We are attempting to build up a register of surviving Manchester and Willys Overland Crossley trucks; the list below is of the trucks we know of in existence if you have details of any other survivors please contact me by email at the following address
Click on the small photographs below to obtain an enlarged picture.
Overland 20-25cwt YT5350 of 1927, restored by John Fowler of Manchester in 1975. It was acquired by Malcolm Barker of North Luffenham in 2008 and has been restored by Colin Borley having become derelict in recent years. The vehicle had been fitted with a Morris engine when first preserved; but has now been re-united with the original power unit, which has been reconditioned. | (Photograph courtesy of Colin Borley) |
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Overland 20-25cwt OT6913 built in 1927. According to a Netley Marsh Steam Rally programme from 1972 it was first bought by Wards of Petersfield, coal merchants, sold to Hendy's, Pear tree Road, Southampton, then to Barnes Builders of Bartley. It was last taxed in 1936 and renewed again in 1968 for the London to Brighton Commercial Vehicle Run. At that time it was owned by Shane Matthews, we do not know the current owner. | (Photograph courtesy of M Tye) |
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Overland 20-25cwt BF5653, At one time owned by Dutton's Brewery in Lancashire. The registration number OBJ 1 had been acquired by the brewery in 1961 and attached to a Rolls Royce. It was subsequently placed on the truck for advertising purposes; referring to the slogan on their beer bottles "Oh Be Joyful"; however it was not of the correct age period for the vehicle. The brewery was taken over by Whitbreads, who initially displayed the truck in their brown livery before it was repainted as shown in the accompanying photos. It was given an age related registration number when OBJ1 was transferred to another vehicle and was purchased by John Stockdale in 2016. This vehicle now lives within 1/2 mile of HL4911. |
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Model A1 20-25cwt, chassis no. MT10199 owned by Chris Broadbent in Australia. Chris purchased this truck from Dubbo, New South Wales and is in the process of rebuilding it to running condition. Chris found the chassis number stamped on the inside face of the near side (left) longitudinal member, above the front spring hanger. Unfortunately, we have not been able to find these numbers on our chassis. As you can see the restoration of this vehicle is progressing quite well. |
(Photograph courtesy of Chris Broadbent 2024) |
(Photograph courtesy of Chris Broadbent 2024) |
Model A9 20-25cwt, chassis no. MT10288, engine no. 54096 owned by Kevin Armstrong in Australia. | (Photograph courtesy of Kevin Armstrong) |
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Model A1 20-25cwt, chassis no. MT10553 in the Canary Islands. | (Photograph courtesy of John Wilkinson) |
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Model A1 20-25cwt, chassis no. MT10683. The remains were spotted by Brian Jefferson in Tasmania in 2009. Not much left, but it would be nice if the remains could be saved for use in another truck. Update in November 2024, Chris Broadbent visited the site of these remains and was able to purchase some parts to assist in his rebuild of MT10199. |
(Photograph courtesy of Brian Jefferson 2009) |
(Photograph courtesy of Chris Broadbent 2024) |
Model A12 20-25cwt, chassis no. unknown. This vehicle was reported as being included in a farm clearance auction in New South Wales, Australia during October 2023 (or thereabouts). We would like to know what happened to this truck. | (Photograph courtesy of Richard Farrant) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT10868, registration UX3937, when owned by Graham Galliers of Shrewsbury. This truck was sold at a Cheffins Auction in 2011 and the current location is unknown to me. | (Photograph courtesy of Albert Smith) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT11387 tipping truck, registration HL4911. This truck was purchased by my father in 1963. See the web page for this vehicle here |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT11505. We purchased the remains of this truck from J.G.Riddell & Sons of Scotland in 1998. It had never been registered; having been used as a breakdown truck for a local garage. I think it was Ladybank Motors but if anyone could confirm that please contact me. The rear axle has been replaced with one from an early Bedford or