AUSTIN K SERIES
PAGE TWO
On this page I am showing the different civilian types of K series vehicles. However, I need a photo of the first K type produced in the late 1930's (K1?) and one of a K7. I have been informed that the K7 is very similar to the K9 and people have been known to mistake them, this information came from a former driver of a K7 which was operated in Saigon by the British Medical Team in the late 60's.
This photo was taken at Abbey Lane Pumping Station, Leicester and shows my K4 along with the two K2's Belonging to the museum.
These
photo's are of the Series 1 K2. On the left is a K2 towing
vehicle built in 1941 as a WW2 fire tender and has been owned by
messrs Beard and Corah since 1970. John Corah and Brian Beard are
members of the Historic Transport Club committee and it was on
their annual Devon Coastal Run that this photo was taken at Bovey
Tracey. The next vehicle is a 1949 K2 Parcels van owned by Ron
Miller and has been restored in the livery of Carter Paterson and
Pickfords. The difference between the earlier and later model can
clearly be seen, also owned by Ron is this LMS liveried K2
pictured at Aylesbury 2006.
The photo below is of a series 2 K2 and was taken at the 2005 Heartlink Rally and is owned by Melton Mowbray haulage contractor Brian Gibbons.
This photo was
taken at the Lincoln Show and shows a K4 fire engine version
fitted with a Merryweather 60' turntable ladder built in 1943.
The earlier type of front can clearly be seen.This vehicle is at
the present being restored again and new photo's have been
promised on completion.
an unusual
grey version is shown here and it was photographed at the Austin
centenary event in 2005. (It was originally built in 1944.)
Shown
here are three versions of the K4 5ton series 1 model. On the
left is a dropside version fitted with an extra petrol tank and
larger mirrors, middle is a petrol tanker version built in 1949,
whilst on the right is another petrol tanker version built in
1950. All three are fitted with the 4.0ltr engine.
This next shot was sent to me from Australia and shows a K4 carrying a very unusual K2 fitted with a mobile crane.
This is a 1950 CXB coach
which is based on the series 1, K4 chassis. I am indebted to
Peter Rigarlsford for allowing me to use this photo of the coach
and have added a link to his excellent web site which tells the
story of the coach on my links page. Peter has informed me that
he has now sold the coach to a Belgian Company but is still
keeping the web site with the history information.
This coach
was pictured at St. Mary's, Isle of Scilly and is employed on
tours around the area. I am told it was built in 1948. My thanks
to John for this photo.
This is a K8
version which is known as the threeway van. There is a link to
the Threeway Club on my links page. Thanks to the club for
allowing me to use this photo.
This
recovery version of the K8 is owned by the Bashlett Bros from
Guernsey and was driven over by them for the Austin Centenary
Event in 2005.
Pictured at the
halfway stop on the Bournemouth to Bath run in 2001 is a 1952
coach version of the K8. The chassis was stretched to allow the
Plaxton Venturer body to be 'shrunk' on to it creating a luxury
mini coach!
This is a 1950 K2
series 2 2ton dropside truck and is to be found in Australia.
Many thanks to all of you in Australia for sending me photo's of
different Austins which you keep finding.
This picture is of a
1955 K4 series 2, 5 ton chassis fitted with a G. C. Smith
horsebox body. The present owner has restored it in this way as
it was the very first type of lorry he drove in revenue earning
service. It is also nice to see the Smith body restored so nicely
as G. C. Smith no longer exist, having ceased trading a few years
ago (the factory site is now a luxury housing estate).