1950 Austin K4 Petrol Tanker
Registration no. KXY 774
Chassis no. K4VA11714
Engine no. M0197541K1675
•Originally owned and operated by National Benzole
•Professionally restored between 1992 and 2002
•Featured in Classic and Vintage Commercialsmagazine
•Only circa 3,257 miles since restoration
Footnotes:
The current vendor purchased this delightful Austin K4 petrol tanker from a scrap yard on the Sheerness dockside in 1991, thereby saving it from the crusher. No registration documents were present at that time, but an old delivery book was found in the cab, which revealed that the Austin's last drop had been made in May 1966. W H Brockman's name was on the book, and they turned out to be a private oil distributor that was still in business. Mr Brockman senior was happy to pass on the Austin's original logbook, which revealed that National Benzole had been the first owner and had sold the vehicle to Brockman's in 1957.

Restoration commenced at the vendor's part-owned garage business in Waddesdon. The Austin had been painted in Brockman's green and red livery, beneath which the old National Benzole colour scheme was discovered. Mid-restoration, work ceased for around three years while the Waddesdon partnership was dissolved, recommencing in 1999. Spares for the Austin K Series being scarce, many parts had to be made including the cab steps; various sections of cab panelling; rear cab guttering; rear lamp brackets; chassis extension; front cross member; tank fairing; panel work; and the petrol tank to name but a few. Specialists were employed to supply and fit the wiring loom and rear wings, and to do the sign writing. A donor chassis cab came in very useful as a pattern and source of spares.

A Gold Seal replacement fitted not long before the vehicle was taken off the road, the engine was stripped and the block found only to require cleaning and honing of the cylinders. The cylinder head was sent away for re-conditioning, and the gearbox rebuilt with new bearings. All other mechanical components were overhauled except the differential, which seemed to be in excellent condition and was left untouched. The only notified deviation from factory specification is the provision of a Kenlowe electric cooling fan.

An advertisement in the HCVS' magazine in 2001 turned up the last missing pieces of the jigsaw: the bronze components for the petrol outlets and top fittings. After ten years sterling effort, the restoration was completed in 2002 and in September 2003 the Austin featured in Classic and Vintage Commercials magazine in an illustrated article by Nick Larkin (copy on file). Only circa 3,257 miles have been covered since restoration and the result still looks stunning.