M8b - K8 Guy car transporter casting differences

[DrJeep]

I was fortunate enough to find a hybrid Guy Warrior car transporter with the Major Pack cab and King Size trailer. I finally got round to giving it a light clean and took the opportunity to compare it with the other two transporters I have - an M8b and the K8 I've had since at a guess Christmas 1968.

I've spotted quite a few casting differences though I'm sure there are many more. I think my M8b is quite early but it doesn't have the black letters outlined in white.

First, the front of the trailer. My M8 has a smooth front; both K8s have a recessed panel.

[DrJeep]

turned upside down, the same area has a couple of casting changes. On the M8b and the early K8 trailer, the pivot pin is supported on a single rectangular brace. On the later K8, the brace extends to the full width of the trailer and there's a new rectangular brace in front of the existing brace. There are also two prominent ejector rings on the later trailer.

[DrJeep]

The ramp is also different. The K8 has two ridges. The rear of the trailer has a couple of other changes too. Most obvious is the full width brace under the ramp.

[DrJeep]

The arms that hold the upper deck were also changed, from a rather elegant 6 mm width parallel-sided arm to a 7 mm wide arm that tapers to the original profile at the top.

[DrJeep]

There's also extra bracing around the back axle of the K8.

(Edit - replaced with a better picture).

[zBret]

Those are interesting and note worthy differences Glenn, thanks for sharing . I really like the transporter models also.

I'm not sure if it's the angle on the photo, but I noticed that the upper grill on the cab in the center of the photo below appears to be narrower than the others.

zBret

[DrJeep]

Well spotted, Gene! Here's the same picture zoomed in. The late M8b on the left is the one with the K8 trailer, and its grill is all rather fuzzy, so that it looks out of focus in the picture but isn't. I think the upper grill is the same width but a little shallower, and the number plate is illegible. In the K8 on the right it's all sharp again, but the number plate is a little larger than in the original M8. I'll take a few clearer pictures in the daylight. Note also the colour difference - the M8 has an undercoat that make the turquoise darker.

[DrJeep]

In response to zBret's question, here are the three cabs photographed separately and pasted together. It still looks like the middle grill is shorter but I think it's just that the paint on this one is very thick and is covering some of the detail. I think this thick turquoise paint combined with poor quality silver paint gives the indistinct appearance to the number plate as well.

[DrJeep]

For completeness, here are some more casting differences. Nearly all of these are noted on the M8b page, so I don't think I've discovered anything new.

The slide area was thickened.

[DrJeep]

late M8, early M8

IMG_5242.jpg (80.4 KiB) Viewed 3195 times

There are a couple of differences on the cab. Triangular supports were added at the back of the cab.

Above the back axle a strengthener was added, with two prominent ejector rings.