Hi,
Nobody has been brave/stupid enough to mention the Jeep designed specifically for the British Army.
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/austin-champ.htmlI suggest that Austin were given the wrong brief. About 2 tons of truck, capable of being driven underwater, and costing the British taxpayer about £2,500 each in 1951 (with no Purchase tax payable). About 10mpg (or less) of petrol. Independent suspension all round (double wishbone)., 5-speed gear box with no reverse. Reverse was in the back axle. Another propshaft ran from the rear diff, to the front diff, to give four wheel drive. The split rim wheels were interchangable with Landy wheels.
Bought a Champ in about 1967, for £100 I pulled the Rolls Royce B80 (
) 4000cc engine, and dropped in a BMC LD 2 litre engine and gearbox, from a bread van. The van cost me £10. This meant I had reverse gears in both the gearbox and the back axle.
This monster was only just cheaper to run than Barbara's Hillman Imp, but that was because diesel (then) was appreciably cheaper than petrol.
Project completed, including an MOT, I lost interest, and swapped it for a Triumph Vittesse, that came to nowt. And Barbara's Hillman imp was written of by a baker's van that didn't stop when he reached the main road. I forget what we had next. Maybe it was my first S1, that had been garaged for 11 years? Half the petrol had evaporated away ... sniffing the filler pipe was vomit inducing.
I have photos on Photobucket, now, but can't remember how to post them here.
That will be my next thread, starting in a couple of minutes.
602