Highlight for me at the 43rd Great Dorset Steam Fair on 3/9/11 was this lovely Austin K4 paraffin tanker, KXW946, restored to the original condition of its second owner in just under two years from a pile of bits by John Shelton from Ringwood. This was its first time out.

The tanker was new to Fina in 1950 and acquired around 1959 by Gerald Lee of Christchurch for local delivery of paraffin. Past attempts at restoration were unsuccessful and the tanker had been completely dismantled. With 48 hours to go before its final appointment with the scrapman the current owner John Shelton said if he could fire the motor up he would take the bits away and put the K4 back together. The finished result is fantastic. The new signwriting is based exactly on the original detail which was still discernable on the tank. John has chosen to have a replica Fina emblem painted on the cab doors, along with the original Fina fleet number 96BFP, as this detail was discovered when preparing the cab for repainting. The photo really doesn't do it justice. (NF)