the original RR petrol motors out of the wreckers and replaced them with Leyland 680 Diesels. This more than dobled the MPG up to around 8 mpg.
Tony.
Tony.
Again the say that "what won't kill you, will make you stronger" reveal true!Now can anyone imagine this, as young tank driver in Germany 1966 my job was to drive the Centurion tank onto the trailer of the Antar tank transporter which on its own was the most scary thing I'd ever done, then ride with the two Polish crew to the exercise area usually a couple of hrs on Autobahn, sitting in the middle of this crew with the co-driver fast asleep and the driver wants to relieve himself, he jestered to me to steer the Antar whist he opened the door to step out behind the cab to do the business. OK I admit it wasn't a drive as such cos the throttle was set to flat out at 26mph but I had no choice but to steer as best I could whilst trying to wake the co-driver who just didn't want to know, it seemed like forever before the driver got back in and my adrenaline was through the roof. Imagine this vehicle at nearly 100tons in the hands of a 18 yr old on the opersite side of the road in a foreign country, shocked is not the word and something that has been etched into my memory untill I die. NO!!!!!! I didn't enjoy it at the time but would love to have another go now.
View attachment 99900
Two merlin / spitfire engines, one in the Antar the other in the Centurion tank with combined weight of somewhere close to 100tons. Only 330hp pulling all that weight,
Rha,Roy.
It looks great !
Maybe you can still keep it. There is a wide class of collectors among the oldtimer lovers. And the price will always stay high, as long is a runner. With your available room, I'll keep it!