Austin Gipsy

1958 to 1968
Overview
Manufacturer	British Motor Corporation
Production	1958–1968 Number made 21,208
Body and chassis
Body style	Four-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	Austin (A70) OHV 55 hp (41 kW) diesel 2200 62 bhp (46 kW)
Dimensions
Length	139 in (3,531 mm) or 160 in (4,064 mm)
Chronology
Predecessor	Austin Champ

The Austin Gipsy is an automobile which was produced by the British Motor Corporation and its successors from 1958 to 1968. It was designed as a replacement for the Austin Champ to compete with Rover's Land Rover.

History

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. The suspension was sophisticated, independent suspension all round using Flexitor rubber springs, which gave the Gipsy the ability to travel at high speeds over rough terrain.

As an option, later models offered leaf springs on the front and rear. It used a BMC 2199 cc petrol engine based on the one in the Austin A70; the compression ratio was 6.8:1, making the petrol-powered vehicle tolerant of low octane fuel. A 2178 cc diesel-engined version was also offered.

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.

Austin Gipsy in Heartbeat, TV Series (ITV)