The 3C MK III – JCBs Never Really Die
Just to prove the fantastic build quality of JCB products – we have an amazing testament to the history of the brand parked right outside…
We never doubted the durability of the JCB product for one second, but we know from time to time people might mention things like, “…well they don’t make ’em like they used to”, “…today’s machines aren’t as well put together as the older models” or “…yeah, but nothing lasts forever does it – they all need replacing eventually”.
Well as if to prove that with a little bit of TLC JCB’s will look as good as new and run forever, we are proud to announce we have one of the finest examples of the JCB MK III since they first rolled out the product line in 1977.
Julian Carder, Worldwide Product Manager at JCB Headquarters, has completed the painstaking restoration of a once dilapidated JCB 3Ciii over a six month period and it has since been parked at JCB World HQ as a reminder of how durable these machines are if they are maintained correctly.
The machine will be on display outside our Chapeltown Depot for the foreseeable future for all to enjoy. Julian traced back through the JCB archives to find out this machine was originally built in 1978 and sold to Lewisham Borough Council in London, (where it probably spent a number of years on sites like the ones above), it then spent its later years on a chicken farm where it was only used for clearing snow in the colder months and kept in a barn.
Julian purchased the machine from a trader in 2013 in a state that can only be described as a shadow of its former self, over the 6 month build period, Julian managed to restore it to its original spec which included a hydraulic breaker, a 6-in-1 shovel, torque converter and even a rare Jaw Bucket, all finished off it factory fresh paintwork. The video below shows the restoration process in more detail, all expertly explained by Julian himself.
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We’ve had it in situ for a few days now and we can’t stop nipping outside at every opportunity to catch it in the sunshine, it really is a thing of beauty and a labour of love. Hats off to Julian for the amazing job he has done with her and thank you for the extended loan, we’re secretly hoping he has a few more restorations up his sleeve in the near future… watch this space!
As an added bonus, below is a video of Julian driving the fully restored machine back down the same product line it would have rolled off in 1978.
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For more information please contact our Chapeltown Depot