TROJAN 'TORAKTOR' Mk1 - STOLEN

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Hallo to you all!

I am posting this on your forum as the rally and show season is upon us again.

 

Our 1956 Trojan 'Toraktor' Mk1 was stolen from our garage here in Kent in 1999. It hasn't as yet been found although the Police have said it will turn up somewhere if we keep on looking.

SOMEONE MUST know where this is as they are too few now to just disappear. It was in restored condition with some of my own improvements not to be seen on standard models.

These included; New bonnet which did not have the holes for exhaust and petrol filler and the front was not cut out for the grille as I couldn't obtain the correct mesh.

It was fitted with the later 'NEWTON' engine, basicly the same as the Clinton but with pull type recoil start and different petrol tank. Newton engine is BLUE and marked 'Easy Spin Starting'.

I fitted proper little ball joints to it to improve the steering and it didn't have a cover over the belt and chain drive as I never got round to making one. The bodywork was all new mouldings and

the seat was fitted direct onto the rear part and NOT adjustable. So it differs substantially from original. I am attaching a couple of photos.

If anyone should come across this I wouod be grateful to hear from you. All responses in confidence of course. SOMEONE has got it somewhere!

 

Also stolen was a 1935 pedal car which was recovered when one of them tried to sell it to a local Motor Museum. The Police did then put some 'names in the frame' in connection with this and

these people appear to have had connections in Lincolnshire, Somerset, and Cornwall.

 

Many Thanks for reading this. Regards, Tim Sargeant, Goudhurst, Kent. 01580 211376

Trojan Toraktor.bmp

Third image didn't seem to download. Sorry! If anyone interested I can send hard copy of my leaflet for you to keep by you.

[HeadExam 1,783]

It was a 5.7 megabyte .bmp file, wont work for uploading. I reduced it and changed the file name

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Many Thanks for that HeadExam.

I really don't understand the finesse of these things!

I'd be very surprised if it should turn up your side of the pond though.

I put this on hoping it will catch the eye of the many UK readers.

Best Regards though, TCS.

Edited July 1, 2018 by Tim Sargeant

[HeadExam 1,783]

4 hours ago, Tim Sargeant said:

Many Thanks for that HeadExam.

I really don't understand the finesse of these things!

I'd be very surprised if it should turn up your side of the pond though.

I put this on hoping it will catch the eye of the many UK readers.

Best Regards though, TCS.

I would ask the members here to print your flyer and take it to every rally and I would include a statement that it might have been repainted

[Tim Sargeant 9]

3 minutes ago, HeadExam said:

I would ask the members here to print your flyer and take it to every rally and I would include a statement that it might have been repainted

Yes thanks for that suggestion. I can also send anyone hard copy of my leaflet. I have sent out loads of these over the years and keep getting responses but not ours so far unfortunately.

Would you chaps like to do that? Regards, TCS.

[expeatfarmer 591]

I have an MG 5 that was stolen after a show it turned up on E bay several years later and was recovered by the Police to the rightful owners.  Well worth keeping a note of any unique features of your machines for later identification.

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Thanks for that suggestion. Unfortunately these Trojans didn't seem to have a chassis plate and I have no idea of the engine number for the Newton engine or where it would be found.

There wasn't any ID on the chassis. The distinguishing features to identify mine are the mods I did myself when restoring it including several not mentioned in the leaflet above.

Also, when it was stolen we realised we didn't have a decent photo of it ourselves. The one shown above was taken by someone at the local school fete with my daughter giving rides to the tiny tots. The trailer was knocked up the night before the fete and later painted to match the tractor and we've still got that.                                                                   

Two or three of these have turned up on eBay in dismantled state, one was only about five miles away from here but not ours. Haven't been up your way for several years Expeatfarmer, nice part of the country.

Thanks, and keep looking!

Edited July 2, 2018 by Tim Sargeant

[Wristpin 400]

When I had the business we used to put the purchaser's postcode on various places on machines - an obvious couple to be found and some not so obvious ones to hopefully remain hidden.

We had a ride-on in for service from a new customer some 30 miles away and one of my mechanics called me into the workshop querying the postcode on the job card with one of the ones he'd found on the machine. We had sold the machine to an address a couple of miles up the road and it had been stolen three years previously. To cut a long story short it turned out the present owner had bought it for cash from "a man in a van" and his father in law had also bought one from the same man  - also stolen!

 

[Tim Sargeant 9]

What you have said is very relevant; When some of these blokes were nicked it was because they sold a Honda mower to someone who went and ordered some parts for it Hondas had it recorded as stolen against the chassis / engine number. When the police raided their sales place here in Kent they found machinery stolen from as far afield as Cornwall and Leicestershire.

The caravan they were using as an office had been nicked from a site in Cornwall! They were also selling stolen stuff at the big agricultural sales at Wincanton where they were exchanging machines stolen in Kent with similar stolen in the West Country. Most of our stuff is now postcoded but it's too late for the tractor!  Often in your area Wristpin, New Romney and Greatstone, RH&DR etc and will be going up the lighthouse there tomorrow with grandchild . TCS.

[Stormin 4,458]

Hi Tim. Get yourself along to Rural Past Times or Biddenden in August and bring some posters with you. You'll find some of us on here, there. Including myself on my annual trip darn sarf. I'll bring some posters back up north. Though after 19 years, I think the chances of it turning up are very slim. 

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Thanks Stormin, That's very kind of you. I haven't done Biddenden since they used to have the 'Biddenden Spectacular' there, but we went past last year and it looked as if it was going well!

