Blumhardt Made G508 Ben Hur Trailer

[2ad82recon]

Guys before i spend some more of my hard earned..i have put a verbal agreement to buy a Ben Hur trailer for my WC51.
Now the maker is Blumhardt ?? and i cannot find this maker anywhere on any reference to a Ben Hur trailer....so

1/ Is this genuine WW2 Ben Hur but rebuilt and refinished by Blumhardt Trailers ?

2/ Is this a post war copy trailer (supplied to the Austrian Army)

from the pictures it looks right....has all ? the right bits on it and the price is right...so please give me some guidance here.

Thanks fellas

Regards

LLoyd

[2ad82recon]

Anyone ? please..i dont want to go and buy a post war copy......

here is the link to the trailer....

http://www.milweb.net/webverts/53033/

Thanks guys

LLoyd

[GTBGUY]

The DOD shows "6-7-7". I would interpret that to be June 7, 1947. I think it is of post war manufacture as the manufacturer does not appear in any of the lists of WWII manufacturers. It appears to be in very good shape and to match the WWII trailers. If the price is right I would sure buy it and perhaps try to find a WWII trailer at some time in the future.

[2ad82recon]

Hi GTB GUY...the date on the plate is 6/57 ?...June 1957 and Blumhardt is a german trailer maker ?.....would this be correct ?

I thought by 1957 the Ben Hurs had been phased out and the new "Reo" type trailers had been made...i was always under the impression that Ben Hur production stopped in 1945.

Regards

LLoyd

[GTBGUY]

Sorry I misread the data plate in your photo. The 1-ton "Ben Hur" G-508 trailers remained in use with European armys for many years being finally discontinued and sold surplus in the 1990's. I am not surprised that someone made a production run in 1957. Again, if it matches the G-508 specifications I would buy it.

[2ad82recon]

GTB...could this be a refurbished WW2 trailer by Blumhardt ?.....if so how does a WW2 made G518 differ from a this Ben Hur ?

or doesnt it..the price is right..i have put a verbal hold pending deposit tomorrow on this trailer..

Regards

Lloyd

[GTBGUY]

It certainly could be a refurbished WWII G-508 but I would expect the data plate to reflect this. Without a side-by-side comparison, it would be impossible say what the differences are. There were slight differences between the 26 different WWII manufacturers but nothing major. The parts with some exceptions interchange.

[2ad82recon]

What the hell GTB....i brought the trailer anyways.....it looks OK to me...and for the money..it was a "no brainer".

Thanks for your help buddy i appreciate it.

Regards

LLoyd

[Vista52]

What the hell GTB....i brought the trailer anyways.....it looks OK to me...and for the money..it was a "no brainer".

Thanks for your help buddy i appreciate it.

Regards

LLoyd

LLoyd, I think that's a good attitude to have. If the seller of your trailer had wanted to deceive, he would of got a false Data Plate and you may of not been the wiser.

I always think it's strange that in the world of Military Vehicles, not many question why people sell used Data Plates and Vehicle Registrations without a vehicle.

Sometime ago I was driving in the US when I passed a beautifully restored Slat-grill Jeep outside a workshop (name and location withheld). I stopped and went inside and talked to the guy who ran the shop. He told me he had just sold the Jeep to someone in England. I said "that's one of them Slat-grill's isn't it' and he replied, "well it is now". A major faux pas I think on his part.

People rebuild P-51's and Spitfires from parts and bits of parts and that's just fine. The Automobile People get all wrapped-up in matching numbers which we all know can be false. Strange ol'world , ain't it.

[2ad82recon]

Aint that the truth Vista.....thank you for your comment buddy...

The more i looked at this Ben Hur the more i liked it...even if it is 1957 dated...i was unaware they made Ben Hurs that late ? so i am convinced its a WW2 trailer refinished by Blumhardt in Germany...and retrofitted dataplate accordingly.

Even if and its a big IF it is post WW2...it will look damn good behind my WC51 when restored...and they aint getting any easier to find are they ?

Regards

Lloyd

[JohnnyTH]

Benhurs are great behind the dodge!
but what i wanted to tell you was a funfact. Norwegian army is now selling 311 1/4 bantam ww2 trailers.
thats a impresive service life.

and sorry no. To buy on eyou need to live in Norway:)

Johnny

[2ad82recon]

OK so now i have a dilemma......i need to get my Ben Hur transported from Austria to the UK......anyone got any suggestions or recommendations ?

Regards

LLoyd

[Gordon_M]

Well you are in Suffolk, so just go and tow it back.

I seem to remember my Ben Hur will fit a standard jeep tow hitch, and you can put one of those tow hitches on an ordinary 4 x 4 or light van.

I'd put all the superstructure and hood down in the back of it for maximum visibility, don't rush, and maybe avoid France while towing as I believe that they can be very sticky about anything military transiting the country without formal permission. Do not have anything in the trailer except the side frames.

Have you checked with the seller if he, or anyone he knows, is going to Beltring? If they are they could tow it there for a fee and you could uplift it from there.

[2ad82recon]

Morning Gordon...yes myself and the seller have already gone down the "anyone going to Beltring route".....and we are awaiting some replies from people...but i was also thinking of asking a transport compnay (Adolf Ebner or the like ) if they have space on a truck coming to the UK....

Options open.but always open to suggestions....i have a window of about 4 to 5 months to sort as the barn where it is stored will be renovated over the winter.

Regards

Lloyd