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-   -   Austin Champ. (https://www.truckandbusforum.com/showthread.php?t=2212)

G-CPTN 27th August 2009 19:39

Austin Champ.
 
As a result of following URLs about Austin Sheerlines, I have had a misconception 'destroyed'. I always thought that the Rolls Royce engine fitted to the Van den Plas 4-litre R was also the engine fitted to the Austin Champ.
In fact that is not true. Although the Champ engine (at least in the military versions) was, indeed, designed (and originally built) by Rolls Royce, this was a mere 2.8 litre capacity and was only four cylinders whereas the car engine was six cylinders.
True that the basic B-series engine design was common, but the 4-litre engine was cast in aluminium (and, is, apparently, a fine engine - if meticulously maintained) and had altered stroke:-
http://www.redlemon.co.za/vandenplasprincess/rolls.html

However, the purpose of this thread is to expand knowledge of the Champ (after all, this forum is dedicated to trucks and buses rather than passenger cars).
I'll start with the Wiki entry:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Champ
and invite others to contribute links to photographs or text articles.

You might want to search for the Wolseley Mudlark . . .

http://enc.slq.qld.gov.au/slq/neg/pr...00/116058p.jpg

If there is little (or no) response, then I might have to contribute myself.

Oh - and if you have already read the above Wiki link, you will know that most of the civilian Champs were fitted with the 2.66 litre Austin Atlantic engine . . .

Then there was the Austin Gipsy.

Western SMT 31st August 2009 10:55

From what I remember of them they were not looked upon favourably (oil leaks I think) and the cheaper Land Rover soon became popular.

G-CPTN 31st August 2009 11:46

Indeed - they lost oil from the axles (hubs?) and that destroyed the gears.

As you stated, the Land Rover did 90% of the jobs that the Champ could at half the price (and cheaper on maintenance).

Champ was too 'sophisticated'.

coastie 31st August 2009 12:21

Austin Champ! Now there's a name I haven't heard of for a while. I'm not familiar with those at all.

dmackay 31st August 2009 20:46

Anyone remember the Austin Gipsy (drive shafts :eek: )

coastie 31st August 2009 23:07

Very vaguely!!

G-CPTN 31st August 2009 23:25

Quote:

The Gipsy was visually similar to the Land Rover, but unlike the Land Rover, the Gipsy's bodywork was steel and suffered badly from rust in the outdoors off-road environment it was intended for. The suspension was sophisticated - independent suspension all round, using 'Flexitor' rubber springs. Later models used leaf springs on the front and rear which was felt to offer a greatly improved ride over rough surfaces.
From:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_Gipsy

coastie 1st September 2009 11:28

What is a Landrovers' body made of then?

G-CPTN 1st September 2009 11:34

Aluminium . . .
Quote:

The bodywork was hand-made out of surplus aircraft grade aluminium, mainly an aluminium/magnesium alloy called Birmabright, to save on steel, which was closely rationed.
More at:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_Rover_Series

coastie 1st September 2009 12:23

But, I thought you could weld onto a Landrover body??


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