CROSSLEY VEHICLES TODAY

1917 20/25 Tender

Crossley 20/25 tender
Crossley 20/25 tender

(photos - Chris Hebbron)

This 1917 20/25 tender is on display at the RAF Museum, Hendon, London.
Crossley 20/25 tender

(photos - Ian Corfield)

The tender being demonstrated at the Guildhall in London in 2014.

The early history of the vehicle is not known but in 1958 it was in the private collection of John C. Sword in Ayrshire, Scotland fitted with a light van body and had possibly been used by a baker. When the Sword collection was sold in 1965 it was bought by C.J. Bendall, a well known old car dealer and collector based in Hertfordshire. He sold it to the museum in 1971. It was driven from Hertfordshire to the museum in Hendon, North London. In 1972 it was rebuilt at RAF St Athan in Glamorganshire where the present replica RFC/RAF body was made.

It is a Type 8 20/25 Crossley chassis with Type 4 engine. The chassis number is 8983 and the engine number 9054.

The engine has been made to run again by museum volunteers. Among other problems both the water jackets were found to be cracked and had a temporary repair of plastic filler which has now been correctly repaired. The tender can now be driven for the first time in many years.