The Matryoshka trucks of the British Motor Corporation

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You have probably seen pictures of ridiculously overloaded trucks and lorries driving perilously around Asia, but even over there we’re yet to see anything in the vein of this great 1960s publicity shot, which could have been inspired by Chinese boxes or even Matryoshka dolls. These are all Austins and although the bottom one (an FFK series lorry, we believe) appears to wear a British registration plate, this great picture is believed to have been made by the British Motor Company’s Australian subsidiary. With the Aussies having a real affection for what they call utes, it would certainly make sense.

The long lorry at the bottom carries a shorter flatbed version, which in turn carries an FG or S200-series ‘short cab’. The latter was - and still is - a lovely piece of design. Uniquely, we believe, the vehicle’s cabin doors were mounted across the angled rear corners of the cab. They were rear-hinged and very narrow, but when opened they barely protruded beyond the width of the cab itself. Also, the curved windows at the front corners of the cab, below the windscreen, were unusual, too, and were there to help drivers to park in narrow spaces where the small doors meant they could actually get out, too.

Commercial Austin number four is, of course, a Mini 850 pick-up, while even that carries another Austin on its bed: a J40 pedal car. The J40 by itself comes with an intriguing history, as it was produced in Wales by former coal miners who suffered from pneumoconiosis and could no longer work in the mines. The story behind it would make for a fascinating book, and one all about the J40 has just been published by Porter Press.

Words: Jeroen Booij; picture: British Motor Corporation

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