1961 Austin GIPSY swb

GIPSY Convertible

4 - Cyl.

Manual

6808

Diesel

I really cant believe I am actually selling my Gipsy. This is going to break my heart, as well as leaving a hole in my automotive spirit no other vehicle could ever fill. The combination of ruggedness, sheer fun , and uniqueness has given me more thumbs up than cars wworth three times as much or more. The envy of every series Land Rover owner as well, as the Gipsy rides better, pulls harder, and climbs steeper than any of its competitors. I started looking for one in 1971 when I worked for the Britsh Leyland Dealer in Pasadena. 39 years later I found this amazing Gipsy right under my nose having been in dry storage in California from 1980! Owned by a collector of interestig four wheel drive vehicles, he just never quite got around to using or restoring his virtually rust free, low mileage Austin Gipsy. I jumped at the chance and must say I found Glenn and the Austin Gipsy net folks to be the warmest and most welcoming support group ever! Without them, this could have been very challenging. As it is, the restoration was fun and very rewarding. These rare cars have an incredibly loyal following. For the low reserve, you would not be able to build one of these even just as a driver for three times what the reserve is so bid to win a super bargain, as well as a scarce rare delightful vehicle. Pull tree stumps out; bring 25 gallon mature trees home in back bed; load eight or nine people in for a run to the beach or mountains; or just go for an open air drive in a joyful car from an era when the Austin, and the British Motor Corporation were assembling some of the finest and most innovative cars, trucks, and commercial vehicles in the world. The Flexitor suspension on the Gipsy was an expensive solution to what plagued off road vehicles from all over the world. Austin solved poor ride quality and required ride height with something simple and innovative. It still works perfectlytoday. However, each of the four drive shafts and much of my vehicle had to be rebuilt or refreshed significantly before I could experience how great it is. A significant amount of money was spent with an all new clutch, every hydraulic system rebuilt or replaced, all new brakes, every universal joint and inner and outer wheel or hub bearing replaced, as well as the seals, then a new water pump, rebuilt radiator, all new glow plugs and a new spin on oil filter set up, retime the injection pump, new generator, heavy duty battery and some overhauling of the steering assembly and we were finally ready to drive this amazing vehicle. With only 35,000 miles on a deisel engine designed to give service for 250,000 miles between services (The classic London Taxi is the main user of this incredible workhorse) the engine jumped to life even before the glowplugs were changed! After a few shakedown drives a complete front hub and one new driveshaft had to be sourced, due to a loose u joint ovaling the mounting. Mechanical integrity was primary. Then to cosmetics. All five wheels were trued and then powder coated in the original gloss black. Fitted with five correct sized military style jeep tires she was ready for some light repairs to the rear fenders with genuine parts from Glenn on the Gipsy.net list, and a complete repaint in the original green. The windshield had its glass removed and virtualy all the trim came off the car. The repaint came out to a beautiful standard and looks fantastic. Then my glass shop made me two new windshields from highest quality safety glass of modern standards, and replaced all the windshield rubber and the screen to body rubber. An amazing Scottish engineer who is a Lucas electrical expert rebuilt both the windscreen wiper motors (and really enjoyed doing it). We are, for the moment, unable to locate one of the wiper arms but it wil be found for the new owner or replaced. The horn works, the heater has been rebuilt but not yet connected to the valve (southern california not needed) and all the gauges work except the oil pressure gauge which has been checked by a separate gauge at the light for the sender and engine pressure is perfect. I also have a brand new speedometer which could yield the chrome surround for the three part gauge which has some chrome loss. Next we addressed the side windows and the upholstery. The upholstery was redone completely with new foam and coverings in the exact patterns as when new. Also new door panels were made to match. The side windows had all the fuzzy seal and slider replaced and they work beautifully. There is no soft top, but all the hardware for the original type is there and I have had very reasonable estimates in the 300-400.00 range to make the simple tilt tubes and a canvas top to original specs. The vehicle comes with the original books as shown, including drivers manual, factory service manual, and factory parts book as well as a Gipsy brochure to amaze yourself and your friends. I have never seen a Gipsy on Ebay Motors in the USA before. Thisone has a reserve significantly well below what has been spent, and that reserve is under the prices the last two Gipsys I know of have sold for. Please email with any questions. This vehicle will thrill and amaze its new owner, while giving economical fuel mileage, and ruggedness simply unheard of. Thanks for looking. You will be thrilled if you are the new owner and I can help with very cost effective shipping or will deliver the vehicle for gas money within 500 miles of Los Angeles.