Austin K8
(25cwt 3
way Van)
It was on the 25th June
1946 to mark the production of the millionth motor car, That during
the celebrations the invited guests were permitted to examine the
prototype of a new 25cwt van that was nearing
completion.
K8
Mock-up
Note different grill to
production version
probable done to aid engine cooling
Work on the K8 as it was
called in its prototype form, started in early 1946. But it soon
became known as the 'Three-Way' van owing to its arrangement of
double doors on both the nearside and offside, as well as at the
rear, providing excellent access to the loading bay, it was on
occasions incorrectly referred to as the 'Freeway'. It was a very
forward looking design with its curved front and high driving
position, making the visibility excellent compared to the
competition.
Production commenced early
in 1947 at a cost of £535. Various changes had been made from the
prototypes, which included the radiator grille, front bumper,
access steps along with the wheels. It had a very small wheelbase
considering that it had a pay load of 25 cwt, and this made it very
nimble. It was powered by the Austin 2,199cc engine OHV petrol
engine which had recently been installed in the Austin 16 car.The
forward control cab gave good visibility a partition with window
separates the cab from the steel body, with composite doors and
toughened glass. Although the final assemble of the van was done at
Longbridge. The contract for the bodies was give to Carbodies who
had their factory in Holyhead Road Coventry. The body had a timber
frame with steel sheets attached, even the doors had a wooden
frame. The large front windows gave a good view of the road, the
drivers side could be opened. Both the front doors had wind-down
widows.
You could order a ambulance conversion on the K8 which was factory
built and called the Welfarer K8/AA. This had the track increased
by 1'' and was fitted with low pressure tyres (9.00 x 16). The
suspension was also altered to give a softer ride, by different
road springs and shock absorber settings.
Access to the rear accommodation could be through the L/H side
door, or at the back via normal van doors by using steps that when
folded away formed part of the floor. The floor area was covered in
Magnesite, which was a composition of Magnesium oxide with a wood
flour filler.
A roof mounted air intake directed air through a filter and then
onto a Clayton air conditioning system that had a radiator feed
from the engine cooling system. By means of a interior thermostat
the temperature in the back could be set.
You could order various combinations of seats and stretchers to
suit your requirements. The cost of the ambulance without the
stretchers/seating was £805.
There are only two known
Welfarer Ambulaces in the UK
This one featured in the film Quartermass Experiment
Jensen Motors Ltd brought
out a pick-up version based on the chassis/cab in 1949 which was
priced at £565 and sold through the Austin dealers. Later that year
the basic van price was increased to £645
This unique vehicle proved to be popular and in 27 months around
about 3,500 had been sold. Over the years there were various price
increases, but in May 1950 the Government imposed Purchase Tax at
33% on commercial vehicles, the only exception was the ambulance
and various municipal and emergency vehicles. This tax increased
the basic van to £824 and the pick-up version to £711 in primer and
£735 in standard colour.
The company decided to enter the North American market in late 1947
but sales were very slow. But in 1950 sales started to increase and
in 1951 an exhibition of all Austin commercial products was opened
in Vancouver.
So from the first vehicles been produced in 1947 to the last one
coming off the line on September 1954 a total of over 26,500 had
been made.
This view shows
how easily the engine and gearbox could be removed
K8 Engine
A. Engine Oil Filler Cap B. Inspection Cover, Brake Fluid
C. Engine Oil dipstick 1. Starter Switch 2. Choke Control
3. Gear Change Lever 4. Handbrake Lever 5. Horn &
Dip-switch
6. Radiator Filler Cap 7. Clutch Pedal 8. Footbrake Pedal
9. Accelerator Pedal
Van
Austin Welfarer
Convertible & Hospital Tender
Date when launched late
1947
Discontinued in 1954
Total produced not known
Engine
Petrol
2,199 cc 65 bhp at 3,700 rpm Max torque 115 lbs/ft at 1,900
rpm
Main measurements
Length 15ft 7ins Width 6ft 5ins Height 8ft 1.5ins
Wheelbase 7ft 9ins Track front & rear 5ft 1ins
Price ex Works In Grey Primer March 1947 Van £535 Chassis Cab £409,
Chassis £340
Standard Colours Single Colour £28 Dual Colour £35
May 1953
Van £841 Chassis Cab £678, Chassis £602 All in grey
primer
Van Full forward control with integral body and cab. Steel
construction with composite doors Toughened glass and screen.
Partition with window between cab and body
It was available as a van
or chassis cab and because of this various conversions were carried
out by coach builders.
Even Hamleys
had a fleet of K8's
Austin Welfarer's used in the
municipal police town of Saint-Gilles-lez-Bruxelles (Brussels
area).
Until mid sixties, this municipal police corps also cared for the
Fire and Emergency Service.
This is a K8 bus that was built from
a chassis cab by Boltons of Perth in 1954. It is now owned by Pete
& Sandie Stevens in Western Australia.
Austin Camper
The camper was built in 1950 by Winchester
for two Scottish sisters. They planned to travel through the
continent, but when in London one of them fell ill and died in
hospital. The remaining sister did not want to continue traveling
in the camper. So it was put up for sale in London, and was bought
by my great grandfather who in 1952 lived in Chertsey.
It stayed in the family, and in 1976 was moved to the Netherlands.
The camper is entirely original having had no restoration work
carried out, and has never let us down.
Ernst Jan Krudop. Netherlands
___________________________
Memories of a K8 van
I travelled many miles in one as a baker's
'lad' in the late 50's and early 60's. I grew very fond of the
vehicle in spite of being heater-less and subject to the toxic
fumes inhaled from the engine casing that kept us company in the
cab. Apart from those obvious defects, it had wind-up windows and a
stylish but cheerful looking 'face'.
The local baker who had a sizeable fleet of K8's was G.W.Green of
Alder Road Bakery in Parkstone, Poole. The only difference in
construction to the standard vehicle was its roll-up shutters
replacing the side doors. These were used as cake compartments and
fitted out with shelves to house individual wooden trays.
The first K8's I recall were painted white with (I believe) the
lower half in red which made an attractive livery. This was
superceded in the mid 60's with the advent of the Mother's Pride
sliced loaf when the colours were changed to a miserably drab beige
and maroon later to change back again before the Bakery was sold by
its owners J Arthur Rank of Hovis fame.
I recall that Greens had petrol engined K8's except for one with a
diesel engine that was laboriously sluggish. In my school days, I
can also recall having a trip in a cream Welfarer ambulance bearing
the Dorset County Council crest. It was a bit sparse in the back
but did the job adequately. The lad I accompanied to hospital
however appeared to be bleeding more profusely from his head wound
at the end of his rocky ride than when he set out.
John