Landships II

This is what's written in 'War Cars' - there's also a single photograph of it

Another War Office-inspired armoured car was the AC, which was a complete contrast to the bus (the previous paragraph mentioned the armoured B type bus). Built by Autocarriers Ltd. of Thames Ditton, Surrey, the AC was one of a range of light motorcars that were gaining popularity at the time. It was powered by an 1100cc Fivet engine driving through a three speed gearbox built into the rear axle. Curved armoured doors shielded the radiator and the fighting compartment consisted of a large circular shield with a single machine gun port, resting on top of the hull. This gave the car a particularly top-heavy look and, despite the fact that the suspension had been almost totally rebuilt to cope with the weight, it seems that the chassis was altogether too light to carry the load. Photographs show the car with as many as five men on board although a crew of three would appear to have been more than enough. It was tested at Aldershot and presumably rejected, since no more was heard of it

Probably your best bet is to get hold of "Wheels & Tracks" magazine #49 - it has a write up on the AC a/c, so to speak, including some good around photographs.

Second City (who now market the old Faust Studios range) list it as the AEC, which it isn't. AEC (Associated Equipment Company) made the B-Type Bus.

There's a write-up in B.T. White that I shall type out if you really, really want me to. The company still exists, in a way http://wikimapia.org/2461581/Site-of-the-office-of-AC-Cars-Ltd

Extract from White: The firm now known (1970) as A.C. Cars Ltd., of Thames Ditton, Surrey, has the distinction of being one of the very few companies to provide fighting vehicles to the British Army before WWI. These were half a dozen or so of the little "Autocarrier" single cylinder three-wheeled delivery vehicles which were fitted with special bodywork to carry either a Maxim mg with 3 crew or mg ammunition and 2 crew. They were used by a Territorial cyclist battalion on manoeuvres in 1910 and later, and seem to have performed well.

It seems that the Army then ordered one light armoured car for experimental purposes a few months after the outbreak of war. This time A.C. offered a 4-wheel chassis that had been used for a prototype 2-seater car in 1913. The rest is as Rob describes.



-- Edited by James H on Tuesday 12th of January 2010 02:06:48 AM

If you're wanting to make a model of it, the RPM Ford model T kit chassis', as depicted in the actual model, look extremely similar if not identical to the AC armoured car chassis

That's not quite right, James.  Both the car and van had the single driving wheel at the rear.

From memory, they don't have reverse gear, so the driver has to a bit of manual shunting if he wants to do a 3-point turn.

Thank you for your posts gentlemen - most enlightening. C

sorry should have searched
before my post AC1915

Ah. Yes, it is complicated. I've had a google and this came up: http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0h&oq=25th&hl=en-GB&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4ADFA_enGB335GB336&q=25th+cyclist+battalion+london+regiment

If you click on Cached on the top result -The London Regiment in 1914-1918 - it highlights the various units. I can't say I fully understand it yet.

Well, fancy that. This site http://www.25thlondon.com/photos-misc.htm reveals a further photo of the AC. There's probably more hidden away amongst all the references.

-- Edited by James H on Thursday 18th of February 2010 10:47:33 AM

Interesting converted car here

http://www.25thlondon.com/photos-misc5.htm