Description
For sale, through JOHN BROWN 4X4 LTD, Austin Champ in Military Green (1966).
4CYL Rolls Royce B40 Petrol Engine. MOT Exempt. Tax Exempt. 32, 489 miles. 3 former keepers since release in 1966 ? original ?buff? logbook included showing original sale to Cobham, Surrey. Owned locally to our premises since 2004 and used frequently since, garage kept.
Here for sale we have this Austin Champ, registered in 1966 following release from the British Army. We bought this vehicle off a local chap to our premises, who knows we have a liking to these machines? he had owned it since 2004, but due to advanced age, was not able to drive it often in the past year or so. He had used it very frequently prior to this point, often doing up to and over 1000 miles a year with the roof down!
Externally, this has many of the features one would hope to see on an Austin Champ which are often missing ? the front rope, military lifting eyes, bridging plate, 750 tyres with rear mounted spare, rear holstered petrol jerry can, etc etc ? the canvas has been previously re-done as the photos show, and this is great to see. We?ve taken photos both with the top up and the top down ? disassembling (and reassembly) takes just a few seconds and the windscreen clips onto the bonnet ? meaning you can enjoy open top motoring when the weather allows and quickly erect it in a storm, should you be caught out!
On the inside, there are two front seats, with the rear bench also still fitted, meaning four can be seated including the driver?. the wooden slatted floor mats are also still in place which is great to see. All the dials still work, including the fuel gauge (which is not always a given), and the interior is very standard & of the period. Even items like the passenger grab handle, twin wiper motors & wing-nut on the steering column all survive, which is fantastic to see.
Out on the road is where these Austin Champs really shine though ? not only do they have a five speed gearbox, which can be used in both directions (so you can go as fast forward as back!) but that Rolls Royce B40 engine means a great soundtrack whilst out on the road, and ample power for any safe speed too. Sophisticated fully independent suspension means it even puts the ride of many modern cars to shame ? these were designed so they could fly across rough ground at just about top speed, so they make short work of any speed hump or pot hole. The driving experience is smooth, refined and very enjoyable.
In summary, if you are looking to hark back to the times of old, have a solid investment for the future, turn heads everywhere you go, drive anywhere without worrying about getting stuck, enjoy summer days & winter storms alike ? then this could be for you ? particularly if you aren?t sold on the 4 speed, leaf sprung Land Rovers® of the same time period!
Priced at £22, 995
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