Newby from England

[Petelgv1]

Hi everyone,
First I'd like to say is well done to the admins on here. Great site.
I am Pete from nr London England.
We recently brought a Ward Lafrance M1A1 Wrecker. As soon as I can work out how to post pics I will, but only having an ipad and struggling when it say drag pics (which I can't with an ipad) then I'll show you our Baby.
Thanks, Pete

 

[zebedee]

Welcome Pete.
Was that one from the recent Army Cars sale?

 

[kblazer87]

Hello and welcome from southeast Indiana.

 

[kenet3621]

Welcome aboard! Looks like a nice unit you bought. Keep those pictures coming!

 

[Petelgv1]

Hi everyone,
How we came about getting a Ward Lafrance.
Years ago my senior boss drove for a company who had started recovery. They had their own haulage company.
they needed a wrecker that could go out and do the job without a problem. They checked out a few and eventually got 3 Wards. They sold one, used one for parts and used one. They used the ward as an open cab for a while and as it was getting used a lot, my boss decided to graft a new cab on it. He cut up an old Bedford s type and grafted the cab on the Ward.. 2 weeks after he left someone ran it out of oil...
Now he is in his late 80's and talks about his Ward all the time.
End of last year my boss's son found a ward in Belgium and had it imported to England. I have been in the rally season most of my life and I now have the pleasure of taking his Ward to shows.
ill enclose a pic of the original Ward he had grafted a cab onto, pulling a lorry from a ditch.

 

[Storm 51]

Welcome from Washington State!

That's a very nice truck. How you guys can maneuver those big truck around those narrow roads over there is impressive. I've driven around the U.K. a couple of times in little cars and felt squeezed for space. I can't imagine doing it big trucks.

That's a great photo of the truck being extracted from the river bank.

 

[18operator]

Welcome from Ohio USA! Nice looking wrecker. It's always interesting to read the back stories on the vehicles that are highlighted on this sight! Enjoy that great piece of History.

 

[AZK9]

Welcome from Arizona, USA... The Grand Canyon State!

Beautiful old truck, wonderful history!

 

[M813rc]

Very nice truck!

I also like the Bedford TK in the recovery photo. As a child, those Bedfords in their various incarnations were absolutely my favourite trucks.

Cheers

 

[Flyingvan911]

Nice truck! Welcome from Kansas City, MO USA.

 

[waayfast]

Hello Pete!

Welcome from Salmon River Country in central Idaho. WOW, nice Ward!

Nice to see one so complete and very good condition.

I hope you won't mind, but I'll be having lots of questions for you on the wrecker, as I have one of these beasts here in my yard!! Mine is fairly complete and rust free but is missing a few things such as that long tool box on the bed, the box on top the tower and a few other things.

I'm just starting to clean it up and start the restore process.

Anyway, good luck with yours and good to have you on here--Welcome, sir.

Jim

 

[Gralmk]

Welcome from Massachusetts! Very nice rig! Good luck!

 

[dmetalmiki]

Welcome from Washington State!

That's a very nice truck. How you guys can maneuver those big truck around those narrow roads over there is impressive. I've driven around the U.K. a couple of times in little cars and felt squeezed for space. I can't imagine doing it big trucks.
That's a great photo of the truck being extracted from the river bank.

Welcome to the site and the friendships advice's and Mass of information available to you and for your super nice looking truck. It looks awesome, We hope to to see it (and your crew) at the War and Peace revival this year. And yes we (all) love our trucks over here and using them on our "interesting" road networks. I'm sure I posted 'how big is big somewhere' I will post a picture similar anyway.

 

[theeDIZ]

Welcome from the other side of the pond.

 

[Petelgv1]

Wow this is a friendly club. I feel part of the family already.
thank you.

 

[Petelgv1]

Hi mate, I have been looking into getting our Ward to the War and Peace revival. The issue we are having at the moment is the cost of Haulage.. Our Ward is original with the Continental Petrol engine at 4 mpg ish so we could not afford to drive her there.. We are not ruling it out yet. I will definitely be there in person for a day if our Ward don't make it.
I will be driving her to the " Wicksteed at war"

 

[dmetalmiki]

We are having a drive out and barbecue next weekend, p.m. me and perhaps link up? Bring the crew.

 

[Petelgv1]

Hello Pete!

Welcome from Salmon River Country in central Idaho. WOW, nice Ward!

Nice to see one so complete and very good condition.

I hope you won't mind, but I'll be having lots of questions for you on the wrecker, as I have one of these beasts here in my yard!! Mine is fairly complete and rust free but is missing a few things such as that long tool box on the bed, the box on top the tower and a few other things.

I'm just starting to clean it up and start the restore process.

Anyway, good luck with yours and good to have you on here--Welcome, sir.

Jim

Ask away mate, if I can help in any way, then I will.
I am off work this week, but I'll do my best.

 

[BenRoberts]

Hello from across the pond in ohio

 

[gottaluvit]

Hello, and welcome, from Southeast Ohio.