W.H.Tildesley produced a wide range of drop forged components for Crossley Motors Ltd between 1933 and 1958. With over 150 drawings in the archive, a small selection of parts with Fighting Vehicle (FV) designation were discovered.

We reached out to Malcolm Asquith, historian and expert in Crossley-produced vehicles and creator of the website http://www.crossley-motors.org.uk/ for more information.  It was determined that there was a high probability that the parts were produced for the Saladin Armoured Vehicle as the production dates tied with Crossley’s involvement in what ultimately became their final military contract.

Alvis, another heritage customer of WHT, was at this time developing the Saracen armoured personnel carrier and the chassis of which became that of the Saladin. With Alvis unable to fulfill the initial pre-production models Crossley Motors stepped in to produce six Saladins during 1956. Actual production began in 1958 at the Alvis factory in Coventry where WHT continued to produce and supply drop forged components.