A GEM?

[DT-P38]

Not my usual AULRO haunt, but wasn't able to locate a suitable spot for this... Anyway, went holidaying, thought about fishing, and may have struck gold ( or at least a semi-rare gem).

Is it an Austin Gypsy? Were they really the predecessor of the series1?

[jakeslouw]

Looks like a Gypsy!

http://www.austinmemories.com/page65/files/page65_23.jpg

[Col.Coleman]

Yes that is a Gypsy. They were around the same time as the series 11 and 11a. The Champs were before the Gypsie, at the same time as later series 1's.

Definitely not a predecessor to the Land Rover, but interesting all the same.

A future project for you perhaps?

CC

[zulu Delta 534]

In today's speak the Gypsy is a bit like the civilian version of G Wagen Mercedes that is on offer for some ridiculous price here in Australia at the moment.
Mercedes (in actual fact Steyr) have gained the contract to supply the Australian army with vehicles so a civilianised version comes out as a "cover version" to possibly fray costs or at least to pander to a minority. A bit like the Hummer is to a real HMMV
By the early to mid 50's as the wartime jeeps slowly disintegrated, the Champ (1953 or thereabouts) had already been accepted in reasonably limited numbers here in Australia (on the Pom's say-so mainly), as well as many other armies around the world, so Austin attempted to cash in on the vehicles image by producing a civilianised version powered by their own Austin A70 motor of the day. Probably aiming to cash in on the agricultural market.
By the time the mid fifties were upon us the Australian army had begun to plan the development its own fleet of vehicles more suited to our unique local requirements, so a dedicated Jeep replacement programme was introduced in Australia and a number of companies tendered, Jeep (Now under different ownership and into their CJ models), Land Rover, Austin Champ, Gypsy, a number of smaller manufacturers (including an International engined Australian offering) and also a 4WD vehicle manufactured for the Indian Army by a previously little known company in Australia (In those days at least,) Datsun, and called a 'Patrol' (4W65)!
The rest of the story is history as we all know the results of these exhaustive trials as in 1958 the first contract was signed with Land Rover, but the point of this is that the little gypsy never really stood a chance military wise, steel body, power/weight etc., but was mildly successful in the civvy field for a year or so.
I believe that they were a lot more popular in New Zealand than they ever were here.
Still a very collectable vehicle and that particular example seems to be in remarkable shape at least body wise.
Regards
Glen

[JFD]

I think thats a Mk.1 came out about 1957-58.Independent all round, torsion bar front ala VW only single tube,flexitor rear [rubber block] 2.2 litre Austin A70 motor and 4 speed gearbox with four wheel drive in low range only.Rode okay but were limited off road as suspenion didn't articulate all that well,ie if one front wheel went up over an obstacle the other side would hang in mid air with no real down pressure.Rust was the big killer,later models went to live axles and leaf springs with hi and lo 4wd.

[DT-P38]

Thanks all. Here are a couple more pic's...

What would be a reasonable price to cough up for one of these? It's literally in the middle of nowhere and would cost me a fair bit of time and money to retrieve.

I just hated seeing it sit there wasting away and have had it playing on my mind for a week now. Any ideas on where to get some enthusiast advice on potential of it as a project?

[Mick_Marsh]

Middle of nowhere.....eh!
Must be near me.
So, when are we going on a road trip?

[DT-P38]

Nah Mick... Really in the middle of no where... try thinking Great Australian Bite-Nullabour Plains and your getting warmish!

[DT-P38]

Minor update.

It's definitely not for me (SWMBO insists!) and I really hate the thought of it being scrapped, or just lost to the world one day.... So, understanding the significance of it, someone here may want to get their hands on it.

The owners first up price (with out negotiation/haggling) is $1,000 with an estimated recovery and delivery (to Adelaide) cost of approx. $300 next time I am out that way (add another $150 to get it to Melbourne).

Anyone want a complete and reasonably straight Gypsy?

I could nearly bet your neighbor won't have one!