Standard Utility (Tilly) 1943


My Standard Tilly at Arnhem Bridge April 2010 
(Image courtesy Tom Ford)

    

The Standard 4x2 Light Utility (or Tilly)  was one of the 4 marques produced during World War 2. (The others being Morris, Hillman and Austin Tillys). Over 9,000 were ordered for the Army, Navy, RAF and Ministry of Supply. The Tilly Register lists 36 Standard Tillys surviving worldwide today.

Background

I have owned my Tilly since 2008 and have attended rallies in the UK and enjoyed trips to Normandy and Arnhem with her. 

         

         

         

My Standard Tilly also featured in a 5 page article by Dave Bowers in Triumph World 

 (Oct/Nov 2013)

Markings

My Tilly is marked to represent a vehicle from the 43rd Wessex Division in north west Europe  (1944-5). My interest in the 43rd Wessex division stems from a relative who served with them during the campaign.

Further information on the 43rd Wessex Division and my uncle can be found in the side bar link.

The 43rd Wessex Infantry Division "Wessex Wyvern".

My Tilly is also marked to represent a vehicle from the Royal Artillery.

Vehicle history

Declared date of manufacture 1943
Date of registration 2nd May 1951
Registration number MUR 26 


4 former owners prior to 6th August 2008  (My ownership)

Owner 4 Alan Harding -  Fairford, Gloucestershire

Owner 3 Dennis Matthewman - York 2007 - 



I was fortunate to meet up with Brian Fox (right) and Dennis Matthewman (centre) at Elvngton in 2010.

Brideshead Revisted


MUR 26 appeared in filming for  Brideshead revisited in July 2007

Owner 2 Brian Fox - York 2001-2007 (?)

MUR 26  was restored by Brian Fox from the sorry state in the photos below


Owner 1 Neil Anderson - Driffield, Yorks

Bought from Alan Matthews - Cottingham, Hull, Yorkshire

Discovered derelict in a field in the late 1990s near Leconfield, Beverley

Evidence to suggest prior to this MUR 26 was from Higham Ferrers, nr Wellingborough, Northants.

The Tilly register indicates there are currently 36 Standard Tillys worldwide

http://www.tillyregister.com/

Vehicle service history

War Department number M5245094

Chassis no.  UV1594 Car12/14 HP Coventry, England

Body A.91594

Engine UV786E Recon plate 20/5/48 BME Burtonwood Motor & Aircraft Eng. Co Ltd.

Tilly register indicates that my Standard Tilly was manufactured from May 1943 under contract S2244 or 294/23/S244. 3800 vehicles were produced under this contract (originally 4000) with 910 diverted mostly to the RAF (730). The War Department number M5245094 was discovered during restoration on the rear tail member.

Specifications

Length 13'  7 1/2" Width 5' 2 " Height 6' 6" Weight 25cwt

4 cylinder 1609cc petrol engine 12 HP

Governed to 2800rpm

4 speed gear box

1st gear – 13mph, 2nd gear 20 mph, 3rd gear  35 mph, 4th gear 50mph

Cruising range 250 miles

Tyre size 6.00 x 16


Further information

Further information on the Standard Tilly can be found on on the Tilly Register website

http://standard.tillyregister.com/index.html

Sources

Tilly Text (Official Magazine of the Tilly Register), No 64 October 2011

Wheels and Tracks, Issue 46

Tilly Colours, Michael Shackleton, A Tilly Register production

Drivers Handbook, Car 4x2 Light Utility Standard 12 HP Book No. 100/S.D. 2A

Maintenance Manual, Car 4x2 Light Utility, Standard HP Book No.101/ S.D. 2












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