Daimler Ferret - ex Canadian Forces

In June of 2013 I thought I needed a project to fill up my spare time so I bought a Mark 1 Ferret that was ex Canadian Army from a guy here in the USA. My previous experience of vehicle restoration had been a 1956 Triumph Tiger T110 motorcycle, back in the 90's.

I decided to start this restoration thread because it has been 15 months since it arrived at my home and I wanted to share some of the experiences with anyone else that is crazy enough to need a project to fill up their spare time :)

Here's a picture of it taken at the previous owner's place.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6d70adbe-1.jpg

Well, to tell you all the truth, there's a lot more to vehicle restoration than I thought. I learnt that there are a lot more systems that can go wrong, so you cannot just change the oil and spark plugs, squirt a bit of easy start in the carb and then tear off round the street in a 4 ton vehicle.

I learnt that you really have to tear it all down to ensure that the brakes are going to work, that the fuel tank is sound, that the tire rubber isn't perished etc. etc.

I also learned that an armored vehicle has very heavy parts and I'm not as strong as I was before I turned 50! Try taking all four wheels off by yourself - that's a workout that the wife doesn't understand when you are complaining about just how sore some of your muscles are. She thinks your pulling a fast one to get off the home improvements list.

Anyway, I would strongly recommend you get a partner to work with you if you are attempting a restoration - preferably one who's in great shape, strong as an ox, limber as a leopard and with small hands to get into those fiddly spots.

Ok, for those of you who are laughing at my whining, the truth is that I have actually done quite a lot of work and have enjoyed nearly every minute of it.

So what have I accomplished so far? Well, I have finally stripped the interior and removed the engine and gearbox.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a75f0c19-1.jpg

And what a good thing it was that I pulled the engine as here is a sample of the brake lines tucked under the rear bevel box where you could not see the damage

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...30af0fa5-1.jpg

To continue on a positive note I have met a lot of interesting folks that have helped me along the way on the various internet forums that have been very helpful with information.

It can all be a bit overwhelming when you start by stripping one piece only to discover that you really need to go even further until eventually you discover that you are running out of space to store all the parts. I'm fortunate to live in sunny Florida so in my case the space problem was solved by moving the cars out of the double garage and parking them in the driveway - the Wife was understanding of this :D . She wasn't very understanding when I told her I needed to spend a large sum of money on a split unit air conditioner as my garage was unbearably hot in summer and my work output dropped :devil:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6155b4e5-1.jpg

SO some lessons learnt so far:

Lesson 1 - there's no such thing as a simple restoration - it will end up being a complete restoration

Lesson 2 - You need a partner as you are not as young as you used to be.

Lesson 3 - Make sure you have a large enough working and storage place for your project - one that's usable all year round as time is precious.

Here's some of the fun stuff - sifting through the dirt, slime and general filth that comes out from the hull. I took some pictures of the remnants found in the ferret - things that were jammed against all the working control rods adding to the friction !

Nuts, bolts and washers -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...555ef46b-1.jpg

Ammunition and links

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fed0c363-1.jpg

Odd bits and pieces

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c6b6431b-1.jpg

Coins

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...85924703-1.jpg

And beer bottle tops!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...74fa44e5-1.jpg

Here are some pictures of some sheet metal parts that I have had rebuilt. The first picture is of the indicators. My ferret came with the typical later militia modification using US lights "scabbed" on to original light towers. I have chosen to go back to the light tower indicators and rebuilt the originals.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ddf879dc-1.jpg

I took great pains to keep the section of plate that had the FV number on it :salute:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e96fe1e3-1.jpg

The next picture is of rebuilt antenna bases. These had been cut up to fit a later US style antenna base, but as I'm restoring to a late 60's Larkspur era, I restored them to fit the correct type of Larkspur mounts ( You can source NOS Larkspur bases from Tim Vibert in Australia).

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...f8e9d099-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cf13146d-1.jpg

Thanks to Colin MacGregor Stevens booklet on "The Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service" I have seen a picture of the pattern of camouflage used by the Ft Garry Horse while in West Germany in the late 60's and as mine was one of the Ferrets sent by Canada to West Germany, I am now seeking more information or colored photographs of what appears to be a four color pattern. Can anyone help with this?

Really a nice project. I understand they are still in use. How's the driveway holding up? Grenade launchers are a nice touch. I could use it in Chicago.
Oh, where's the bang bang thingy that goes on top?
Enjoy it!

Still in use where?

Wiki answer as follows on current operators

Ferret armoured car - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Have found a Inglis made bren which if Santa is kind I will be adding to the project.

Nice Ferret.

Following the links a bit further leads to this:

Canadian Tracked Jeep (Willys) | MilArt

Anyone out there in forum-land have one in "the shed"?

Nice project, my first 'A' vehicle licence was the ferret.

The Labatt 50 cap made me chuckle. :lol:

There are loads of easy to fabricate fixtures and fittings on those little early turret-less Ferrets. Should be a relatively easy restoration job by doing partial restoration projects over a few years.

