1942

This Universal Gun Carrier was built by the Ford Motor Company of Canada in 1942 and is said to have been used in combat by British Commonwealth forces before it was imported to the US under previous ownership. It was acquired by the current owner in the late 2010s. The carrier is finished in olive drab and features a driver’s seat trimmed in tan canvas along with rear troop seating for four. Power comes from a 239ci flathead V8 paired with a four-speed manual transmission, and features include a front machine gun mount, blackout headlights, and suspension and running gear based on the contemporary Vickers Light Tank. This Bren Carrier is now offered by the seller on behalf of the current owner in Los Angeles, California on a bill of sale. The Universal gun carrier was based on a Vickers-Armstrongs design dating back to 1934 and was introduced in 1940. The model was produced until 1960 by companies including Aveling-Barford, Ford of England, Sentinel, Thornycroft, Wolseley Motors, Ford of Canada, and South Australian Railways. Also known as the Bren gun carrier after its standard front-mounted light machine gun, it saw action in all theaters in World War II, and approximately 29,000 examples of the 113,000 units produced were built by the Ford Motor Company of Canada. This example is finished in olive drab and features blackout headlights, an armor-plated front machine mount, and a rear-mounted battery box. It is believed to have been used in combat according to the seller, and dents from bullets can be seen up close in the gallery. The Universal Carrier features suspension based on the contemporary Vickers Light Tank and utilizes steel treads, Horstmann springs, and a Ford live rear axle. The three-spoke steering wheel is mounted on a vertical column that pivots on a horizontal axis and allows the vehicle to do spin turns. A driver’s seat with a tan canvas seat bottom is fitted, and instrumentation includes a 45-mph reverse-sweep speedometer, an ammeter, an oil pressure gauge. The five-digit odometer shows 1,600 miles, and total mileage is unknown. Rear troop benches offer seating for four. The front seats are missing their backs. The 239ci flathead V8 was factory rated at 85 horsepower, which is sent to the rear axle via a four-speed manual transmission. Additional underside photos are viewable in the gallery.