The Crompton Military Vehicle Collection? - And now 'Combat Dealers' TV chat.

In the area normally occupied by Wheatcroft or Gibb vehicles at Beltring, with a van in the background marked up for the Wheatcroft Collection, and some rare German WW2 vehicles with very high restoration standards that I thought were Wheatcroft or Gibb (SdKfz.7 & 88, 250, 251, D7)... there were banners for 'The Crompton Collection'.

There's been a chap by the name of Bruce Crompton that has entered things like genuine Hetzers at Beltring before - does anybody know what's going on with this 'Crompton collection'? Has a lot of stuff changed hands, or is there some collaborative effort going on? Or maybe a schism?
Raises the pleasing speculation that there just might be a nice new museum waiting in the wings...



~A

 

Question answered in most recent (November) 'Military Machines International' Magazine.

Large article on this remarkable private museum. One man's great collection of German armoured and softskin vehicles from 251's to Kettenkrads & all points in between, displayed alongside what looks like a fine collection of German & Soviet Artillery pieces and an absolute ton of other high quality ephemera - all lurking in the Suffolk countryside & apparently sometimes open to small groups by Invitation only.

 

Hmmm.... why don't extremely rich military vehicle enthusiasts find British, or WW1, vehicles that interesting?!

I know what you mean Rob, the average British vehicle does often seem be one chap's labour of love, or a group of mates, but it's not entirely fair.
The Wheatcroft yard's pretty full of Allied stuff. Littlefield bought/restored that Churchill Toad before he died, and the Cadman's Staghound is a beauty.



(who knows, maybe they'll rebuild their Churchill 3" Gun Carrier or Black Prince one day).

Looking at the entry lists at Beltring shows that most of the big boy collectors have a stable of allied vehicles too, they're just not so visible as part of a single collection as the rare German kit.

Thinking about it, if I were a squillionaire I'd probably concentrate on large German machines first, as the prices are already insane, and can only get much higher over the years. Nobody but the exceptionally well heeled can buy this stuff. Rumours of half a million quid for a wrecked Panther? £400K for a rusted solid Mk IV etc. etc.
You've also got a much better chance at bringing some genuinely unique survivor back to life - EG; The Wheatcroft FAMO entering the arena at the 2005 (?) Beltring was a pretty magic moment.

Always hoping to see more British/Commonwealth stuff at the shows, my little mob of nerds reckon the last few years at Beltring have seen a noticable increase in light armour and a few intriguing machines turning up. Fingers crossed that the trend continues.

 

I see Mr Crompton is taking to the Television:
New on Discovery Channel: Combat Dealers

 

Currently on Freeview (Quest).
Rather shouty, in that quest style, but some fantastic vehicles.

 

saw the last bit of the Schwimmwagen episode the other day.

 

Axis Track Services

Friendface page.

Really rather nice to see one of these high-end collectors go a little more public.
More power to Mr Crompton & his chaps.

 

The Russian chap buying tonight, Vyacheslav Lehn, has some very nice bits of kit already:

MG-Wagen 36

Stoewer 40

Chevy FAT

Morris C8

Lorraine 37

Many more

 

Some remarkable factory prototype models of German AFVs in Wheatcroft's shed on this week's episode.
Along with one of Adolf's Grosse Mercs and the cell door from his Mein Kampf imprisonment.

This is becoming one of my favourite programmes...

 

Hope matey's broken back from the D-Day jump last year healed up ok.
Good to see the 88 year old Para Veteran on there on tonight's episode.

 

Back bloke put something on Friendface page. Hang on...

Here - Freddie:
https://www.facebook.com/brucecromptoncollection/posts/749197738434351

...

 

all I can see is this.


edit : ok seen this.

 

Some nice footage of Japanese squaddies on the first episode of the new series of Combat Dealers. Plenty of interesting militaria in the Philippines too.

Possibly slightly reduced levels of shoutiness, though still some , and the traditional somewhat cheesy dramatisation of the restoration, but s'showbiz, innit! I'm still very glad someone's made a programme about this stuff. More power to Mr Crompton's elbow.

Oh, and LVT-tastic!

http://www.questtv.co.uk/combat-dealers/