Tank Chats  

I drove one for about three years. Managed to get it to 65 mph on Detmold airfield in reverse. Lol would have gone faster but I chickened out.

Yesss!! At 4:23 you can see my Ferret - 00CC37, still going strong! Shown on parade with B Sqn - 4RTR in Cyprus - UNFICYP Scout Car Sqn from May-Nov 1983.

I'll always remember seeing one on the roads, it was flying along the road, with an old lad in his WW2 uniform, standing up in the turret, hanging on for grim death, with the world's largest grin on his face. Looked like he was having the time of his life.

The way Wiley started his closing pitch, I thought he was going to say that they had some Ferrets for sale through the gift shop!

you'll never get one of those down your trousers.

My dad spent most of his service in the 11th Hussars and said while he loved the heavy armour and bigger armoured cars, the Ferrets where the most fun he ever had :)

It looks such a fun vehicle.

i have good and bad memories with that vehicle in my child. in cyprus polis 1973-74 war .our house was next to un house. there was a good memories with one of brtish un soldier friends steve and chico. we were a turkish cypriots children in polis hrusofu. we were playing all time together. steve took me in that vehicle one day to. he is like my dad. l will not forget that vehicle motor sound never.in that. i have to say thank you so much steve and chico. i was 7 years old now l am 56.

I will always regret not buying a Mk 2 in just restored condition when I was younger, it was offered to me at a hell of a deal and I should have figured out a way to make that deal happen! There are a lot of Ferrets running around in the US and thankfully most of them are kept in fantastic shape!

My dad was in Cyprus in '65, they loved these.

Due to recent passing of a friend who had a MKII, I had to arrange the low loading of his beloved Ferret to one of his friends in Wales who was promised first dibs, a gentleman's agreement. I had the chance to paw over it and it was really a lovely little machine. I will get the chance to go to Wales this summer and drive it.

How quiet were they? When our reserve reg't was doing a two week summer stint learning from the regulars at CFB Petawawa, myself and one other trooper were given a location to go and wait for orientation on "a Ferret." I'd never seen one before and had no idea what to expect but most things on the base were not quiet so I figured when we heard something coming, we'd sharpen up. The other fellow and I were standing and calmly chatting alone in a field, standing on a rise waiting for the regular forces guy to show up. The other trooper got a bemused look on his face so I figured something was going on behind me so I turned around in place. The Ferret driver had the front snout of the vehicle inches from my knees and the engine was running.The only sound was these other two chuckling. We walked around to the rear and still could barely hear the engine. On driving it the wheel seemed to me like an inverted version of the almost horizontal steering on the city buses of the time or some big rig truck. For shifting you would anticipate your next gear by if you intended to be accelerating or slowing down. i.e. you could be pushing on the gas, getting up some speed so you'd snick the lever to the next higher gear and you could put your hand back on the steering wheel and when the revs were right, punch the floor pedal selector and boom, you're in that next gear. Or if the situation changed to cruising, leave it alone in that higher setting you thought you would need, or if slowing again, pull it back two notches prepared to punch it into a lower gear instead.

Biggest problem with the Ferret was the drum brakes were pretty useless when they got full of mud, also the dowels wore on the hub carriers as the bolts couldn't be kept tight. Spent many hours pumping away at the gear change pedal when setting the "automatic" adjusters for the gearbox buzz bar height (50 pumps per adjustment in each gear! ) Great fun to drive!

I remember as a kid, going for a ride in one of those. The army turned up at our school one day, showing off it's wares and if you were lucky you could have a trip round the school fields in one.

I really need to take a trip to see this museum. The cutouts showing mechanical systems are just fantastic.

I remember them on Cyprus as an Austrian🇦🇹🇺🇳UN Signal soldier when they came to our line camp of the 1.Coy. in Athienou in the heart of this island. I was there 1980 - 1981, 1989 - 1990 and 1995 - 1996. I was there 1996 on Dhereinia when that Greek Cypriot got shot down from the flag pol with all the escalations. What a great and sometimes dangerous time. Greetings from an old Austrian🇦🇹 Sergeant Major! ✌️👍😎🇺🇳🇦🇹🐺

David Fletcher's "but there you are" is the equivalent of "it is what it is" with out the usual rejoinder "and if you don't like it, too bad" that I'm used to.

