Thursday, Dec 21, 2006 at 22:15
For those of us old enough to remember the Austin Champ (Mil Spec), they were able to do that and more straight off the showroom floor.
Unfortunately they were so bloody complicated to work on that they spent more time in the workshop than on the road.
It wasn't that they were any more unreliable than other vehicles, it was that every item on the motor was totally sealed in housings etc, even the plug leads ran through waterproof braided hoses screwed into the distributor cap and also screwed into the plug holes in the head. Special spark plugs were needed, similar to aircraft plugs and about twice as dear.
Motor was by Rolls Royce, 5 speed gear box with an extra low 1st, no reverse gear as such but fitted with a forward/reverse shifter (Rumour has it that that was included following a request from the Italian Army)
Was even better than a Hilux at lying on it's back with all 4 feet in the air if not handled properly.
Over all,
miles ahead of anything else available at the time and as a confirmed LR freak it hurts to have to say that.
Cheers and Seasons Greetings to all
Disco.
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