Delivered to Western Area Fire Brigade in 1960, this appliance
was stationed at Lamlash on the island of Arran.
We do not have all the necessary information on the history of
this appliance and would be grateful for any other information.
The vehicle was given to SDO. Douglas Leitch, who intended it for
display in a proposed Fire Brigade Museum which sadly never materialised.
THS 825 lay for a while in B8 Calton and was then moved to Strathclyde
Fire Brigade Headquarters at Hamilton and then on to Orchard House.
The
vehicle was gifted to the Strathclyde Fire Brigade Preservation
Group in January 1999 and moved
to F5 Milngavie. It is hoped that the Gipsy will make an appearance
at the Pumpathon.
The Austin Gipsy was intended as a replacement for the Austin Champ
and as a rival to the Land Rover. It was powered by a 2199cc. four
cylinder petrol engine developing 62bhp. This engine was also fitted
in the Austin A70.
This view, within the garage, a bit cramped but dry The most revolutionary
feature of the Gipsy was the use of Flexitor rubber trailing arm
independent suspension units. These were produced by a subsidiary
of the Avon Group. The system comprised of a precompressed rubber
cylinder bonded to a tubular steel housing to which linked an axial
shaft and trailing arm to the wheel.
A four speed gearbox with synchromesh
on 2nd, 3rd and 4th was fitted and a power take off facility
drove the front mounted Godiva Fire Pump.
The
vehicle was gifted to the Strathclyde Fire Brigade Preservation
Group in January 1999 and moved
to F5 Milngavie. It is hoped that the Gipsy will make an appearance
at the Pumpathon.
