Heroes of World War II... the Austin K2 Fire Engine

HERO OF THE BLITZ: Austin K2 (1940)

The Austin K2 was a valuable wartime machine and undoubtedly saved many civilian lives during the Blitz of the second world war.

Strong, durable and easily mass produced, the heavy vehicle was deployed by the fire service in 1940 to combat the destruction caused by German bombers. An estimated 2 million British homes were destroyed, with 90,000 civilian casualties and 60,000 deaths. These numbers would have certainly been a lot higher however, were it not for this solid and sturdy British machine.

Timewarp... The K2 was renowned for having a tricky gearbox that took time to master. One person who succeeded at this was Princess Elizabeth, who drove a K2 during World War II.

What Makes it Great... The K2's chassis was thick and strong, with its shrapnel-proof roof keeping the driver and passengers safe during German bomb runs.

© Engine Porn 2015

Like us on Facebook   / 220891107929481  
Follow us on Twitter   / engineporntv