During the 1930s, a military version of the Thornycroft Amazon 6-ton, 6x4 lorry was supplied to the RAF with an additional 5-ton Coles Mk VII, petrol-electric crane on the back, both for aircraft salvage and maintenance duties.
 
Around 2000 were produced during the Second World War, of which the RAF owned 1800 examples (400 of which had diesel engines).

This long-wheel-based example of the iconic Thornycroft Amazon Coles Crane was restored by UAS Volunteers Gary Millington and Tommy Moore, and later painted in-house in authentic colour scheme by master painter, Ian Hendry.