4×4S.ORGTHE REGISTRY AUSTIN · HISTORY · MILITARY

History · Military · 1951 → 1969

Military Austins

The Champ with the British Army from 1951 — about 11,000 of the 15,000 ordered, with the FFR radio version for signals and artillery — and the Gipsy in smaller numbers from 1958, mostly for training and second-line work after the Army had already standardised on the Land Rover.

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The Champ was built to a War Office specification that wanted a vehicle better than the wartime jeep in every way, and it was: five gears in both directions, independent suspension, a Rolls-Royce engine and six feet of wading. It was also twice the price of a Land Rover and needed specialists to maintain, and the order was ended early.

The Gipsy came too late to change that. It served in small numbers, mostly in its leaf-sprung form, while the Army bought Land Rovers in thousands; the 1968 merger settled the argument for good.

2 chapters, 1948 → today

1Champ (1951–1960s)1951 – 1960s2Gipsy (1958–1968)1958 – 1968
194819601975199020052025
11951 – 1960s

Champ (1951–1960s)

2 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTER

The FV1801 with the Army, the FFR radio version, the early withdrawal.

Registry records · chapter 1

Champ (FV1801, 1951–56)1951–56Champ FFR (fitted for radio)1952–56
21958 – 1968

Gipsy (1958–1968)

2 VEHICLES IN THIS CHAPTER

Small Army purchases alongside the Land Rover.

Registry records · chapter 2

Gipsy (1958–68)1958–68Gipsy with the British Army1958–68

Sources

  1. Austin Champ — Wikipedia
  2. Austin Gipsy — Wikipedia

Military vehicles in the registry

4 records, oldest first.
Champ (FV1801, 1951–56)1951–56 · United KingdomChamp FFR (fitted for radio)1952–56 · United KingdomGipsy (1958–68)1958–68 · United KingdomGipsy with the British Army1958–68 · United Kingdom