AEC Matador

AEC O853 Matador
AEC matador tows 3.7 inch gun, Caen, 7 August 1944.
Type	Medium artillery tractor
Place of origin	United Kingdom
Specifications
Weight	7.75 tons
Length	20 ft 10 in
Width	7 ft 10 in
Height	9 ft 7 in
Crew	1
Armour	none
Engine	AEC 7.6 litre diesel 95 hp
Payload capacity	10-ton
Suspension	Wheel, 4 x 4
Speed	30 mph

The AEC Matador was an artillery tractor built by the Associated Equipment Company for British and Commonwealth forces during the Second World War.

A MkIII Matador with Park Royal coach build cab of Westfield Transport of Mansfield

AEC had already built a 4 x 2 lorry, also known as the Matador (all AEC lorries received 'M' names).

The Matador was distinctive with its flat fronted cab with gently curved roof, wheels at the corners and a flat load carrying area covered by a canvas or tarpaulin tilt. It was equipped with a winch (7-ton load in its case) like all artillery tractors. The O853 provided the basis for the 'Dorchester' Armoured Command Vehicle.

AEC also produced a larger 6x6 vehicle (model O854) based on the 4x4 Matador which were generally, if not officially, also called Matador. The O854 also provided the basis for an Armoured Command Vehicle, the O857.

Military Service version

AEC fitted with Harvey Frost recovery crane

About 9,000 Matadors were built, some going to the Royal Air Force (RAF).

For the British Army, it fulfilled a role between the Morris C8 Quad pulling smaller guns such as the 25 pdr Gun-Howitzer and the Scammell Pioneer used for the 7.2 inch howitzer, and was commonly used for the 5.5 inch Medium Gun and the QF 3.75 inch AA gun. It was also found to be a generally useful vehicle and adapted for other roles including carrying a 25 pdr gun on the back.

The RAF used theirs in the flat bed form for load carrying. The 6-wheeler Matador was used as a refuelling tanker, capable of carrying 2,500 Imperial gallons of fuel and also for towing ashore Short Sunderland flying boats at their stations.

In 1942/43 for the North African campaign some Matadors mounted the 6 pounder anti-tank gun to give the AEC Mk1 Gun Carrier "Deacon".

Post war the Matador was found in civilian use as a recovery truck, a showmans vehicle, and general contractor use. Also useful for forestry work because of its good offroad performance.

Scale models manufacturers Airfix make a version of the vehicle, as a gun tractor for the 5.5 inch gun.

Commercial Version

The AEC Mandator was built as a commercial 4x2 before the Military version was introduced. Post war new versions of the Mandator were introduced with a MkII and a MkIII appearing.

More history of the civilian version required - Can you help with information ?

UK preservation

An AEC Matador 4x4 at GDSF in 2008

• Several examples can be seen on the preservation and Vintage Vehicle circuit both at Truck shows and at other events, like Steam Fairs where some are used to haul Fairground rides or low loaders or as part of the historic military vehicle displays.
• Westfield Transport of Mansfield Matador MKIII is show above, this is an immaculate restoration of a Truck. This truck was built with Park Royal custom cab and bodywork, specially for its duty as a haulage tractor.

List of Preserved AEC Matador trucks

Registration No.	Make-Model or type no	Build-Year	Engine-Make/Type	Weight/class	Chassis/Body type	Owner (if known)	Photo	Were seen/Featured	Other info
18 YZ 81+	Matador	?	?	-	military truck	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Military vehicle
103 UXV	Matador	?	?	-	Showman's tractor conversion	owner ?		At Lister Tyndale Steam Rally 2009	Ex Military vehicle
1254 DD+	Matador	?	?	-	timber truck	owner ?		At Much Marcle Steam Rally 2009	Part restored
5797 DF+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
774 FBD	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?		At Rushden Transport Cavalcade 2008	Ex Military vehicle
BCM 30+ ?	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle - part rebodied
BCS 675	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery tractor conversion	owner ?		At Holcot Steam Rally 2008	Ex Military vehicle
BSJ 833+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	Livery of R & M Lowther	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
DSK 419+	Matador	?	?	-	Military truck	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
EDT 644+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At Rudgwick Steam Rally 2010	In livery of Smarts Circus - Ex Military vehicle
ESV 675+	Matador	?	?	-	?	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
FYS 10+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle - Rebodied
GUJ 700+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
JSU 177+	Matador	?	?	-	recovery tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
KFO 341+	Matador	?	?	-	Dropside body	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
LSV 833+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
MFO 192+	Matador	?	?	-	Military Truck	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
MUB 647+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
MVS 888+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	M.J. Wall & Sons collection	150px]]	At Pickering Steam Rally 2011	Ex Military vehicle
PGK 885+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
PSU 823+	Matador	?	?	-	Military Truck	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
PUT 510	Matador	?	?	-	Douglas Timber tractor conversion	owner ?		At Belvoir Castle Steam Festival 2008	Is it a Matador or Militant based vehicle as seen described as both ?
PWP 555+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
RGX 158+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Re-Cabed - Ex Military vehicle
RSJ 506+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
RSJ 996+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
RYS 893	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?		At Woolpit Steam 2009	Ex Military vehicle
TFF 267+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle - part rebodied
TVS 347+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle - rebodied - part bus body
SVJ 994+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber truck	owner ?		At Much Marcle Steam Rally 2014	ex Military vehicle
WCE 565+	Matador	?	?	-	RAF truck (1/2 cab)	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
WFF 572+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At GDSF 2008	Ex Military vehicle (Named Monty)
XFO 746+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Rebodied
XSK 421	Matador	?	?	-	4x4 Military truck	owner ?		At Holcot Steam Rally 2008	Ex Military vehicle
YVO 404+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
FNH 606E+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Recabed - Ex Military vehicle
OWU 798E+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?		At Pickering Steam Rally 2009	Ex Military vehicle ?
KOT 807F+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
SLT 154F+(89 YY 35)	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
NKY 805H+	Matador	?	?	-	Recovery conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle - part rebodied
WAD 867J+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Fitted with timber body & Hydraulic crane
YOR 146J+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
LVJ 310P+	Matador	?	?	-	Timber tractor conversion	owner ?	150px]]	At ? 2009	Ex Military vehicle
Unknown	Matdor				Timber tractor	S.E. Davis & Son collection		In the long grass	Timber tractor

Please add any truck with known reg or serial no. with Photo if possible.

Create a page (link) for an individual truck by linking the reg or serial number using [[Truck make-model-reg no.|reg number]] or [[Truck make-model-serial no.|serial number]] in the relevant column. Then once saved click the red link to start the new page and add info on that truck.

See also

• Commercial vehicles
• Heavy Haulage
• Bedford QLD - 3 ton general service truck four wheel drive, 4WD, introduced 1941.
• Austin K2
• Canadian Military Pattern Field Artillery Tractor

References / sources

• wikipedia for base article to build on

External links

• AEC Militant and Matador owners