Morris Light Recon. Car Mk2

[Peter Laidler]

I just wonder how and why a Morris light reccy vehicle ends up in PA, USA!

[bigduke6]

Via Canada ?

[Peter Laidler]

er......... same again. I wonder how and why it would have gone to Canada then Big Duke!

[bigduke6]

Did we export any vehicles to Canada after WW2 ? there is a few pics on the internet of Canadian troops using the Morris.

[Flying10uk]

I wondered if it went to the Irish Republic after WW2 and eventually got sold onto the collector's market from there, once the Irish army had finished with it. That is assuming that they used this particular model of vehicle, of course. I know of a Beaverette armoured car that is now in preservation because of this.

[Gil Boyd]

Probably bought from a DoD sale over there, like we do from Withams in Lincs

[GeeRam]

I just wonder how and why a Morris light reccy vehicle ends up in PA, USA!

Given there are so few of them left, my guess is it is one of two that used to belong to my mate Alex Scott and were on display by the 43rd Recce Living History Group at the first Military Odessey show at Detling in the early 2000's. One was complete-ish and one was a shell and was displayed on its side in the wooded display area in a mock burned out effect, the more complete one IIRC was later sold and exported to the USA....????
The bare shell example was later donated to a local museum as a gate guardian IIRC.

[ArtioZen]

I have been around the vehicle for a couple of years. It came over to the US 8 to 10 years ago with another running vehicle (different type) and has some known history - which I am vague on - our group has a bunch of articles and photos and more details. The elder group members decided to import the one type of vehicle that was missing from our recce vehicle line up. Essentially it was sold out of service to a farmer who cut it up to be a tractor type hack. The rear hull was left intact, the roof and front glacis were removed for better visibility and the turret dumped in a scrap corner. At some point it was derelict and somehow became part of a prop search for a war movie (the RAF regiment used them). The front armor was approximated or reassembled from the remaining offcut panels and the original turret remounted. After the movie I think it was resold to be a fire vehicle (its painted red in places) - possible for vehicular extinguisher practices. I believe a couple of folks in the UK have had their time with it - so far all the restoration efforts have been further strip down - so now its a hull on wheels with lots of parts in boxes - but has the original running gear in pieces. There is another one in Florida in the show circuit that uses US donor powertrain. I can expand further details after inflicting myself on the group historian....probably a factual fate worse than death.

---------- Post added at 07:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------

So back to the 6V starter motor discussion. I had time to observe the units Mk Carrier and its rebuild updates. A 6V battery retained for the ignition system and electric controls and gages. The starter motor on the carrier is a manual throw - not a solenoid - so a 12V battery is dedicated to the starter - which turns faster and the 6V ignition has plenty of Amps to fire her up on the first turn. The Morris may be a electric solenoid starter though - will have to check. If it is then a modified circuit to fire the solenoid and starter on 12 Volts keeping the rest of the vehicle on 6V. We do have to charge both batteries continually - although the 6V does pick some charge up from the old dynamo. At least there are nice solar 12V chargers for when we are out of site in the country. The 6V windings were over built and the light use starting on 12V has not caused any problems yet..

[Brit plumber]

I'd leave it all as 6 Volt, it was designed on 6 volt and if it was good enough then, it should be good enough now. People have switched to 12V in the past because of poor starting due to lack of maintenance. A good condition 6V system will have no problems. If it won't start on 6V, the system is tired or set up incorrectly.

[ArtioZen]

That's probably true for the Mk2 carrier - its running an original engine from the 1960's (last rebuild). Its a good runner though. The Morris will have a fresh engine as you say - run it as designed. I think some of the issue is that occasional starts need to re-prime the fuel circuit with the mechanical fuel pump - which means cranking. I wish starting it was my current problem (excuse the pun) but its good to have this chat and ready