Interesting Champ Story from John Mastrangelo
In early 70's near Walsall the motorway was being built. The company
[Shellabear-Price] building this section was using at least 8 Champs. After
completion the vehicles were abandoned and left to rot. A rumour was that
2 are buried under one of the bridges. The remaining 6 were purchased as
scrap by Nick Mellor and family [WN1-10379] and broken up. No data collected
on chassis/engines etc...which is a pity because one vehicle was fitted
with a B 40 No 1 Mk 4 engine ! The Mk 4 was a cast aluminium crankcase,
wet sump and aluminium cylinder head unit. The engine was black and very
light ! Two men could lift it. Was this vehicle one of the special Ministry
of Supply test vehicles ordered during the 50's ? Many WN1 Champs were ordered
under seperate contracts and given civilian registrations [PLF 861, FUV,
RGX etc ....] Was it one of these ? Nothing of this vehicle was kept but
Nick Mellor is trying to trace the fate of this engine after he disposed
of it.
Description of Condition Numbers:
1 Restored,
Running in original condition 2 Under restoration or to be restored 3 Salvable 4
Fit for spares 5
Broken up 6 Modified 7 No
trace since sold.
The Austin Champ
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