Stonefield designed a civilian truck that could easily be militarised. A half-cab military 4x4 went through cyclic cross-country trials at the MVEE, loaded and towing, and was shown at the NEC Motor Show in October 1978 straight from the course. The trials were paid for by the company under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Defence sales organisation, which endorsed the vehicle on 22 August 1979 as suitable for towing the 105 mm Light Gun, with a view to overseas sales.
The Ministry itself bought only a small number for specific purposes, having enough 1-ton Land Rovers until the mid-1980s. Commercial Motor reported an order for 12 vehicles from Greece in November 1979; interest from Kenya and Malaysia did not become orders before the receivership, and Hansard records that the Malaysian order was later won by Gomba-Stonefield.
MVEE trials (1978–1979)
1 VEHICLE IN THIS CHAPTEREighteen months of appraisal; endorsement on 22 August 1979.
Registry records · chapter 1
Export prospects (1979–1983)
2 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTERTwelve for Greece in 1979; the Malaysian order won by Gomba-Stonefield.
Registry records · chapter 2
Sources
- Motor Show stand guide: Stonefield Vehicles Ltd (20 October 1978, p. 180) — Commercial Motor
- Enterprising Scots maker is expanding (Steve Gray, 10 November 1979, pp. 92–93) — Commercial Motor
- Stonefield Vehicles, Cumnock (House of Commons adjournment debate, 5 November 1980) — Hansard
- Stonefield Vehicles Ltd. (Government Assistance) (House of Commons debate, 7 March 1984) — Hansard