A good run down with no traffic, we arrived at lunchtime, to be met and guided in the last few miles of country roads by the current owner, Adam and his son.
We pulled into the conveniently located pub car park almost opposite to the farm, then wandered down the road to see the old Commer Q4 in the flesh for the first time. As the tarps were pulled back, the vehicle underneath was revealed, in all it's complete but slightly faded glory. All there, a time warp.
As we gazed, the heavens opened so we retreated to the house for coffee and cookies. Well, I say house, the current owner lived in a fantastic classic Commer horse box converted into a cosy and snug living van!
With the shower past and the V5 signed and torn apart, we went back outside to see about moving the Q4 through the field and back to the road for loading. Gingerly, I started it and remembering that there were no brakes, shunted it back and forth to turn it round. A bit of rear wheel slip and a realisation that the front axle declutch handle wasn't in properly - ah, yes - four wheel drive now. So then, at magnificent low range snail's pace, the Q4 wandered across the fields with me hanging on in the curiously small cab and towards tarmac for the first time in a while. Back into two wheel drive, then into the car park for loading.
A bit of prior homework had suggested that the Q4 was the same length as the Bedford RLs that the AFS also used (in greater numbers). However - how could that be? If the body is the same length, the Q4 has a bonnet, so it must be longer? Anyway, the front overhang is less and the rear greater, so rearwards on the trailer was the order of the day....
Lined up and ready for winching:
On the ramps:
Safely on!
It fits perfectly - front and back:
So, once it was lashed down, it was ready for the off, back to Suffolk:
The run back was longer with the traffic and fuel stops, including on the M25:
We arrived back late in the evening, happy and ready for a glass of wine or three.....!
