SVL 185 - 1961 Austin Gipsy Fire Tender

This factory fire tender with a 2.2 litre engine was owned by Ruston & Hornsby and used at its Waterside factory in the City. It was donated to the Society at the end of its working life and is currently being restored.

This vehicle is currently in the Workshop building and is not on regular public display.

December 1999 - 'On blocks' in the Workshop for brake overhaul, which also commenced after the November Open Day.

July 2000 - Work continues tidying the interior of the vehicle ready for a repaint.

January 2001 - The brakes are now receiving attention as is the bodywork, the rear section (fibreglass) being removed recently.

April 2001 - The rear of the bodywork is being cleaned and repainted.

January 2002 - The front end of the chassis has been stripped prior to cleaning and painting.

April 2002 - All four wheels have been removed and the body is about to be taken off the vehicle.

May 2002 - Work is progressing slowly. The body has now been removed and the chassis is on axle stands. The prop shafts have been cleaned and painted and the handbrake mounting cleaned and resprayed.

July 2002 - Now down to chassis only, which is being thoroughly cleaned and painted.

October 2002 - Work has been done on the rear brakes and suspension and the chassis has been cleaned and painted.

January 2003 - Ken Allen continues to work on cleaning and refurbishing the chassis.

April 2003 - Ken Allen has now started to paint the chassis and chassis components.

July 2003 - The engine has been cleaned, and the chassis is being painted.

October 2003 - Ken and Brian are painting the chassis and suspension components.

January 2004 - Ken Allen has been cleaning the underside of the body, and work is ongoing on the suspension components.

April 2004 - The engine has been repainted in the original BMC green. The bodywork is having rusted sections removed and repair sections fitted.

July 2004 - The engine has been lifted out of the chassis so that the "out of reach bits" of the chassis can be painted with ease.

October 2004 - A lot of work has been carried out to the chassis including a wheel repaint. A brake pipe has been cleaned and refitted.

January 2005- Brian Bloomfield has welded new sections of the body and it has been refitted onto the chassis.

April 2005 - The body is now receiving some paint to the bulkhead area. The rest of the body will follow in the coming weeks. Some work on the electrics is also planned.

October 2005 - The front mudguards are receiving repair with the old rusted sections cut away and new metal MIG welded in. The dash panel and front floor area is also receiving a paint.

April 2006 - Brian Bloomfield has been hard at work on repairing the front wings. This involved cutting out rusted and rotten metal, making up repair panel then MIG welding said panels in place.

July 2006 - Repair of the front wings is now almost complete which has proved to be a little tricky, but a little patience has paid off in the end.

Oct 2007 - New member Chris has painted the undersides of the mudguards ready for refitting to this vehicle.