I can't believe you stripped out an A vehicle and didn't find the following 3 items:-
1), from under the engine, a watch with a snapped leather strap.
2), A "compo" can opener.
3), A chinagraph pencil
The best 6 months I spent in the army was crewed on Ferrets in Cyprus with the Scout Car Squadron of the UN peacekeeping force. As much beer and brandy as you could drink, and a medal for your trouble.

Keep us up to date Amatikulu. Great little project. My friend has a Daimler Dingo that is 'problematical' at the best of times. Runs like a stuck pig - WHEN it runs! I almost found myself as the owner of it when frustration got the better of him........... But the GOOD thing is that they are of a very simple engineering generation

I had two Ferrets 01CA67 AND 01CA68, one spent its life in Gibraltar on the rock and the other was an up armoured spec against mines used in NI. easy to work on. I even rewired one, very easy to do, have all the manuals EMERS and tools, even had spares from the camp up the road, good old days. would get another if I had the space, nice toy to work and play on.

What are the chances of getting two consecutive numbers like that. What year were they? I had a lovely old Bedford QL Machinery truck, 77YC16

They were dated 1958.

Thought they'd be about then as we had a very old Land Rover ex Wombat carrier with mechanical winch, 35CL21 still doing the rounds a few years ago and that was from 1959

These were decommissioned in the early 90's.

Amatikulu - Contact me as I have lots of historic photos that could not be included in the book. Colin MacGregor Stevens www.captainstevens.com. Seaforth72 at gmail dot com. I would like to find out the serial (hull) number of yours and the Canadian Army Registration number as I may have photos of your Ferret in service.

Colin

QUOTE=Amatikulu;312885]In June of 2013 I thought I needed a project to fill up my spare time so I bought a Mark 1 Ferret that was ex Canadian Army from a guy here in the USA. My previous experience of vehicle restoration had been a 1956 Triumph Tiger T110 motorcycle, back in the 90's.

I decided to start this restoration thread because it has been 15 months since it arrived at my home and I wanted to share some of the experiences with anyone else that is crazy enough to need a project to fill up their spare time :)

Here's a picture of it taken at the previous owner's place.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6d70adbe-1.jpg

Well, to tell you all the truth, there's a lot more to vehicle restoration than I thought. I learnt that there are a lot more systems that can go wrong, so you cannot just change the oil and spark plugs, squirt a bit of easy start in the carb and then tear off round the street in a 4 ton vehicle.

I learnt that you really have to tear it all down to ensure that the brakes are going to work, that the fuel tank is sound, that the tire rubber isn't perished etc. etc.

I also learned that an armored vehicle has very heavy parts and I'm not as strong as I was before I turned 50! Try taking all four wheels off by yourself - that's a workout that the wife doesn't understand when you are complaining about just how sore some of your muscles are. She thinks your pulling a fast one to get off the home improvements list.

Anyway, I would strongly recommend you get a partner to work with you if you are attempting a restoration - preferably one who's in great shape, strong as an ox, limber as a leopard and with small hands to get into those fiddly spots.

Ok, for those of you who are laughing at my whining, the truth is that I have actually done quite a lot of work and have enjoyed nearly every minute of it.

So what have I accomplished so far? Well, I have finally stripped the interior and removed the engine and gearbox.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...a75f0c19-1.jpg

And what a good thing it was that I pulled the engine as here is a sample of the brake lines tucked under the rear bevel box where you could not see the damage

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...30af0fa5-1.jpg

To continue on a positive note I have met a lot of interesting folks that have helped me along the way on the various internet forums that have been very helpful with information.

It can all be a bit overwhelming when you start by stripping one piece only to discover that you really need to go even further until eventually you discover that you are running out of space to store all the parts. I'm fortunate to live in sunny Florida so in my case the space problem was solved by moving the cars out of the double garage and parking them in the driveway - the Wife was understanding of this :D . She wasn't very understanding when I told her I needed to spend a large sum of money on a split unit air conditioner as my garage was unbearably hot in summer and my work output dropped :devil:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...6155b4e5-1.jpg

SO some lessons learnt so far:

Lesson 1 - there's no such thing as a simple restoration - it will end up being a complete restoration

Lesson 2 - You need a partner as you are not as young as you used to be.

Lesson 3 - Make sure you have a large enough working and storage place for your project - one that's usable all year round as time is precious.

Here's some of the fun stuff - sifting through the dirt, slime and general filth that comes out from the hull. I took some pictures of the remnants found in the ferret - things that were jammed against all the working control rods adding to the friction !

Nuts, bolts and washers -

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...555ef46b-1.jpg

Ammunition and links

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...fed0c363-1.jpg

Odd bits and pieces

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...c6b6431b-1.jpg

Coins

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...85924703-1.jpg

And beer bottle tops!

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...74fa44e5-1.jpg

Here are some pictures of some sheet metal parts that I have had rebuilt. The first picture is of the indicators. My ferret came with the typical later militia modification using US lights "scabbed" on to original light towers. I have chosen to go back to the light tower indicators and rebuilt the originals.

