Buckfastleigh 2008

July 12th 13th

Celebrating

Paul Gents 1958 Mark 1/2 Ferret restoration

This is a Daimler Ferret, built in 1958 as a mark 1 (no turret) version but converted to a mark 1/2 (fixed turret with lid) by the army in 1962. It is powered by a Rolls Royce B60 4.25l straight 6 petrol engine.

The first thing to do was get it running right. The engine was flooding petrol and it was traveling down inside the cylinders that weren't firing always and into the oil. The work to get it running has included new points, sparks, stripping down and cleaning of carburetor, re-synchronizing of both sets of points, timing redone and reattachment of starter device.

Then it was just cosmetics. The stowage bins and spare wheel were removed

Then removal of all lights, indicators, infact everything that would unbolt.

The armour above the engine bay and also the rear armour was removed to allow a repaint of the engine.

The bins were sandblasted and the main body was needle gunned, all back to bare metal and a new undercoat, top coats and camouflage scheme were added.

Me, Lesley and Al-bear with the ferret on our way to our first show at the Cobbaton Combat Collection.

Rear end showing the civvy number plate attached with magnets.

Two more views of the fairly finished article.