Copyright � Curragh Local Historical Group
As these earlier vehicles had been quite successful it was decided to construct a further 21+7 of these armoured cars with some improvements. Thomas Thompson of Carlow were awarded the contract, but as no new chassis were available from Ford existing Ford lorries (for the final 7 cars) were withdrawn from service with the S&T Corps and modified, by Ford in Cork, for fitting the armoured bodies.
These vehicles, like the earlier Mk5s used a 122 inch chassis, but unlike the Mk5, there were no Peerless Turrets available, so Thompsons fabricated a turret modelled on the Landsverk's.
Eight Mk6s were dispatched to the Congo in 1961 followed later by 3 more including two open topped armoured scout cars. They gave sterling service in the Congo for vehicles of their age and at the end of hosilities the Irish Army handed over 6 operational Ford Armoured Cars to the Congolese Army.
The Mk6 remained in service until replace by Panhards in the '70s and were used for border patrols from 1969 until retirement.
| Vehicle Specification | ||
| Crew | 3 | Driver, Commander and Gunner |
| Armament | Vickers .303in Water Cooled Machine Gun | . |
| Unladen Weight | 5 ton 11 cwt | estimated |
| Combat Weight | . | . |
| Length | 14 ft. 10 ins. | . |
| Width | 6 ft. 7 ins. | . |
| Height | 8 ft. | Overall |
| Internal Volune | . | . |
| Ground Clearance | . | . |
| Gradient | . | . |
| Slide Slope | . | . |
| Max. Speed | 45 mph | Open road |
| Max. Speed in Water | . | . |
| Cruise Speed | . kph | . |
| Range | 150 miles | estimated |
| Max. Vertical Step | . | . |
| Max. Trench | . | . |
| Fording | . | . |
| Armour | . | . |
| Ballistic Protection | .303 in ball | All Round |
| Ballistic Protection | . | . |
| Ballistic Protection | . | . |
| Engine | Ford V8 3,621 cc | 85 hp petrol |
| Transmission | Ford | 4 Speed/? Reverse Manual |