You see you get to an age when all the walking round these shows in the heat just gets too much. My wife has already had two new knees! Strange that there's two of you from Cumbria who've responded. I appreciate what you are saying about the time factor but I've had more responses about it in the last couple of years than I had when it first went missing. The 'phone will ring one day and it will be the right one wherever it is. Just got to keep on looking. Someone suggested it might have been stolen to order and gone to Holland but that was only a suggestion as it was well hidden in a garage that is seldom opened so no-one could have known where it was. I think they just stumbled across it while looking for mowers to nick as they didn't steal brand new boxes of CCTV stuff which was stored in there. Thanks for your response though. How would I recognise you then if I do go to Biddenden or Sedlescombe as they're both quite close. I try to give it a bit more publicity at the start of the Show season every year but I can't get to them all.  I would like to get it back as we now have grandchildren. Regards to you. TCS.

Edited July 2, 2018 by Tim Sargeant

[Stormin 4,458]

Jonathan (expeatfarmer) and I live about 10-11 miles from each other and are friends from years back.

 

I'll be exhibiting in the horticultural sections. Wheel Horses. Just ask for Norman. Tall, mature gentleman, Northern accent, white hair and with beard.

[Tim Sargeant 9]

I might have a go at those then this year if wifey doesn't want to go elsewhere! TCS.

PS: There seem to be several of these down in Dorset but I've never been to that show either.

Went past once and it went on for miles.Had several 'phone calls from down there.

Edited July 2, 2018 by Tim Sargeant

[Alan 1,273]

5 minutes ago, Stormin said:

Jonathan (expeatfarmer) and I live about 10-11 miles from each other and are friends from years back.

 

I'll be exhibiting in the horticultural sections. Wheel Horses. Just ask for Norman. Tall, mature gentleman, Northern accent, white hair and with beard.

  mature gentleman,  

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Is it the 'mature' you are commenting on or the 'gentleman'? I am afraid most of us fit into both those categories these days. TCS.

[nigel 1,877]

3 minutes ago, Tim Sargeant said:

Is it the 'mature' you are commenting on or the 'gentleman'? I am afraid most of us fit into both those categories these days. TCS.

He looks like Jeremy Corbin Tim, you can’t miss him, probably be wearing a cnd badge 😂

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Hi Nigel, Good to hear from you. It was you who put me onto this forum last year but I only just got round to doing anything about it. I've looked in a couple of times but all closed up.

All the Best to you and wife. Tim.

[Stormin 4,458]

12 minutes ago, nigel said:

He looks like Jeremy Corbin Tim, you can’t miss him, probably be wearing a cnd badge 😂

 

You'll get a slap.

[HeadExam 1,783]

7 hours ago, Tim Sargeant said:

Thanks Stormin, That's very kind of you. I haven't done Biddenden since they used to have the 'Biddenden Spectacular' there, but we went past last year and it looked as if it was going well!

You see you get to an age when all the walking round these shows in the heat just gets too much. My wife has already had two new knees! Strange that there's two of you from Cumbria who've responded. I appreciate what you are saying about the time factor but I've had more responses about it in the last couple of years than I had when it first went missing. The 'phone will ring one day and it will be the right one wherever it is. Just got to keep on looking. Someone suggested it might have been stolen to order and gone to Holland but that was only a suggestion as it was well hidden in a garage that is seldom opened so no-one could have known where it was. I think they just stumbled across it while looking for mowers to nick as they didn't steal brand new boxes of CCTV stuff which was stored in there. Thanks for your response though. How would I recognise you then if I do go to Biddenden or Sedlescombe as they're both quite close. I try to give it a bit more publicity at the start of the Show season every year but I can't get to them all.  I would like to get it back as we now have grandchildren. Regards to you. TCS.

I think you are spot on, and I wouldn't be surprised if that tractor was still just a few kilometers from where it was stolen. I think someone is hoarding/hiding it or it would have been spotted by a hobbyist or collector.

[Chris 642]

It will end up where all the other stuff goes. In containers aboard.

 

But you never know

 

I spotted the MG5 Jonathan has on ebay & rung its owner at the time & it was returned to him then sold to Jon

[Tim Sargeant 9]

HeadExam, That is what the Police said too. It will be stashed away until the criminals think it's been forgotten about and then sold a few years down the line. The internet is thankfully international so people overseas are reading these forums. PS: Here in good old England we are still on miles, The continental so & so's have nicked our yards, feet and inches but us old buggers still deal in those!

Chris. That is what we thought when someone said it might have been nicked to order. Good spotting on your part though. I regularly run a search for 'Trojan' though Google to see what turns up. Ours comes up in most of the pages with pics on. Have a look if you like, it's the one with the old bloke driving it and it's on the StolenModels.org page with me on it. Regards to all.

[nigel 1,877]

22 hours ago, Stormin said:

 

You'll get a slap.

💋💋

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Good to meet all of you at Biddenden Tractor Fest today and apologies to anyone I missed. Too much time spent talking and I didn't leave until 7:30pm with a sore throat!

I didn't realise how many other people had also found themselves suffering at the hands of thieves. It seems that nothing is sacred these days!

Doesn't matter what it is some bugger will take it away from you if they get the chance.

Anyway I met some very interesting people and handed out fifty of my leaflets so let's hope that my tractor will turn up sometime.

Regards to all, TCS.

[HeadExam 1,783]

Might want to read this if any of you have been nicked in this area. There might be goods that are ready for recovery.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-46050715?fbclid=IwAR1gPu49XfeMBXuGI6Q_8v-Vf_WXjyJn0B8lJr8mI40NDJiASTXkq7jUUp8

[Tim Sargeant 9]

Just been re-reading about my Stolen Trojan Toraktor. No leads yet I'm afraid. Hope you are all looking out for it. Regards and Thanks to all readers. TCS.