Am I crazy - Daimler Ferret Scout Car

[goodwoodweirdo]

Found myself enquiring into a Daimler Ferret Scout car... thank god it was sold...

But deep down, wouldn't that be so cool to go to the Goodwood revival in :-) - or maybe the local pub...

Just how bad are they ...

Cheers
Matt

[Focused]

I got the Ferret bug too, a few years back, when I saw a superb example at a local classic show. I had a long chat with the owner and he said it wasn't too bad to drive. I can't remember all the negatives but I think he said it did about 4mpg. there are a number that come up for sale. I was really serious about getting one but after hearing the words, "ARE YOU MAD?" from so many people and not having anywhere to keep it, I decided it was something I'll get sometime in the future. I really wanted it for driving through London, I wanted to see the cabs try cutting me up in that thing! I'm not going to encourage you but if you get one, can I have a go?

[goodwoodweirdo]

haa haa so there are two of us... plus the current owners.... some dude near my office has a half track !! thats half a track too far :-)

[PST 1]

goodwoodweirdo said:

Found myself enquiring into a Daimler Ferret Scout car... thank god it was sold...

But deep down, wouldn't that be so cool to go to the Goodwood revival in :-) - or maybe the local pub...

Just how bad are they ...

Cheers
Matt

Get yourself a Willys/Hotchkiss Jeep. For popping down the pub or into town it's great.
No doors, seat belts etc... I've wanted one since I was a kid.
Bought mine two years ago and never looked back, it's great fun.

[a8hex]

There was a half track parked at the back of an office I visited a couple of months ago. It was up against a set of doors. Guess it would make ram raiding the place a bit more difficult :-)

[goodwoodweirdo]

PST it was being lent a Willy's that started it all... bloody great with its 3 forward gears... air pump wipers and no belts, just a chain rather than door, what the hell is the point of a chain... 3 meter long radio antenna...

Great fun :-)

[PST 1]

goodwoodweirdo said:

PST it was being lent a Willy's that started it all... bloody great with its 3 forward gears... air pump wipers and no belts, just a chain rather than door, what the hell is the point of a chain... 3 meter long radio antenna...

Great fun :-)

I get more looks driving the Jeep than I do driving anything else.
Not sure how to upload photos?

[shirt]

a mate at school's dad owned a breakdown firm and for promotional duties / shows etc. they had a ferret and an alvis stalwart. very cool bits of kit that my mate would arse around in on private land.

a stalwart would make a nifty camper van!

[rovermorris999]

Some tasty stuff up for sale here:
http://www.manbymotorplex.com
Just up the road from me, I'm so tempted.

[aeropilot]

goodwoodweirdo said:

Found myself enquiring into a Daimler Ferret Scout car... thank god it was sold...

But deep down, wouldn't that be so cool to go to the Goodwood revival in :-) - or maybe the local pub...

Just how bad are they ...

Very.....

My mate had Ferret about 15 years ago. They arn't that hard to drive, it's a bit like a Routemaster bus, as they have a pre-select gearbox IIRC.......

But, you can't see bugger all from the drivers position, and you MUST have a 'commander' in the turret and make use of the intercom system for information about what's happening around you, (and they must be careful not to kick the turret locking mechanism when going around a corner.....guess how I know that )
They are very, very, very noisey and are a bit of a pig to work on too, and he was glad to get rid of it, and he's had lots of experience with ex-mil vehicles.

[richw_82]

A mate of mine used to have one, we used to use it to go to college. I'd do vehicle commander, he'd drive it. The view out from the drivers position is pretty limited even with all the direct vision panels open. I can't say I'm too keen on the driveshafts and where they run past the driver.

Even so it was fun!!

[goodwoodweirdo]

aeropilot said:

But, you can't see bugger all from the drivers position, and you MUST have a 'commander' in the turret and make use of the intercom system for information about what's happening around you, (and they must be careful not to kick the turret locking mechanism when going around a corner.....guess how I know that )
They are very, very, very noisey and are a bit of a pig to work on too, and he was glad to get rid of it, and he's had lots of experience with ex-mil vehicles.

bloody hell what an idea.... the ferret has just become a great idea "but no"...

thanks for saving me

[Hooli]

my ex-landlady got one as a engagement pressie! (yes they were an odd couple). painted up white in UN colours the funniest moment was a woman (had to be) knocking on the house door to say she'd reveresed into it obviously she got asked 'didnt you see it?'

[stifler]

A far more practical toy would be an ex Northern Ireland (complete with riot gear) Humber Pig.
Have you thought about an Alvis Saracen?

My uncle has two of each in his yard (and a Ferret)

PM me if you are interested.

(He also looks after several ex-SAS "pink panthers". They get some odd looks!!!)

[BLUETHUNDER]

stifler said:

A far more practical toy would be an ex Northern Ireland (complete with riot gear) Humber Pig.
Have you thought about an Alvis Saracen?

My uncle has two of each in his yard (and a Ferret)

PM me if you are interested.

(He also looks after several ex-SAS "pink panthers". They get some odd looks!!!)

The saracen is a bd to maintain.Lots of problems with wind up if driven too long on tarmaced roads. Blow a wheel station,and you are in for a nice time. I bit the Ferret bug some time back. And is the easiest way to get in to armour. I do quite a few shows with mine,and have done the odd P.H event as well......................












Here is a link to a story i posted about in readers cars last week...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...