In 2005, my father was retired about a year from the LAPD (he retired a captain after 38 years). That fall, he bought a scout car (British Ferret) from a used car lot in Costa Mesa California. My mother took one look at it when he brought it home, and she told him, "you need to get a job!" It's now residing on a family property in Arizona. Great fun with that thing. Hahaha.
Whittington is in Archway, North London. I grew up around there. There weren't any barracks around there but I believe there is a territorial army unit based there. I seem to remember seeing a TA center about 400 yards from the cat statue on Highgate Hill. (This was during the 80s.)
@freebeerfordworkers Yes, I heard they were dangerous and a bit top heavy. The wishbones were too short, so the outer wheels tucked underneath on sharp bends, instead of deflecting upwards, -making the car roll over. Apart from that, they were great to drive and generally much better than the (agricultural) Land Rovers.
The Black Cat sign, affectionately know as “ the Kuching Cat” relates to the Brit. 17 Division tactical sign. . At some time in its life this MK 11 Ferret served in the British Far East. No doubt the Borneo Confrontation from 1963 - 1966. We had a couple in our Unit for escort duty. Good to drive! Original colour jungle green. Cheers👍😃
Good to see a Kiwi family man enjoying his hobby with the kids. I kinda wish the vid was 3 times as long and went more into detail, showing us the engine, interior (yes I know other vids have shown these) and maybe some pics of the work being done with the Ferret undressed a little. A restoration video like Bovington has done with their Matilda would be great for nerds like me who love the details. Thanks for what you put up though, I enjoyed it.
No, it's a scout car, not a tank. It was initially designed as a 2 man recce vehicle, not a fighting vehicle, to replace the similar WW2 Dingo, also a Daimler. When you can drive almost anywhere, and at great speed, including in reverse (5 gears in both directions, 130hp RR engine), that's all the defence you needed when this was designed. However later Mks sometimes had a small turret, when it was to be used as an armoured car when it's recce role was being taken-over by helos etc.
Therewere two versions of these. This one is the liason version and primarily was a communications hub with multiple radios installed. The recce version had a manually operated turret with an 0.5 machine gun. This had a driver and commander as crew whilst the liason had a crew of three, driver, commander and signaler.
There were many versions of Ferret. From the Mk 1 without a turret up to the Mk 5 with a turret carrying four Swingfire LRATGM's. The British also used a version with Vigilant ATGM's. The Canadians and Australians had versions with SS11 and ENTAC ATGM's. British ones carried either a 0.3" Browning or later in the 1980's converted to a 7.62mm GPMG (Variant of the FN MAG)
I thought / considered why I should be explaining to all the civilian Ferret owners exactly what my experience is with the wonderful, very able and capable Ferrets, is, (what is my qualification) ? Well how does 11 Years in the Royal Armoured Corps in the UK stack up ? In my regiment, 2 chaps were killed (GRIMLY) BY sittings on the rear hatch of the Turret while driving !! I myself, as Commander, have survived the Ferret leaving the road (not fully understood ) how or why it happened , it just did, the vehicle bouncing, end over end, side over side twice, reported by the crew of the Landrover we were following - thanks to (Norrie RSDG and Sax my own regiment 1976). My driver broke the rim of the steering wheel off the spokes, his right leg being impaled by one of the spokes ! With the Ferret upside down, it took me 4 attempts to release the locking pins of the escape hatch, before I could operate the release mechanism of the Spare Wheel release latch / mechanism , all whilst my driver was protesting his injuries that required him to be CASAVAC'ed away by Helicopter. 1. OWNERS DONT ALLOW ANYONE (FRIENDS OR FAMILY) TO SIT ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE TURRET (MK 2), OR BACK / MK1 (Field Mouse) WHILE THE FERRET IS DRIVING !! 2. THE TURRET ROTATION MUST ALSO BE LOCKED !! 3. THE FERRET BATTERIES MUST BE ABSOLUTELY SECURE IN THEIR POSITIONS, IN THE HULL, OTHERWISE THE HULL BECOMES THE PERFECT (FOOD LIQUIDISER) WITH THOSE HEAVY BATTERIES FLYING AROUND INSIDE DISPENSING THEIR ACID (YOU GET THE PICTURE) ?
These are awesome I remember climbing into one of the same around In 1972. The smell from the inside is one of a kind! They are the Best
In 2005, my father was retired about a year from the LAPD (he retired a captain after 38 years). That fall, he bought a scout car (British Ferret) from a used car lot in Costa Mesa California. My mother took one look at it when he brought it home, and she told him, "you need to get a job!" It's now residing on a family property in Arizona. Great fun with that thing. Hahaha.