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...ddf879dc-1.jpg

I took great pains to keep the section of plate that had the FV number on it :salute:

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...e96fe1e3-1.jpg

The next picture is of rebuilt antenna bases. These had been cut up to fit a later US style antenna base, but as I'm restoring to a late 60's Larkspur era, I restored them to fit the correct type of Larkspur mounts ( You can source NOS Larkspur bases from Tim Vibert in Australia).

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...f8e9d099-1.jpg

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...cf13146d-1.jpg

Thanks to Colin MacGregor Stevens booklet on "The Ferret Scout Car in Canadian Service" I have seen a picture of the pattern of camouflage used by the Ft Garry Horse while in West Germany in the late 60's and as mine was one of the Ferrets sent by Canada to West Germany, I am now seeking more information or colored photographs of what appears to be a four color pattern. Can anyone help with this?[/QUOTE]

Attachment 116611

Just an update to say the restoration was completed last year and she is licensed and on the road as a an antique vehicle in Florida

All its missing is a Bren :lol:
One with a turret and a six wheel drive Ranger Rover TACR/2 RAF Fire Engine are on my shopping list before I jump into my box. The TACR/2 was my dads last engine in service at RAF Luqa in Malta, and they gave it to the Maltese for their fire service at their airport when Dom Mintoff kicked us out in 1970's.
I missed the sale in the UK of the actual fire engine some months back...........heartbroken as all my brothers would have chipped in. It was immaculate inside and out as it had been dried stored for 30 years and Malta is as dry as a bone anyway.
These projects are so much fun if you get the right ones.
Well done on that restoration looks great and I am sure its the topic of much conversation locally. Good job it wasn't an ex British one, as you would have found a ream of FOSTERS under the radio :lol::lol:

Looks good now. In our case, the .30 cal would be mounted. A friend of mine in Alberta spirited two away as they were brought to be range targets. Don't know if he still has them.

Jim,
Yes we had 30 Cals on the turret version which I prefer in NI, but never saw the turretless version in my service

There's actually an early pic from Cyprus, about 1964 that shows the LDSH patrolling either Trudos or Kyrenya mountains with the little Ferret with just the .30. We had a bolt on buttstock you may have seen in use with the .30 or C5 that was employed in this role to help keep control of the gun from a free pintle. Try as I might, I can't find THAT pic but here's a series I'm sure will be familiar, or the sites.

Also one pic of the RCD in Ferrets.

cyprus peacekeeper | laststandonzombieisland

Nothing has changed on the island. Here's the gate guard at Episkopi where my son was last year. Good old Saladin, kept up to spec paint wise anyway............... great stock

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Episkopi

---

Jeeze...Episkopi last year...last time for me was 1980. I do look at Google earth there regularly. I also expect to go back for a visit, will make sure I notify you before going. Ledra Palace has closed due to being uninhabitable I understand. Wonder if I can sneak in and rescue my camp cot from the air shaft...or the rats have it.

Wow, all this talk about Ferrets and the like takes me back.
My first A Veh. licence was for the Ferret, graduated from the White Scout Car, then moved on to the M113A1.....ahh, my bucket days.
Attachment 124504

...and a couple moreAttachment 124503Attachment 124502Attachment 124501

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muffett.2008

moved on to the M113A1

---

Yes, I did those also. My first driver's papers too. I didn't want to be a driver, they never got away from it. I wanted to stay in the line. I managed to stay away from driver wheeled until I was a Transport Warrant Officer. Our Ferrets were with the Armored corps.

Attachment 116637

Here it is with a borrowed Browning mount.

Nice matt IR paint job there mate.;)

Some of pics of a nice Ferret preserved here in the UK.

Regards,

John.

My friend who has a Dingo told me that the best thing he ever did was gut all of the electrical gubbins. Keep the trunking and protective stuff but revert to simple 12v car electrics. Keep the radios etc etc but get rid of the electric wiring or at least KEEP it but make sure that it's disconnected. That way everone and his dog can understand it.

Where were your field firing pictures taken Muffer. I can't even picture the place........ Mind you, it's a long time since I was at Pukka....

Looks like Kenya!!

Pete, those pic's would be the Singleton/Putty region.
I have a heap of live fire pic's not yet converted to digital, a lot of super 8 film, will get to it one day.
Camera's were a nono but my days with FARELF had me carrying one all the time, had some footage confiscated when the Brigade Commander and his pilot clipped power lines in a KIOWA on one exercise.

As to pukka, nothing changes, tanks still get bogged and the Aussie Hardwood trees crack the hulls of Leopold tanks.

Thanks for that and good to speak.. Cameras were a BIG no-no in Malaya and SVN. We occasionally had the Army KAPE teams (KAPE = Keep the Army in the Public Eye) come around our units. I think it was a pommy idea originally where they'd take a few pictures of the blokes - usually the good looking Nashos - and asked where they lived. The next week or so, Privates Morrow and Gillis, Nashos from Lismore or Ipswich would be in their local paper for their sins. BUT the WO assisting the KAPE teams would make sure that there was nothing that shouldn't be there in the photos.

My Pic's replaced.