A search for an early Land-Rover took an unexpected twist for upstate New York-based BMC fan Michael Aikey when he came across an Austin Gipsy internet forum. He had been blissfully unaware of this rare creatureʼs existence – which wasnʼt entirely surprising, because total Gipsy production from 1958-ʼ68 was only about 21,000 vehicles, and few reached the United States.
A Gipsy appeared to be a better fit for his interest in BMC vehicles, so Michael posted an inquiry on the forum seeking a vehicle for sale. Eventually he received a message from a man in northern Ontario, Canada, with a car for sale. It was said to be a 1960 model, last registered for the road in 1987 and with the odometer reading 19,985 (possibly original) miles. The Gipsy had been driven by the current owner to a friendʼs house a number of years earlier and parked in a field, and it had since ceased to run. A previous owner had used it “mainly for fishing and moose-hunting”, and the photographs showed a decidedly crunchy body, but it was mostly complete and, importantly, had a factory hardtop, so a deal was done sight unseen.
It was only when the previous owner sent Michael photographs of the Gipsy being loaded on to a truck for its journey south that Michael realised it was a rare long-wheelbase model. Further research revealed that the vehicle is actually a 1962 Series II LWB Gipsy, possibly the only one of its kind in North America.
After an initial assessment, which included the unexpected removal of six used snakeskins, Michaelʼs current plan is to get the Gipsy mechanically sorted and use it for a while before deciding on what degree of restoration it will receive. The new owner has already got used to fielding the inevitable question: “What model of Land-Rover is that?”
Below: Gipsy revealed as a rare LWB model
REVIVAL AT LAST FOR 12/4
After WW2, Vauxhall was quickly back to private-car production but hampered by restrictions on steel availability, which was allocated based on a proportion of export sales. There was high Purchase Tax on cars sold in Britain, and strict petrol rationing. New-car buyers also had to pledge not to sell for 12 months.
HXF 444 was a Vauxhall 12/4 sold in London in September 1946, an