These were limited to 50mph when in service but 2 minutes derestricting the carb will see them do 80mph. Forward and backward. Now thats fun!
nice MK1 ferret. used to drive these and the MK2 and Saladins in the early 70s thanks for posting
What rifle rounds will that 5/8 armor plate stop?
Whittington is in Archway, North London. I grew up around there. There weren't any barracks around there but I believe there is a territorial army unit based there. I seem to remember seeing a TA center about 400 yards from the cat statue on Highgate Hill. (This was during the 80s.)
It sounds a like the Austin Champ we had, with the RR engine, full independent suspension and 5 gears forward and reverse!
@freebeerfordworkers Yes, I heard they were dangerous and a bit top heavy. The wishbones were too short, so the outer wheels tucked underneath on sharp bends, instead of deflecting upwards, -making the car roll over. Apart from that, they were great to drive and generally much better than the (agricultural) Land Rovers.
The Black Cat sign, affectionately know as “ the Kuching Cat” relates to the Brit. 17 Division tactical sign. . At some time in its life this MK 11 Ferret served in the British Far East. No doubt the Borneo Confrontation from 1963 - 1966. We had a couple in our Unit for escort duty. Good to drive! Original colour jungle green. Cheers👍😃
I picked up a ferret From reme workshops in Tripoli in 1960 and drove it back to homs barracks. The reme forgot to
Good to see a Kiwi family man enjoying his hobby with the kids. I kinda wish the vid was 3 times as long and went more into detail, showing us the engine, interior (yes I know other vids have shown these) and maybe some pics of the work being done with the Ferret undressed a little. A restoration video like Bovington has done with their Matilda would be great for nerds like me who love the details. Thanks for what you put up though, I enjoyed it.
Looks great. Be proud m8
No, it's a scout car, not a tank. It was initially designed as a 2 man recce vehicle, not a fighting vehicle, to replace the similar WW2 Dingo, also a Daimler. When you can drive almost anywhere, and at great speed, including in reverse (5 gears in both directions, 130hp RR engine), that's all the defence you needed when this was designed. However later Mks sometimes had a small turret, when it was to be used as an armoured car when it's recce role was being taken-over by helos etc.
what a cute armored car
More. why so short ?
longer interviews are needed for armoured cars and Kettenkrads.
the sand mat/chanel is wrong for that vehicle there quite hard to find i had mine manufactured there more of a chanel than a flat section
Correct for Desert Storm
Guess better than some things used today
Therewere two versions of these. This one is the liason version and primarily was a communications hub with multiple radios installed. The recce version had a manually operated turret with an 0.5 machine gun. This had a driver and commander as crew whilst the liason had a crew of three, driver, commander and signaler.
There were many versions of Ferret.
From the Mk 1 without a turret up to the Mk 5 with a turret carrying four Swingfire LRATGM's. The British also used a version with Vigilant ATGM's.
The Canadians and Australians had versions with SS11 and ENTAC ATGM's.
British ones carried either a 0.3" Browning or later in the 1980's converted to a 7.62mm GPMG (Variant of the FN MAG)
Great !
Did he have to remove the turret or something?
I thought / considered why I should be explaining to all the civilian Ferret owners exactly what my experience is with the wonderful, very able and capable Ferrets, is, (what is my qualification) ? Well how does 11 Years in the Royal Armoured Corps in the UK stack up ? In my regiment, 2 chaps were killed (GRIMLY) BY sittings on the rear hatch of the Turret while driving !! I myself, as Commander, have survived the Ferret leaving the road (not fully understood ) how or why it happened , it just did, the vehicle bouncing, end over end, side over side twice, reported by the crew of the Landrover we were following - thanks to (Norrie RSDG and Sax my own regiment 1976). My driver broke the rim of the steering wheel off the spokes, his right leg being impaled by one of the spokes ! With the Ferret upside down, it took me 4 attempts to release the locking pins of the escape hatch, before I could operate the release mechanism of the Spare Wheel release latch / mechanism , all whilst my driver was protesting his injuries that required him to be CASAVAC'ed away by Helicopter.
1. OWNERS DONT ALLOW ANYONE (FRIENDS OR FAMILY) TO SIT ON THE REAR HATCH OF THE TURRET (MK 2), OR BACK / MK1 (Field Mouse) WHILE THE FERRET IS DRIVING !!
2. THE TURRET ROTATION MUST ALSO BE LOCKED !!
3. THE FERRET BATTERIES MUST BE ABSOLUTELY SECURE IN THEIR POSITIONS, IN THE HULL, OTHERWISE THE HULL BECOMES THE PERFECT (FOOD LIQUIDISER) WITH THOSE HEAVY BATTERIES FLYING AROUND INSIDE DISPENSING THEIR ACID (YOU GET THE PICTURE) ?
Wow. Thanks for the PSA -- scary stuff.
want 1 lol badass