Supplied new to Cornwall County Fire Brigade in 1962 as a General Purpose Lorry and Foam Carrier, and based at Camborne (station A4) originally, as a dropside lorry, and later transferred to Falmouth (station A2). It is powered by a 6 cylinder, 4000 c.c. petrol engine, and has a 145" wheelbase. Later in its service, it was fitted with a tail lift. It was sold out of service sometime between October 1975 and July 1976 and stored in Surrey awaiting preservation/restoration. Brought back to Plymouth in 1992, it was given a major overhaul, the cab restored and repainted, and the butt re-timbered. Bought by the present owner in June 1995.

The Austin FG series was introduced in late 1959, with the revolutionary Series 4 'threepenny bit' cab; the rearward opening doors projecting just 2" outside the line of the rest of the cab. It has good all round visibility with the wrap-around windscreen, kerb sighting windows, good ventilation, adjustable drivers seat, and easy access - all nearly unheard of on commercial vehicles at the time. Designed primarily for rigid 4 wheelers at the lower end of the weight range, it was ideal for local delivery vans, and badged as Austin/Morris/BMC/Leyland, proved popular with the big bakery companies amongst others.

Now owned by Chris Daw, Callington, Cornwall.

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