1965 VICKERS FV433 Abbot

Background

PLEASE NOTE THAT AN AUCTION PREMIUM WILL BE CHARGED, ON TOP OF THE HAMMER PRICE, OF 5%. STARTING JAN. 16TH 2023, THIS APPLIES TO ALL AUCTIONS ON THE MARKET, AND FEES ARE MIN. $500 / MAX. $5,000.

Inducted into the British Army in the mid-60s and in service for another 30 years or so, the 'Abbot' was a self-propelling gun. Based on the FV430 family, this tracked vehicle was actually called ‘Gun Equipment 105mm L109'. The Abbot was powered by a Rolls Royce K60 and had a gun mounted on a fully-rotating turret. It could have a crew of four, and if required, be made amphibious, with the help of a floating screen.

The Vehicle

Complete with its turret-mounted gun, the Vickers FV433 'Abbot' looks to be in an unmodified condition; exactly how it'd have been when in service. While there's limited information about its history, according to the onboard plaque, it underwent CL1 repairs in '73, '78, and '89.

On the Outside

Said to be lightly armored, the FV433 weighed around 16 tons. With the engine and mechanical components located at the front, the hull had a sloping design. Similar to the FV432 APC, this also had a door at the rear. The quad headlamps were in the center of the body whereas the exhaust was positioned rear left.

On the Inside

The Abbot is made to accommodate a crew of four: three in the turret and one driver, seated on the front right corner of the hull. In addition to the 105mm main gun, the FV433 could also be equipped with a machine gun, smoke grenade dischargers, etc. It's said that the Abbot could fire up to 6-8 rounds of shell per minute, making it the preferred choice among self-propelling guns at the time.

Underneath

Like the FV432 it's based on, the Vickers Abbot is also a tracked vehicle powered by a Rolls Royce K60 Multi-fuel engine. At around 240 hp, that propelled the Abbot to a top permissible speed of 29 mph and a range of 300 miles.

History Highlights

Development of a new SPG began in the late 1950s but it entered service only in 1964. There were 12 prototypes made before the K60-powered, Vickers-made example was chosen. It remained on active duty for about 30-odd years. And not just the British Army, the Abbot was in service elsewhere, too, like with the Indian Army. Odometer shows 1,732 miles.

What We Think

The Abbot SPG was appreciated for its range, accuracy, and speed, when new. And owning one now, especially in good, original condition, isn't going to be common by any means. This example has an estimated value of $3,000 to $7,000.

PLEASE NOTE: The vehicles from this collection have been sitting for a number of years. Mechanical and running condition of each lot is unknown, and they are being sold 'as is'. This vehicle is being sold on Bill of Sale only.