I still miss my Ferret very much. It’s fun to drive around in the paddock and on road.

I've always loved these little things.

Can you imagine having David over for Christmas dinner and letting him carve the goose? He would describe the entire goose as he carves it up.

I have loved the Ferret since I was a little kid, a local bank used two as armored cars for payroll delivery.

Remember seeing them in Belfast in the early 70's. Always thought they looked like a fun vehicle. Much safer than walking around.

"We actually have quite a few ferrets in this collection" that's a sentence I never expected to hear at the tank museum.

My dad drove these when he was in the life guards He saw action in Cyprus where he was stationed He spoke very highly of the ferret which was perfect for the rough roads of Cyprus during the separation conflict He told me many stories of thundering flat out through villages in convoy hatches down as they shot at them I remember one story was when they were driving slowly through a particular so called safe village and a young man strode out into the road with a shot gun and let go both barrels directly at my dads vehicle They had placed an orange cart in the road to try and stop them My dad said he saw the guy and emediately slammed the view port down Put his foot down and smashed through the orange cart sending oranges everywhere When they got to a safe point he got out and right dead centre of his armoured view port window was a flattened shotgun bullet He was lucky to survive had he not got the port down in time

I remember the first time I saw one of these drive past me, I was staggered at just how small it was.

Used to have two ferrets, great vehicles. One was 01CA67 the other 01CA68, one served in Gibraltar and the other was up armoured for Northern Ireland. Still have the EMERS and workshop manuals and tools, will buy another when times are better, Easy to work on easy to drive and can be kept in a normal garage. Also had the chance to have a open display one as in video but didn't think about it at the time. .

Some great photos including that Beaver doing a flyover.

At the end the comment "Its probably drive able not that anybody would want to drive it like this but there you are" makes me crave for more. Keep them coming love it.

Sat behind the wheel of the Daimler Dingo in 1958, moved up to the Ferret 1959, great memories. 12 Royal Lancers 1958/1964.

David’s looking well. Keep the good work and make lots more videos. I will be coming to visit the museum in summer next year.

Run flat tires are fine for puncture type flats. Hit a curb or split the tire open some other way and that spare is definitely needed. Cheers David!

It's not mentioned but the Ferret followed the unsuccessful Rabbit armoured car.

I had a ride in one of those in Northern Ireland. The engine sounded powerful even though it was whispering.

A number of years ago I was driving down a suburban side street in Williston Vermont and saw one of these parked in a driveway. I stopped and gawked for a bit. If I had had the money I would have dropped in and asked the owner to name a price. Best looking armored vehicle ever.

I remember watching these on tv in N Ireland flying around the streets bricks bouncing off them. Even as a kid I thought they looked fun to drive

The spare tire must have been in case of total destruction of the wheel, like a mine hit or something along those lines.

I used to see one of these drive by in the states every June when the local aviation museum had their Innovations in Aviation day.

"Just the other day I heard somebody say 'George is a mighty old Ferret'. I think he's going to find he'll have to change his mind when there's fire coming out of the turret."

They used to occasionally turn up for sale in used car yards in Australia, back in the 70's -early 80's. Remember one well, at a car yard near my school. Crawled all over that thing!

Endorsed by Congo mercenary Mike Hoare. In the Congo, this was like an Equatorial Tiger. Thanks, Dawg!

I remember when you got a grip on how to drive just how quiet it was. You would creep around absolutely silent or so it seemed then someone would transmit on the 46 set and you would jump from how loud the cooling fans in the radio seemed lol. Those were fun!

Had a ride in one a few years ago, hooning around a field. Enormous fun.

