washerboy Posted September 23, 2017 Report Share Posted September 23, 2017 My stepdad had two, one in bits and one that he had running but sadly not often. I found this short clip , where they any good ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 They look very much like a clone of a Land Rover I remember the old Austin Champ that the army has a few of them ugly things I cannot comment about how they drive or if they was any good or not just to say I like the look of the Gypsy but hate the look of the Champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wisdom Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Only one I have ever seen on the road belonged to an old chap round the corner. It was his pride and joy and had a rolls Royce engine.maybe that was a modification as it was an ex ambulance. Sadly both are long gone now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnfromUK Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 The Gypsy was based (very loosely) on the Champ - but shed many of the military Champ's (admittedly expensive) best features, notably the Rolls Royce B40 engine and torsion bar suspension. The military Champ was not a success as despite being a complex specialist design, it was enormously expensive, and very thirsty. (A few civilian Champs were also made with an Austin engine). The Gypsy had a more sophisticated suspension than the leaf sprung LandRover based (as many Austin models including the Mini were) on rubber springing, but the soft suspension and relatively good ride led to damage by being driven too fast over rough ground. (It was difficult to drive a leaf sprung LandRover too fast as the ride was so hard). The Gypsy was all steel and consequently didn't have the corrosion resistance of the LandRover - which is probably the main reason few are now seen. The Austin engine was underpowered for the heavy vehicle - the diesel variant even more so. Compared to a LandRover it was heavier, thirstier, (even) slower and corroded much more, but it did have a better ride. Later models had leaf springs and lost the good ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washerboy Posted September 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Thanks I was 15 the last time I rode in one😀.... I'm 47 next month 😂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gustaff Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 the old gypsy will probably out live the disco pictured Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
39TDS Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 (edited) My stepdad had two, one in bits and one that he had running but sadly not often. I found this short clip , where they any good ? In bits and not running very often sums them up fairly well from what i remember. Edited September 24, 2017 by 39TDS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
four-wheel-drive Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 (edited) the old gypsy will probably out live the disco pictured Land rovers only last a long time because everything including the chassis can be bought new to replace the old stuff so it is not really fair to compare them with other cars/trucks as apart from US old Jeeps they are the only ones that everything can be changed for new parts. Edited September 25, 2017 by four-wheel-drive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrowningDJC Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 My dad used to have a pristine desert coloured champ when I was young. Wish it was still in the shed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarepeg Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Swapped my Bren gun carrier for a champ in 53 when we shifted from Austria to Germany, what a revelation 5forward and5 in reverse. Cold draughty and always in dock, mainly oil seals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lancer425 Posted September 26, 2017 Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 Champs had built in floats for wading didn’t they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snarepeg Posted October 2, 2017 Report Share Posted October 2, 2017 Champs had built in floats for wading didn’t they? Not to my knowledge, the engine was big. B40?? Green it was rolls Royce built and black Austin under licence(or was it the other way round) nice in summer with top back and side curtains stowed but winter BRrrrrrr. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 my mate had one in the field on his dads farm. under the hedge been there for 30 years.still there now, they never caught on.not as good as the land rover in its time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Champ was just too heavy, bogged down easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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