1941 David Brown VIG1/100 Tug

Registration No: Unregistered (Formerly ‘KBJ 870’)
Chassis No: AW/C 29
MOT: Exempt

• Manufactured for the Air Ministry for use as aircraft supply tugs during WWII
• 1 of some 650 supplied new to the Air Ministry between October 1941 and December 1942
• Authentically restored at a cost of more than £20,000 by Ivan Cowlen
• Offered from a large family private collection including classic cars, commercials, tractors and steam engines

During the Second World War, David Brown was awarded a contract to develop a wheeled Air Ministry tractor for use on concrete runways following the change from grass runways, with the contract worth some £1.5 million. The Air Ministry tractor, designated VIG1/100, was based on the agricultural skid unit with a petrol engine and a four-speed gearbox. The skid unit was mounted on a sub-frame made from a steel channel with the castings supported in three places. The sub-frame also supported the front axle and extended rearwards to provide a rigid mounting for the winch, heavy-duty sprag and standard RAF towing hook.

Trials of the VIG1/100 were carried out at RAF Leeming in Yorkshire during 1941, with some 650 being subsequently supplied to the Air Ministry between October 1941 and December 1942, before being replaced by the VIG1/462 with a Brockhouse torque converter transmission. The Air Ministry tractors were used on the wartime airfields for handling the heavy bombers and hauling fuel bowsers and bomb trailers.

Manufactured in 1941, chassis no. AW/C 29 was supplied new to the Air Ministry, as designated by the AW chassis number, indicating that it was one of the original wartime VIG1/100 tractors. Demobbed for civilian use after the war, the David Brown was provided with the registration number ‘KBJ 870’, although the Tug is currently unregistered. Subject to a comprehensive restoration at an estimated cost of over £20,000 by Ivan Cowlen, this is surely one of the finest examples, having been authentically restored and finished in full RAF colour scheme and insignia. Fitted with full belly weights and wheel weights, the David Brown has recently been shod with two new front tyres. A rare and interesting piece of WWII military history!

For more information, please contact:
Paul Cheetham
paul.cheetham@handh.co.uk
07538 667452