It may have run flat tires, but it probably carries the spare tires in case they happen to run over an anti-personnel mine from a forgotten conflict that blows the tire completely off. After all, how many forgotten mine fields are there in Africa from all the civil wars? Nobody could possibly know

"When the army came to visit me, it was in the early hours... With saladins and saracens and *ferret armored cars* ..."

I have fond memories of the FSC. I drove or commanded one for 4 years. In all that time it never broke down; it was without doubt the most reliable British armoured vehicle I ever experienced. In Canada at -25C we diverted the hot air coming out of the engine bay into the crew compartment, using some flexible air ducting, making a nice makeshift heater. You had to be careful not to catch your fingers in the armoured side hatches or the comd's seat; I witnessed one poor driver chop the end of his finger off. I managed to roll my Ferret over on Salisbury Plain & was covered in the oil that came out of the air filter, which sat just to the right rear of the commander. I'll also never forget the pervasive smell of that OEP220 gear oil. Driving it was huge fun.

I loved my ferret, its a gear change pedal GCP. pretty sure they would do more than 45 mph. Main puzzle how two blokes , with radios, browning, fitted inside.

The Ferret is in my top 5 tanks list. A great design which served so well for decades. The Jackal continues the prestigious succession of Dingo, Ferret, Jackal.

I remember, years back, chatting with one of the Bovington staff members infront of one of the Ferrets there as he spoke about having owned one as a little, road legal, runaround. He recommended driving in a helmet, however, as apparently when you brake quickly you're in danger of smashing your forehead on the driver's hatch.

Thank you for the video! I'm quite the fan of these old vehicles! Among the ones I would but if I made a lot of money one day. Mr. Fletcher did a wonderful presentation as always.

Just bought a 1955 model mk2 ex australian army, drive it home this Saturday, should be fun!

Glad you two are still going strong. Love the channel, love the content, love the new intro, even. Short, to the point, not taxing at all. Well done all around.

My favorite tank from world of tanks is the U.S T14 but I can hardly find anything on it history wise. this channel is nice and I've been binge watching videos from it lol

Two words if your gear shift went wrong....."Ferret Knee". That is the actual reason the steering wheel was placed in that position was to "kneecap" you.

Thank you, it is really nice to hear from someone that has actually driven one. I have read many derrogatory comments about the upside down steering wheel. But as I have had a driving license for over 30 years myself. I can drive most things very well, with limited experience upon that actual vehicle. I can see & do imagine you would get used to that steering after a while. Plus the human condition, should be perfectly able to handle it... Thanks Enjoy your vids

A wonderful machine. I drove this for about 3 years in Portuguese Airforce Police (same as Royal Air Force Régiment).

I always thought these were the most interesting armored scout cars, demonstrating some of the best British engineering. Smaller than a modern Humvee and better armored from the beginning. Always wanted to drive one. Just a really impressive design. Thanks for posting this.

I loved driving these got hatch rash to prove it (middle right hand finger tip chopped off by side hatch then re attached still got the scar 45 years later)

Thank you so very much Mr.Fletcher & crew.

Always a win with David Fletcher.

Drove these battlefield ferrari for many years in the RTR, loved the little buggers as long as they started..

The museum I volunteered at for a few years had a mk1, mk2 and the one with the guided atgms mounted on it, they all ran and they're quite cool little vehicles

One of the most recognisable scout cars since my childhood,there was even a toy from the soldier force series based exactly on this design.

I see one of these parked out front of a business on my way to my job. It has a broomstick for a gun barrel in the turret. It’s been there since for as long as I can remember.

Wow, David made this far more interesting than I thought it would be. Great episode!

Always enjoy Mr Tank's chat.

I also remember when you could crawl all over , and in, all the tanks on display at the Australian Armoured Corps museum at Puckapunyal. Different times- before lawyers and liability took over the World!

Can we start a bid scheme to have a zoom conversation with David? I would love an opportunity to just chat with him and the proceeds would go to the museum.

Best for popping to the bank in Newcastle in 83 and I drove one on the Lord Mayors Parade in 83, QOY TA Fenham barracks had over thirty of them I spent two years with them as permanent staff a very good time, the TA were brewery workers and traffic wardens so no problems parking in Newcastle.

