The original RAF VC10, the C.MK 1 had the cabin freight door and load bearing floor panels from the start. You cant remove anymore than two floor panels without supporting the wings. I don't think you can tow a 'ten with any panels removed.
EX BA 'tens (K2&K4) weren't given cabin freight doors or load bearing floors
The refuel probes were removed and then scrapped early on, before 1972 anyway. I'm not sure if they were all delivered with them. During the Falklands war the eng. opps. controller got a signal from group instructing Brize to refit the probes. The controller (EOC) was on the team at Brize way back as a JT removing them RTS. They were then scrapped. He told the guy at group that they'd been scrapped years ago and hadn't any in stock. He proved it by finding the signal that removed the probes and scrapping order. That was that until some new ones were manufactured a few years later on the C1K conversion. I didn't work on a C1K anyway, I left there summer 92. The 1st C1K flew June 92, then Boscombe Down?