new project .. BEDFORD KM TRUCK !

manta mad

well this is gonna be a challange , but worth it in the end



Firstly a big thanks to kevin devoy & his father john , as they owned this truck from new !
It has a history with my family, as my dad use to drive this for a living .
It was originally an oil tanker in its daily use .
In december 1986 my dad after delivering oil , died from a heart attack & the truck was left up for a while .
And after a while was put back on the road for a year or two , then it was left up & the tanker taken off .
It was parked up behind the garage ever since .
And we always said if it ever could/came up for sale we would buy it & restore it because of the history we had with it !
So thanks to kevin & his father it now resides here !

& for the first time in a very long time its back on the move ..
It hadn't been moved or started in around 20 years & kevin put 2 batteries in it last week & first time it started !
& drove .
And today the same starts & drives , but no brakes ... it's not that bad body wise either only the 2 mudguards to be replaced .
Plan is to keep the colour scheme & put a transporter body on the back .
so this will be a labour of love & anybody that knows anything about these let me know as i will be glad of the info !!

been loaded in carlow

going in my gate .

my brother got a spin in it !!

and meself !!

manta mad

and after a quick wash ,first in over 20 years !!!!!







great to have it driving again after all those years , but it needs brakes & tyres in a bad way :rolleyes:

other than that its drives & starts fine . dunno how ,,but it runs a sweet as the day it was left up !

tc20

best of luck with this project MM, and what a job!
Looks like the truck isn't all that rough to begin with, and it will be a great focal point, considering the history and connections the truck has to you.
I wish you the best :cool:

kasper

best of luck with it

603304529

My old man still has one of these on the road in Aus. And he has one that is a crane as well - only used around the yard though. Both are petrol, single headlight models. Brakes only work on the road going one!

Any questions, ask away....

sogood

Well done! Do keep us posted with pics and updates. Best of luck with it.

BeardyGit

Jim,

Best of luck with the project. Drop me a PM with your number - Might have a helpful lead for some replacement tyres.....

Gil

carchaeologist

Nice one,something different for a change,I presume the oil tank is gone?

manta mad

know where the oil tank is , but it would be pointless putting it back on ,,

so its gonna get a transporter body fitted to the back of it & it will be a working/workable classic :cool:

oh and the colour scheme will stay the same , nice & bright !!!!

chiefwiggum

best of luck with it buddy

Saab Ed

Best of Luck. Its really nice that you're taking this on givin the history with it aswell. Look forward to regular updates on how you're doing. My old man used to turn up outside our house in one the odd time. That was properly cool becuase he worked in the army ( I say worked , what I ment was employed by ) and all the kids on the street would go mad when a big green militray truck pulled up outside our house. Good luck again.

Big Nasty

Well done dude!

Nice history behind it and I'm sure it will bring a tear to your eye seeing her back in her former glory like when your Dad was driving it!

Keep us updated with the project as you go along!

unkel

Nice story!

20 years not starting, you just hook up a battery and it starts. And it drives :eek:

Hermy

Same as has already been said - well done and best of luck.
I only wish I had as much as a photo of some of the trucks my Dad used to drive.

911s

Best of luck with restoration. Started driving TK (smaller version) at 17,really envious of KM drivers! Mongans outside Galway used to break a
lot of these for parts, but I don't know if they still operate.

911s

PS I forgot to add you should allow enging oil to settle and drain & replace
as I am sure there is a lot of c**p collected in that sump that you have now spread around the engine.

Gary ITR

Fair play to you Manta Mad

Can't wait to have a poke around it

hi5

I note your in Carlow Mantamad.
Theres a guy in Paulstown specialises in sand blasting truck and trailer chassis
Ive used him a few times for bumpers and the likes,does a good job and reasonable prices too,will also primer after,could save you a lot of work:)

manta mad

yeah ,, i think i know that fella , he do,s morriseys trucks !
will be pricing around shortly !!!!:rolleyes:

Slidey

Good on ya and a nice story/background.

Truck mechanic by trade and if you are taking on any big jobs with this or need any advice drop me a pm. Its a bit of a spin to Carlow but if I was at a loose end for a day I'd probably make the journey.

Course I'd want to be brought for a spin in the Manta while there!

Good luck with the project

Manta Mad ovci

Any update on her would be nice to see more oldise back on the road.