Chevrolet; this seems to have been common practice in the Canary Island is but I have not come across other examples being converted in the UK. We purchased the truck to obtain a replacement cylinder block for our truck MT11387. It came complete with chassis, wheels, gearbox, radiator and a lot of cab panels. |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT11811 of 1929, registration DX7800 at the Ipswich Transport Museum. This vehicle was registered DX 7800 on 28th February 1929 and purchased new by Thompson and Morgan, Seed Merchants of London Road, Ipswich. It later passed to H. Rice & Sons of Evans Heath, Polstead and was last registered 31st December 1952. It had been stored pending restoration since the 1960's and was given to the Museum in April 1991. |
(Photograph courtesy of Derek Rayner) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT11833, Lycoming engine no. 48991 in the Canary Islands owned by Fibrotech. The following details were provided by Fibrotech: Bought from Alvarado y Vega by Antonio RodrĂguez González, from Icod on August 6, 1929. Ptas 8300 chassis. |
(Photograph courtesy of aldanrover) |
(Photograph courtesy of aldanrover) |
Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. not known, Lycoming engine no. 51122 in the Canary Islands. This is the second left hand drive Manchester I have heard about. Details supplied by Alberto Guersi. | (Photograph courtesy of Alberto Guersi) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. not known in the Grubb Shaft Gold Mine Museum, Tasmania. | (Photograph courtesy of Tim Keenan) |
(Photograph courtesy of Peter Love) |
Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. not known owned by Hansen Orchards, Tasmania. Photographed by P Love in February 2015. | (Photograph courtesy of Peter Love) |
(Photograph courtesy of Peter Love) |
Believed to be a Model B1 chassis no. not known converted to a superphosphate spreader in Victoria, Australia. | (Photograph courtesy of M Lemmey) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT12638 registration VO3141. Bought by Harry Pilkington, coal merchant of Sutton on Trent from Brooks Motor Co., Newark in 1929. This wagon was fitted with a tipping gear and worked until the mid to late 1950s. In the mid 1960s it was sold to Walter Woodthorpe, coal merchant of Boston Dock, for publicity purposes. It was found in a state of disrepair at Rush Green Motors in 1970 by Henry Stocks, a long distance lorry driver for Richards & Osborne Ltd, Fraddon, Cornwall. The Manchester was purchased by Richards & Osborne, and restored by Henry (known affectionately by everyone as Harr) and made the 1st of many rally appearances in 1972. In 1996 it was sold to John Vincent, of Fraddon, Cornwall. It was later owned by Mr Vercoe and was purchased by John Marshall of Sutton on Trent in 2015. It now resides not far from its original place of work. | (Photograph courtesy of Alan Stocks) |
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Model B1 30-35cwt chassis no. MT13395 registration NM2945. | (Photograph courtesy of Nick Pyle) |
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Model B4 30-35cwt chassis no. MT13424, which I believe is the same as a B1 but with a lower ratio differential gear giving higher road speeds. This truck featured in an episode of the television programme "Bangers & Cash" in 2023. It was sold to Neil Foody of Bishop Auckland, Co. Durham. Further restoration work has been carried out on this vehicle and it is hoped that some more recent photographs will be obtained to post on this web page. |
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Model LBX4 19 seat bus, chassis no. MT30274. This amazing survivor is the first left hand drive Manchester I had heard about. It is still owned by the original owners The Vidago Palace Hotel, Portugal and following complete restoration is now used for transporting guests from the hotel to the golf course. The chassis number and road wheel type suggest that the bus was built on a 2 tonner chassis. | (Photograph courtesy of Jose Costa) |
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Model BX 2 tonner chassis no. MT30582, registration WH3947, owned by Lynch Trucks, Accrington, Lancashire. Previously owned by the Haslam Spinning Co.Ltd, Bolton and Wilfred Hardman Ltd, Bolton. | (Photograph courtesy of Chris Payne) |
We would be very pleased to hear if you have any information about Overland or Manchester trucks that are not listed here. If you can help please send an email to the following address