Motor Car History
Technical History of the Motor Car

      

1890s  1900s  1910s  1920s  1930s  1940s  1950s  1960s   1970s  1980s  1990s  2000s  2010s

Toggle Navigation
  • Home
  • Makes and models
  • Motor car History
  • Maintenance Guide
    • Engines By Make
    • Engine Components
    • Electrical & electronic
    • Gearbox & Drivetrain
    • Induction & Exhaust
    • Suspension Types
    • Tyres wheels Brakes
    • Vehicle Body types
  • Trivia
  • Register
  • *Top rated*
  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Makes and Models
  • A
  • Austin
  • Austin K4 (1939-1955)

Manufacturer A-Z

  • ALL
  • A
  • B
  • C
  • D
  • E
  • F
  • G
  • H
  • I
  • J
  • K
  • L
  • M
  • N
  • O
  • P
  • Q
  • R
  • S
  • T
  • U
  • V
  • W
  • X
  • Y
  • Z
lorries Trucks
Britain
1930s 1940s 1950s

Austin K4 Truck history

Austin K4 (1939-1955)

Manufacturer:

Austin Motor Company

Type:

Commercial vehicle

Production period:

1939 to 1955

model:

Truck

 The Austin K4 was a heavy British truck that the Austin Motor Co. built in World War II and afterwards.Austin trucks in this style were manufactured from January 1939 in various forms. They were seen as active members of all important second war fronts in the period 1939 to 1945.

The vehicle number is divided into three parts, with the first part indicating the capacity (K2: 2-tonner / K4: 5-tonner), the second part is the type of vehicle, and the third part is the chassis number. For ordering spare parts, with overhead valve 6 cylinder gasoline 60 hp engine only the serial number was required.All three models have identical cab, hood, hood and fenders. Outwardly, the only difference is that the two-toners have six lug nuts, while the five-toners have eight.

Austin K4 engine view (1939-1955)

SPECIFICATION 

Production period: 1939 to 1948
Body designs: Various LWB:SWB
Weight capacity: 5-ton
Engines: 6 cylinders 3.5 l
Length: 4720 mm to 6480 mm 
Width: 2130 mm 
Wheelbase: 2850 mm to 4010 mm

All models were built in three series:

  • 1939-1948 Series
  • 1948-1949 Series I
  • 1949-1955 Series II (Loadstar)

Austin K4 (1939-1955)

From February 1946, a new cab with a new grille was installed with centrally vertical ribs They were equipped with a 4-liter engine 90 hp engine. The postwar models received an updated radiator grille., previously they were consistently horizontal. It is the only visible difference.

From 1945, three models were built for the civilian market:

  • 2-tone LWB (K2)
  • 5-tone LWB
  • 5-tone SWB Tippers

 Austin K4 1950s chassis

Related items
Vehicles launched in 1939 | British Commercial vehicles | Lorry-Trucks | WW2 | War Time

Rating

Have you Say: Rate this
Overall Vote
80% - 1 vote
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
1. Performance & Specification
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Built to last?
2. Appearance Overall *Cool factor*
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
How good it looks ?

Technical

Service
  • Austin K4 Maintenance and Service Guide (1939-1955)

    ENGINE: 3.459 cc.

    TAPPET CLEARANCES Inlet .(Cold) :0.015"
    TAPPET CLEARANCES Exhaust.(Cold) :0.015"
    VALVE-TIMING mark :.......Flywheel
    VALVE TIMING Inlet opens .T.D.C
    BREAKER GAP :.............0-010"-0-012"
    PLUG GAP :................0-017"-0-018"
    IGNITION-TIMING INDICATION:Flywheel
    IGNITION TIMING :...T.D.C

    ENGINE: later 3,995 cc.

    TAPPET CLEARANCES Inlet .(hot) :0.015"
    TAPPET CLEARANCES Exhaust.(hot) :0.015"
    VALVE-TIMING mark :.......Timing gears
    VALVE TIMING Inlet opens .T.D.C
    BREAKER GAP :.............0-010"-0-012"
    PLUG GAP :................-0-018"
    IGNITION-TIMING INDICATION:Flywheel
    IGNITION TIMING :...T.D.C

    © Motor car History

Technical
  • Austin K4 Technical details and specifications (1939-1955)


    ENGINE: 3.459 cc.

