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CHASSIS NUMBER. 331000008A
REGISTRATION NUMBER. APB 963A
ENGINE TYPE. 2286 cc PETROL 24v
GEARBOX TYPE. 4 SPEED
VEHICLE SPEC.
THIS MODEL WAS KNOWN AS THE A.P.G.P. (Air Portable
General Purpose) BASED
AROUND A 1 TON MILITARY SPEC 109.24v. IT HAS
AMPHIBIOUS CAPABILITIES. THE CHASSIS IS FILLED WITH FOAM TO AID BUOYANCY
AND THERE IS A SMALL PROPELLER MOUNTED ON THE REAR PROP SHAFT. AIR BAGS
WOULD HAVE BEEN INFLATED FROM THE EXHAUST. YES IT FLOATS! THIS WAS TO
BE A MULTI ROLE VEHICLE. THE APGP CAN BE A RADIO
STATION, WOMBAT CARRIER OR 110v POWER TOOL SOURCE
AND COULD BE STACKED 2 HIGH FOR AIR TRANSPORT. AROUND 26 OF THESE WERE
BUILT FOR TROOP TRIALS IN 1964 BUT NEVER ENTERED SERVICE. THIS IS THE
FIRST VEHICLE TO FIND ITS WAY INTO THE COLLECTION,
PURCHASED BY BRIAN IN 1968 VIA RUDDINGTON MILITARY AUCTIONS. IN 1998 WE
HAD THE MAD IDEA TO SWIM THE A.P.G.P. FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER AN INTERESTING
CHALLENGE AS THE AIR BAGS THAT SUPPORT IT IN THE WATER ARE 30 YEARS OLD.
THE APGP HAS SWUM AT MANY EVENTS. STEERING IN THE WATER IS INTERESTING
AS IT RELIES ON THE FRONT TYRES AS RUDDERS. WIND COULD BE DISASTROUS!
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