Fire Engines Photos

Your great photo of this Austin Gypsy, showing the front-mount pump, is at picture 5404.

"Iso-Speed" trailer - does that mean "Same Speed" Trailer, or "International Standards Organization" ?

Great restoration job, even down to the cover for the Climax Pump.

Regards, from Canada,
Pat_R-B

Added by Pat Rivers-Bowerman on 17 November 2008.

The Gipsy catalogue when it was being sold in the 1960s was part of what was then my extensive collection of fire service vehicle literature from numerous manufacturers in various countries. The rear was open, so the canvas (?) sheet with the Perspex window was presumably a brigade addition to keep the two rear seat riders dry. Although - as we have learned - this unit needed to tow the PP on its trailer, this did not make it any easier for crew members to get in or out of their seats in the back. The standard 40 IG tank could be extended between the front seats to increase its capacity to 70 IG, but even this was still pretty limited, so getting the pump(s) to work quickly was more of a priority than on full size water tenders.

The LWB version, as shown here, had more interior storage than the SWB one, and this may have had either additional seating or space for extra items such as BA...

Added by Rob Johnson on 12 September 2022.

The rear canvas door was an addition later in life, to keep warm! There are 4 seats in the rear, so it was a crew of 6 in service.

Added by Alan Dunderdale on 17 December 2023.

Yes, this is the long wheelbase version, which was a later addition. The standard Gypsy had only two rear seats, while the LWB model had either two or four.

Added by Rob Johnson on 18 December 2023.

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