1982 Apparently not an Ex-AA Crewcab Spec-lift

[MATTBLACKHICUBE]

So I have finally taken delivery of my latest addition, a 1982 Ex-AA Crewcab Spec-lift, still in original yellow.

Some of you may know it as the recovery truck from DMS Recovery and Salvage, Gosport, as it has built up quite a reputation during it's time there!!

Anyways so I have taken it on needing a bit of work to get it back up to standard, not too much mind, mainly just a general tidy up. But time will tell.

Reg no. is MAE 330Y, I am trying to find out anything I can about its past, and if anyone has any old pics of her as I am considering putting her completely back to original AA look!!

Will post some pics as soon as me, the truck and my camera manage to be in the same place at the same time.

If I don't get pics on beforehand, she will be at the Hayling Island meet on July 4th.

[AlanN]

4th July Im sorry, but we can't wait that long

[transit jono]

Would be KOOL to see it it's original AA livery-go for it.

[AlanN]

I agree

[MATTBLACKHICUBE]

Here goes the pics then,











Now for some of the work required


This is the worst part, rust has built under the roof joint and has rotted the B-post on the nearside

as you can see there is a bit of reconstruction to do here, I was surprised to see a wooden framework behind the panels!!



A bit of welding on the inner arches/inner wings.


A bit of a refurb inside

There is also a small amount of welding to be done underneath and a general tidy up on the truck body.

Hope this is enough to wet your apetite!!

This may be a bit of a slow project as she is out working most days to pay off buying the truck and getting the work done, luckily I have a very good garage that will be doing the work at excellent rates, and a fellow ftf member who is a godsend when it comes to those custom mods!!

[Luke]

thats lasted pritty well considering it's a spec good base for a rolling resto

and i think it'd look spot on restored back to the origanal AA look

[Luke]

theres some origanal AA pics on the club site

http://www.transitvanclub.co.uk/transitclubaa.htm

can't see your van tho

[poppyabe]

o thanx ur so kind lol

[Muttley]

I drove an 84 MK2 Spec for Western Division relay when it was new, I thought that the ones we had were the first. Yours is a tin front and I didnt think we had them that early. I could well be wrong though, if you contact Fanum house in Basingstoke they can probably confirm ownership for you. There is a section of present AA patrols that run old AA vehicles and they would help you find what the livery would have been.

[MATTBLACKHICUBE]

I might be wrong, just going on what the previous owner said when we bought it.

[transitandy]

nice truck m8

[ozzycustom]

looks cool. I can not wait to see it all done

[Muttley]

I might be wrong, just going on what the previous owner said when we bought it.

It may well be an AA truck, the reg no is odd though as most ended in YE YF YO as they were regd in Basingstoke. It could be a Northern or even a Scottish truck though. Is the body made by Apex and does the boom pull in and out manually? If its powered in and out then its a later spec. The cab looks right though as they all had that big weighted bumper. I saw this truck on ebay and it reminded me of my AA spec then

[MATTBLACKHICUBE]

It may well be an AA truck, the reg no is odd though as most ended in YE YF YO as they were regd in Basingstoke. It could be a Northern or even a Scottish truck though. Is the body made by Apex and does the boom pull in and out manually? If its powered in and out then its a later spec. The cab looks right though as they all had that big weighted bumper. I saw this truck on ebay and it reminded me of my AA spec then

Not sure who the body was made by, the spec itself is a brimec, and manual extending, with the option of a dollywheel on the boom for transporting heavier motors.

The main thing that made me think it was genuine is on the V5 it is

MAKE:FORD
MODEL:
BODY TYPE:BREAKDOWN TRUCK

I am told that the AA and RAC were the only ones to have their trucks registered without a MODEL. I know this means that technically my truck is not a transit, but I don't think anyone here is gonna get upset over it!!

If your coming to the Hayling Island meet you can have a look over it yourself and see if it matches up with trucks you've had in the past. If its not a genuine I'm not too fussed, just happy to have got such a blinding truck!!

I can defo agree on the number plate thing as back in the 90's my dad owned RYF 34Y a swb mk2 van, sliding drivers door, tailgate, xtra power in rear etc etc.

[Luke]

I am told that the AA and RAC were the only ones to have their trucks registered without a MODEL. I know this means that technically my truck is not a transit, but I don't think anyone here is gonna get upset over it!!

my mk1 is regestered as a just a ford with no model name

ex AA or not it'll make a great working classic