Austin Gipsy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Austin Gipsy
Manufacturer British Motor Corporation
Production 1958–1967
Number made 21,208 [1]
Predecessor Austin Champ
Body style Four-wheel drive
Engine Austin (A70) OHV
55 hp (41 kW) diesel 2200 62 bhp (46 kW)
Length 139 in (3,531 mm) or 160 in (4,064 mm)[1]

The Austin Gipsy was Austin's attempt at an off-road capable vehicle to compete with Rover's Land Rover.

Contents

History [edit]

Austin picked the name with an "I" spelling rather than gypsy. The Gipsy was visually similar to the Land Rover, but unlike the Land Rover, the Gipsy's bodywork was steel and, in time, suffered badly from rust in the outdoors off-road environment it was intended for. The suspension was sophisticated, independent suspension all round using Flexitor rubber springs. Later models used leaf springs on the front and rear which was felt to offer a greatly improved ride over rough surfaces.[2] It used a BMC 2199 cc petrol engine based on the one in the Austin A70; by the 1960s the compression ratio was unfashionably low, making the petrol-powered vehicle unusually tolerant of low octane fuel.[2] A 2178 cc diesel-engined version was also offered.[2]

It was available initially in a 90-inch (2286 mm) (later known as the Short wheelbase (SWB) version to which was added a 111-inch (2819 mm) Long wheelbase (LWB) from Series II

With the merger of BMC with Leyland to form British Leyland the Austin Gipsy and the Land Rover were being produced by the same company. Production of the Gipsy was stopped after some 21,208 vehicles had been sold.

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Robson, Graham (2006). A-Z British Cars 1945–1980. Devon, UK: Herridge & Sons. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3. 
  2. ^ a b c Howard, Geoffrey (18 May 1967). "Market Select: Another Look at the British Cars Tested Since Last Spring". Autocar. 126. (nbr 3718): 4–14. 

External links [edit]