Description
Leyland
1939 Leyland Retriever Magneto Ignition
Fantastic life known history, Still has Brass Identification plates and War Department Brass Plate, Still retains the Original Registration GYO 596 and i have here in my name the V5C.
Fantastic original, Drove from the low loader into our barn, The vehicle has been un-used for many years , The vehicle has always been kept inside and is in sound condition, the coach built frame and steel work are as sound as the day they were built, The Birds Company removed the crane some years ago, still has a pair of the original Tyres from 1939. Could be on the road / at shows with some Very easy recommission work.
When purchasing the Leyland I Spoke with Mr Bird about the history and continued to look into the story and sure to find and confirm. I have briefly put this together from what i found , you can look into this with more detail, The National Fire Service acquired a number of Ex Military Leyland Retrievers around 1944 on which their workshops built a variety of coach built bodies. This truck came into use later part of the War. The War production body was altered and the crane fitted in the National Fire Service Workshops in Tyburn Road Birmingham and was painted National Fire Service Grey.
Soon after 1948 it was painted Green and given the fleet number 100. In 1948 was passed to the Birmingham Fire and Ambulance Service For their Recovery Unit and still today has their radio call sign M2FB20 painted some 70 years ago on the rear bulkhead,
When it was sold off around 1970 it was purchased by The Birds of Stratford On Avon who were scrap dealers for their recovery truck.
The picture is of the truck taken in the Fire Station Yard at Birmingham A1 Central.