I drove one of these on Exercise in Malaysia in 1999 the Malaysian Army was still using them back then real easy to drive

Thank you for covering the mighty Ferret!

It looks like it's well made, nicely engineered. The engine a Rolls Royce, and it's name is synonymous quality, reliability and durability. I'll bet it was fun to drive.

No way, buying from anyone else is cheaper then a rolls.... who would have known😜

I must say that the Ferret is a sharp design that totally looks like a blast to drive around in the bush with the addition of a winch, seat belts and minus the machine gun of course. I'm not sure if it would be street legal (or practical in the winter) in Canada but it appears to have all the necessary lights back and front and fender benders would far less of a worry than in a modern suv. Thank you for the informative and fun video post.

I have been inside and have had a ride in one of these very fun and pretty quiet

The spare tire is also useful as somewhere to sit when you're having a cup of tea out of your canteen

Good Health and more Content all. Thankyou guys.

I will never forget the first time I saw a Ferret. I was hanging out with two stunning goth women at a shop that sold trinkets and odd things. I was bored out of mind wishing I was drinking beer watching the V8 supercars at home. A bloke whom looked a little offended and surprised at my disdain for the company of such good looking women asked me "Want to see my armored car?" Loved Ferrets ever since and I would have preferred to ride in the ferret than anything else I rode in that day.

Great Video, very Informative!!

Brilliant, fond memories of 6 months in Cyprus

#tankmuseum - Have you done a segment on the Lynx tracked reconnaissance vehicle? Canada and The Netherlands were the only original customers I think. It might be considered a later, tracked replacement for the Ferret. It was a diminutive little brother to the M113 APC and only fit the 3 man crew, no taxi service ramp door in the back to ferry troops around; that's why I liked being the driver of one. They were used in UN white by Canada as well.

fast, good cross country performance, reasonably armored , so good at it's job they were still using it in Operation Granby (desert storm) Blue? Fuel tank & carburetor ... it makes quite a good automobile on the street ... Ferret Mk2/5 ... we also have the windscreen with wiper that goes in the open driver hatch ... speed? um.. I try to keep it below 50 mph ;-)

In Northern Ireland during The Troubles the kids called them Daleks.

I love that you all have Haynes manuals for tanks.

When you see a vehicle in a museum on YT that you used to drive in the Army.......🥺

3 people... thats intimate haha. I love old scout cars.

Woohoo! I want one of these!!!

This man could talk about the history of paintings of grass growing and i'd be enraptured for hours

This is beautiful.

Great job, mates!!

The Australians came up with a good reason for the spare wheel. When out on training drives, they'd take the wheel off and fill it with ice and beer cans, then open it when encamped for the night. The commanding officers couldn't work out where they were getting the beer from.

I want David Fletcher for Christmas.

David said blue denotes the cooling system but the carburettor and what looks like a fuel tank in the centre are in blue. Duck egg blue to me always looks more a light green but I am red/green colourblind.

Sorry to post a silly Comment, but... well, I'm a Brit, and these things have to be done. I used to design and build radio-controlled combat robots, as seen on Robot Wars and the US programme BattleBots. They're 250-pound fighting machines with vicious kinetic spinning weapons, designed to smash each other to bits, and this teeny-weeny but feisty Ferret reminds me so much of one of them... I think it needs a self-righting mechanism, though, in case it gets flipped onto its back. ;-)

I've actually want to buy one of these so a video like this is what I've been looking for

Semi automatic, pre select. I loved it, it was fun to drive.

the internals divided by color is soooo satisfying

Jay Leno owns a ferret too. "Quite a nippy machine!".....LOL!

Mr Fletcher, you don’t look too well old chap, I hope you’re feeling okay. Must keep oneself tip top.

My 1956 Austin Champ does the same. It's fun!

0:48 “… Including one in my trousers!” Why can I imagine this gentleman saying it?! 😂