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gordon stephenson
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No advice on a resto, but I did own one way back in 1969.Petrol model.it had a duff battery but even in the winter it would start on the handle easily, turn it over a couple of revs with the ignition off, then switch on and it was running with the next pull on the handle,
gordon stephenson
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I thought the Austin Champs looked completely different,and had a Rolls Royce engine, they also had as many gears in reverse as forward.The champ is a lovely looking machine but I believe they were quite prone to rolling over if driven a bit too quickly
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KemppiFrog
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I had a Champ, completely different vehicle. We also were lent a Gypsy by BMC for an event when they were new. Steel body, looks like a LR, ours was petrol too. I was a bit young to remember the details. Surprised if many around as the steel bits must rust. And, poor competition for the L-R
The Champ was a blast, 4lt RR engine 5 speed box with separate F-N-R and lever to engage the front axle. All independant with torsion bars and rack and pinion steering, you could chuck it around like a sports car and was quite confortable compared to a LR.Would do over 90mph with the screen down.
Bought it for £45 ('69) to recover a boat from SOF, 9mpg on the way back
Sold it afterwoulds for £90.
And they did have a rep for rolling, friend in the RAF used to rally one. He said one of the reasons for dropping them was the number of squaddies killed by over enthusiasm. That and the rear diff tended to strip its gears if abused. While towing the boat, we always engaged front drive for the start, then the co-driver took it out as the driver changed to second. Last thing we wanted was a drive failure in France.
KF
Thinking back, they might have shared some drive bits. I seem to remember that the Gypsy had independant suspension??
gordon stephenson
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Gypsy was independent suspension but it was the same type as indespension trailer units,rubber bonded inside tubular cross members and to the trailing/leading? arms etc.
KemppiFrog
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That sounds interesting. But more a relation of the units we used on some of the bigger trailers, Where the rubber was bonded to the casing and the 'axle'. Compared to Indespension (which I think are carp) they were relatively progressive and gave a much smoother ride. Not cheap though. Can't remember the name... Avon??
The Champ also had the engine mods to run under water with a snorkle, not that we tried it
Just read the Wiki site on both. Engine was 2.8lt.
The Champ also had the engine mods to run under water with a snorkle, not that we tried it
Just read the Wiki site on both. Engine was 2.8lt.
l think they did both, l had a swb with the "flexitor suspension which l converted to a V8 and never broke a thing on the drive train and l had a lwb that was leaf sprung jut like a 109 except it rotted away even quicker
Andy
Epicyclic
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I used to be picked up for school in a Gypsy in the mid-late 60's, as there were only a few kids on our route. The bus co. used it as their garage hack in the day so it always smelt of diesel or oil.
Be a rare find these days, I'd have thought, as they had a reputation for rotting that probably killed them off. Interesting project if you can find one though.
Be a rare find these days, I'd have thought, as they had a reputation for rotting that probably killed them off. Interesting project if you can find one though.
MattF
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There are more knocking about since they auctioned off the MOD stored ones a few years ago. Practically pristine condition those were in. If you can get your hands on one of those, there shouldn't be too much work necessary unless it's been abused since. A resto' on and old civvy one is likely to leave you with a lot to do though. Fortunately, bits and bobs like brake cylinders and such will fit from the Series LR's, (with possibly just a gnats of case shaping required). The bodywork was galvanised, if I recall correctly, and the Flexitor suspension is definitely a weird thing. There's a Yahoo user group for Gipsy owners. Worth joining that if you're thinking of getting one.
They're old, they're basic, (which is no bad thing), they're damned uncomfortable and noisy, but they are a capable and a lovely looking vehicle, IMHO, (even when they've been chopped and changed like nobody's business, making a sympathetic rather than standard restoration preferable), and I'd definitely say go for it if you have the time, abilities and patience to sort one.
Thanks for your thoughts guys, thinking about it, its defo, a champ, havnt seen it for a while, but I do remember the rear wheel arch shape, and looking at pictures on the web its a champ, hoping to have a look at it this wknd, the large rr engine sounds fun, got the skills to have a go but not sure about the time, always something er in doors wants doing, but I guess everyone else has the same problems as m
ue
ueaustin jeep thing
I bought one off a friend for 50 it had sat in her field for 15 years looking sad and worse as the years rolled by. I left it for about a year she then died and i sold to the new tennant for 350 . I meet him a few years later and the thing looked like brand new.he must have spent a fortune. He may or may not of got a bargan, but i only paid the 50 for it because she needed the money for more drink and did not really whant the bother of doing the austin up
and at end of the day the 300 came in handy
I bought one off a friend for 50 it had sat in her field for 15 years looking sad and worse as the years rolled by. I left it for about a year she then died and i sold to the new tennant for 350 . I meet him a few years later and the thing looked like brand new.he must have spent a fortune. He may or may not of got a bargan, but i only paid the 50 for it because she needed the money for more drink and did not really whant the bother of doing the austin up
and at end of the day the 300 came in handy
