In part 4, we take a closer look at the ex-BAOR travellers and the extra specifications that they carried. This part is an addition to the original series, mainly due to the wonderful response that I have had from members of the Morris Minor Club of the Netherlands (MMCN). Assistance in these matters has been provided by Jacqueline Theuns, herself an owner of such a vehicle and Webmaster of the MMCN’s website. Her traveller is currently under restoration the army registration was
41 FJ 85.

For some years now the only known ex-BAOR traveller that had been seen in the UK was Anton Visser who has attended many MMOC National Rallies in the UK, his is a 1970 example that still carries its mid-bronze green paint, he is the third owner and its keeper since 1979, the registration number is 30-TR-42 and the military number that it would have carried was 42 FJ 69, the chassis plate displays MAW L 1286359F. Anton’s vehicle and any other ex-BAOR travellers for that matter would have originally carried all the ‘standard’ Military specifications as mentioned earlier in this series and a few others that were applicable to the travellers used by the BAOR.

These extras are as follows, the first is it is LHD, therefore the chassis plate carries ‘L’ after the MAW to confirm LHD, the speedometer is in kilometres and does look strange at first when you see 140 on the clock! A number of the later versions are fitted with the steering lock and hazard warning light, these are operated via a flick switch mounted under the dash on a special bracket that contains the flashing warning light, there is also an extra flash unit near the fuse box. Also some extra features on Anton’s traveller are an electric windscreen washer pump and beneath the rear bumpers are the rectangular reflectors as used on the LCVs, both these features were on the traveller when he purchased it, but as to whether these are authentic Military features is unlikely.

A similar vehicle with many of the same feature’s exists in the UK, this is CAU 243H, military number 40 FJ 50, the vehicle has been restored to a high standard by Brian Fletcher and carries an interesting plate confirming the vehicle as being as being a ‘tropical version’. But according to the records that exist this vehicle should have been a LHD ex-BAOR, not a tropical at all! If any LHD tropical versions were made they should have been coded as 8659 rather the 3659 that this one carries, but there were not any as far as we know, unless you know different?

Marcel Kistemaker from Hengelo has supplied some splendid photos as well as information on his ex-BAOR traveller 96-TP-91. Like Anton’s his too was also acquired in 1979, it still carries its military ID plate, the hazard warning light switch, KPH speedo and steering lock. This one does not have electric washers, remote brake fluid reservoir or the LCV style reflectors, but it still carries its Military mid-bronze green. Marcel believes around 375 of these travellers found their way to Holland, his came from the Takken brothers mention in the previous part of this feature.
Berthy Mohr also owns one of these travellers, it too carries all the correct plates as well as many of the features, and he confirms that his traveller had the rear reflectors that he removed! He also has the hazard warning switch to go back in the vehicle, the traveller is now painted a lighter shade of green, the steering lock is still in place the current plate that this carries is 87-ZN-66 and splendid it looks too!

Jaap Noorman purchased his ex-BAOR Traveller some 2 years ago from Aaldering in Brummen. When he purchased the traveller it was in a reasonable condition, but has since been restored with the help of Anton Visser and Eelke Teijens, from the MMCN in Enschede. Jaap has driven the car to Denmark recently without any problems travelling some 1500 kilometres. He also attended the MMOC national at Knebworth again no problems. This vehicle carries very few of the ex-military features, but the ID plate remains, the colour has also changed the current registration of this one is HD-50-FT.

Twan Jochem’s traveller seems to have decommissioned by the army during 1978 and was imported to Holland from Germany by the famous (in ex-BAOR traveller terms) Pieter Takken again! A Mr de Jong in Oudewetering purchased the car, he then sold the vehicle to someone in The Hague and finally Twan became the trusted keeper. The traveller still carries mid-bronze green and the army ID plate as well as the usual ex-BAOR traveller extras, although the hazard-warning switch is missing. The current registration number it carries is 96-TU-14 and the former army plate was 42 FJ 88.

Peter ter Braak from Numansdorp, also owns a traveller that came via the Takken brothers, the registration number on his 63-GS-47 and has now covered some 240,000 plus kilometres, it still many of the ex-BAOR features including the fire extinguisher located on the gearbox turret, also the original rubber matting seems to be in place under the carpets!

As more and more vehicles come to light more of the features can be confirmed, although none have the electric washers or remote brake fluid as standard some of the LCV style reflectors have surfaced so I feel that the jury are still out on this one. I have been able to confirm that the hazard warning switch and light that were fitted were used from an MG Midget that was in production at the same time as the Minor. I think that there may be as many 100 of these ex-BAOR traveller still in existence in Holland, some may have made it to Denmark and Sweden and I am sure a few were left in Germany, anyone know of any?
I have already mentioned the response from MMCN members has been fantastic and I am sure many of the vehicles that I have been informed of arrived too late to feature in this article, but do not worry a follow-up feature is being planned on these unique Minors and will appear as an update, so watch this space as they say!

Part 5 covers some Military men with their Military Minors and in parts 6, 7 & 8 we look at the LCVs used by the various Government departments, such users being the Home Office and the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries. Many thanks are made to the following that have contributed to this article, Jacqueline Theuns, Marcel Kistemaker, Godfrey Crew, Berthy Mohr, Jaap Noorman, Twan Jochem, Peter ter Braak, Coba Van Hunen, René Vinke and Anton Visser.

If you know of any ex-Ministry/Military Minors or LCVs used by any other Government departments please contact me via Minor Monthly, likewise if you require details of the Minor LCV Register they can be obtained by contacting me via e-mail RussLCV@ClubMorris.co.uk or visit the Minor LCV Register’s website on www.minorlcvreg.tk I have also compiled a Military Traveller & ex Government LCV website at www.militaryminors.tk the Morris Minor Club Nederland can be located at www.morrisminorclub.nl/International.htm

© Russell Harvey

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