21 replies to this topic

[skoughi]

Have a search for "Austin Ant", shows what they did with an A series engine/ gearbox to make a 4wd jeep. I've tried but canna suss how to post a link with this bloody chromebook I'm using!!

[tiger99]

Never heard of the Ant until now. Wikipoedia has this to say:

 

The Ant was cancelled in 1968 before full-scale production began, during the period when BMC became part of the British Leyland (BL) conglomerate; the merger caused several overlaps in model ranges, and the Ant was regarded as too close a competitor for the Land Rover range.

 

Close competitor to the Land Rover indeed! That may have been the official reason but I don't think so, just penny-pinching and lack of imagination by the likes of Lord Stokes and his beancounters. The Ant would not have had any competitors in those days, pre the early Suzuki jeeps and such like that turned obver easily.

 

But perhaps just as well, the Ant would surely have been a bit underpowered?

[skoughi]

My late father had one, as a young chap being a passenger in it going over heathery hills and through peat bogs on the way to our croft I had to listen to my dad banging on about how it could go places a land rover could never go! Was quite a good wee thing what I could remember!

[sledgehammer]

if you want to go mad with a different engine - project binky

 

 

they are awesome

[skoughi]

Damn you! Gonna have to watch them all noo!!

[JetBlackEreg]

I have a friend that has a Subaru engined mine and runs full 4wd. If anyone is interested I'm sure I can get more details on it.  

[gazza82]

Damn you! Gonna have to watch them all noo!!

they are addictive ... Find myself going back to look at bits again ...