n 1955, an MoD directive pronounced a need for a wireless-house body for the Humber FV1600. Marshall Motor Bodies of Cambridge were tasked with producing a house-type pod to create a wireless truck; around 400wereretrofitted to Humbers which had their general service cargo bodies removed. A set of steps was strapped to the back to provide access to the interior and aerial mast-pole support brackets were fitted to the sides of the exterior. They were designated FV1604 (A) and weighed in at 3,980kg (approx. 4 tons) and 5,200kg fully kitted-up (5.2 tons). It seems that the later production vehicles were chosen from chassis number 43300 although this is not ‘cast in stone’, as we personally owned chassis 43376 which theoretically should have been a radio van but was fitted with a GS body. Were they re-converted back into a General Service Truck or was there a technical reason why some trucks weren’t selected? PCG 900 G/35 BK 31 was a particularly well-known example gracing the fields of southern England in many shows with its plethora of aerial masts and ‘hard-to-find’ accessories. Chris Pearce, the owner at the time, did a fine job in promoting interest in this vehicle. We believe that Chris sold it to an enthusiast in Switzerland around eight years ago.