    BORE/STROKE :.......85 X 101.6 mm.
    CAPACITY :..........3,459 c.c.
    FIRING ORDER :......1-5-3-6-2-4
    OIL PRESSURE (Hot):.25—30 lb./sq. in.

    CARBURETTOR

    CARBURETTOR :....... Zenith D/D
    SETTING :.. ........30 VM
    Choke :.............27
    Main :..............102
    Compensating :......75
    Slow Running :. ....55

    TRANSMISSION

    CLUTCH :........... Single Dry Plate
    Type :..............Borg & Beck

    BRAKES

    Brake make : ...........Lockheed
    Type :..............Hydraulic
    Linings :. .........Lockheed NMWZ

    CHASSIS STEERING

    TOE-IN :............0" to 1/8"
    CAMBER :............1°
    CASTER ANGLE :. ....3°
    KING PIN ANGLE :....7°

    ENGINE: Later 3,995 c.c.

    BORE/STROKE :.......87-31 x 111.12 mm.
    CAPACITY :..........3,995 c.c.
    FIRING ORDER :......1-5-3-6-2-4
    OIL PRESSURE (Hot):.50—55 lb./sq. in.

    CARBURETTOR

    CARBURETTOR :....... Zenith D/D
    SETTING :.. ........30 VM 4
    Choke :.............27
    Main :..............102
    Compensating :......75
    Slow Running :. ....55

    TRANSMISSION

    CLUTCH :........... Single Dry Plate
    Type :..............Borg & Beck

    BRAKES

    BRAKES : ...........Lockheed 2LS
    Type :..............Hydraulic
    Linings :. .........Ferodo MR41

    © Motor car History

Manuals

Download: Workshop manuals Tech Guides exclusive to registered users.

Media

Gallery
    Austin K4 (1939-1955)
  • Austin Previous 71 / 93 Next
  • Worldwide
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Brazil
  • British
  • Bulgaria
  • canada
  • Czech
  • Chile
  • Czechoslovakia
  • China
  • Denmark
  • Egypt
  • Finland
  • Greece
  • Guernsey
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Indonesia
  • Korean
  • Mexico
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Norway
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • South Africa
  • sweden
  • Romania
  • Turkey
  • Spain
  • Switzerland
  • Taiwan
  • Serbia
  • Uruguay
  • Ukraine
  • United States
  • Venezuela
  • Yugoslavia

On Motor Car

  • Maintenance Guide
  • Makes and Models
  • Motor car History
  • Film & TV
  • Your Top Rated *****
  • Join here

log on

Log in to Motor car

  • Forgot your username?
  • Forgot your password?

Welcome To Motor Car

  • Film Cars
  • Luxury Cars
  • Heartbeat
  • TV Cars
  • War Time
  • WW2
  • limousines
  • With SU carbs
  • Straight-6 cars
  • Austin Countryman
  • Austin A40
  • British Commercial vehicles
  • Britain 1920s
  • Britain 1900s
  • Britain 1930s
  • Britain 1940s
  • Britain 1950s
  • Britain 1960s
  • veteran vehicles
  • Vintage vehicles

Related Britain

  • British related
    • British Automotive 1890s
    • British Automotive 1900s
    • British Automotive 1910s
    • British Automotive 1920s
    • British Automotive 1930s
    • British Automotive 1940s
    • British Automotive 1950s
    • British Automotive 1960s
    • British Automotive 1970s
    • British Automotive 1980s
    • British Automotive 1990s
    • British Automotive 2000s
    • British Automotive 2010s
    • British Coach and Busses
    • British Coachbuilders
    • British Concept Cars
    • British Sports Cars

Please help to keep this site active.

Related Austin
  • Austin Models
    • Princess
    • Countryman
    • 12 Models
    • Twenty
    • A40
    • Cambridge
    • Allegro
    • 1100
    • 1300
    • 1800
    • 3-Litre
    • A110
    • A30
    • A35
    • A50
    • A55
    • A60
    • A90
    • A95
    • A99
    • Ambassador
    • Kimberley
    • Maestro
    • Metro
    • Montego
    • 18-22
    • Seven
    • America
    • Austin Gipsy
  • Leyland Engines
  • Austin

Enjoy all of Motor Car Here


Back to Top

© 2025 Motor Car History