Now for something completely different (to restore)

[wheeledhorseman 579]

:omg: Whats this??????????

Ans: my son riding his latest project (not that we don't have enough in the workshop to be getting on with) It's a three wheeled Lister Autotruck.

The concept was to replace the use of horses to move goods round factories and the design dates back to the 1920s. They proved to be a success and production continued until the early 1970s.

Dating an Autotruck from its serial is difficult as no complete set of records appear to exist but based on general observations of detail we reckon this one is most likely early 1950s. The PO was selling to make space for other projects and although he'd never managed to get it to run had been assured when he bought it that it did.

After 15 mins tinkering it turned out to be a duff spark plug and we had it running albeit rather rough and with a cloud of oil smoke which soon burned off and it was running well.

My turn to have a go on the beast. They're quite fun but care is needed on unven surfaces as it's a bit top heavy with no load in the back (it can carry up to a ton!). The side /tailboards are removeable to leave a flat bed.

My son drove it about a couple more times during the following week then it was into the workshop for dismantling. They were used in docks, factories, horticulture, by railway companies and even the Navy and Airforce had them. It has a 600cc (36.6 cubic inch) single cylinder JAP 4 stroke gasoline engine though from the mid 50s diesel engines were fitted.

[Anglo Traction 761]

Nice old piece of useful machinery there Andy. Look's like you aquired that around Autunm time judging by the pics. Seen a few around when I was young. I like those JAP Motors. Thanks for sharing

[Jake Kuhn 1,579]

Thats very cool!!!!

[855ownerJoel 32]

Very Cool, would be great for fogging our Wisconsin bug population...

[pmackellow 12]

Looks like a good project Andy, good find !!

[meadowfield 2,715]

fab stuff Andy, we like JAP engines :D

[Stormin 9,984]

we like JAP engines

I've a Jap engne in my Land Rover. And do I spy an ex-mil Siii 109 in the third photo.

[wheeledhorseman 579]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Nice old piece of useful machinery there Andy. Look's like you aquired that around Autunm time judging by the pics. Seen a few around when I was young. I like those JAP Motors. Thanks for sharing

It was back in late October Richard - the trees hung on to their leaves way into November this year. I don't have any clear recollections of seeing these in use but I can't help thinking of the similar things used on mainline railway station platforms in London when I was a boy. Those were electric though and something at the back of my mind is saying made by Lansing Bagnall.

Very Cool, would be great for fogging our Wisconsin bug population...

I like your thinking Joel, you should have seen it when we first got it going. I think a PO must have stored it outdoors as a future project and poured some oil down the bore to prevent it seizing. The smoke disapeared completely after 15 minutes or so and didn't return so I'm optimistic re the condition of the motor. I've got a knackered K301 though that would be ideal for the job you have in mind if you'd like it shipped.

Looks like a good project Andy, good find !!

My wife found it on flea bay Paul - and told my son who paid the buy it now and had it home a few hours later.

fab stuff Andy, we like JAP engines

I've come across them in all sorts of applications Mark but never owned one till now though 'Mister Lister' the Autotruck is actually my son's.

I've a Jap engne in my Land Rover. And do I spy an ex-mil Siii 109 in the third photo.

The engine is 'JAP' as in J.A. Prestwich. Now I know that pre-war Morgan three wheeled sports cars had a V twin JAP but how many of these have you managed to get under the hood on one crank? V6 or V8?

The Landy is also one of my sons toys. He wanted a Willys jeep till he found that anything other than a basket case was way out of his reach. It is indeed a 1980 ex-army series III 109 FFR (fitted for radio) with 24 volt electrics. It had stood in a field for over ten years waiting to be purchased and restored when we first got it.

I'll post some photos of 'Mister Lister' currently under resto soon.

Andy

[Stigian 1,234]

What a cool machine, a 1 ton carrying weight isn't too shabby ether

I did have one of these (not this one) Martin tippers for a short while many years ago, as it came with no engine I almost fitted a BMW 900cc bike engine in it before I came to my senses and sold it..

[coldone 35]

Wow Andy I dont know how i missed this. Great machine to restore.