Car SOS takes on one of its strangest restos yet – a JCB digger that was part-exchanged for a bottle of vodka
‘With its opening front bucket and backhoe, the JCB 3C MkIII was the latest in the line of successful machines from the British company, which was by 1978 into its second quarter-century. Aimed at the owner-operator, these were a common sight on building sites the world over. Designed to be driven to the place of work, and originally based around a modified tractor set-up, they were versatile, making short work of footings, drainage channels and the like, while reducing the need for expensive human power.
‘Owned by former carpenter, Kev, this 3C had come to him nearly two decades before, when it was taken in exchange for a bottle of vodka – which goes some way towards explaining its general condition. He then used it around his wife’s stables and adjacent land, often to manipulate large amounts of organic matter regularly emitted from the rear ends of our equine chums.
‘Every one of the machine’s pins was kippered, with massive ovality and wear of up to 10mm, so the arms and rams clattered about in a rather alarming fashion. The cab was completely rotten, as was much of the area around where it sat atop the mudguards, and there were stress splits in the steel. However, everything worked, to a point, even though it oozed hydraulic fluid from the ancient hoses and unions. ‘JCB 3Cs are large, and their restoration demands expert knowledge, especially when it comes to vast hydraulic systems and weighty forged arms. The Car SOS team was lucky enough to find superb assistance in the form of family-owned business, JayBee’s Plant Sales Ltd. in Stroud. Owner, Tim, set his two excelle
