Morris FG

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Morris / Austin / BMC / Leyland
Austin S200
Austin S200
Morris FG
Austin FG (S200 / 404)
BMC FG
Leyland FG
Manufacturer: British Leyland Motor Corporation
Sales designation: FG
Production period: 1959-1980
Previous model: Morris FE
Morris LC
Austin FE
Austin 301
Successor: Leyland Sherpa
Technical specifications
Engines: Petrol engine: 3.9 liters
Diesel engines: 5.1 liters
5.7 liters
Payload: 1.5-5 t

The Morris FG / Austin S200 and 404 (FG exports) was a light truck in front handlebar design by the British Motor Corporation in 1959 as a successor to the lighter versions of the Morris FE / (Austin FE) and Morris LC presented / (Austin 301) . The vehicles had an innovative, newly designed driver's cab. After all commercial vehicles in the group were only marketed as BMC in 1968 , the model was now called BMC FG . The merger of BMC and Leyland Motors to form the British Leyland Motor Corporation in 1970 saw another name change to Leyland FG . As such, it was produced until 1980 and replaced by new body variants of the Leyland Sherpa .

Morris FG / Austin FG (S200 and 404 in export) 1959–1968, BMC FG 1968–1970, Leyland FG 1970–1980

In 1958 the redesigned Morris FF / (Austin S301 / 401/501) started as a replacement for the heavier versions of the Morris FE / (Austin 301). 1959 presented BMC then the Morris FG / Austin S200 and 404 as the successor to the lighter versions and as a successor model for the even originally on a construction before the Second World War based Langhauber trucks Morris LC / Austin 301. During the FF, the chassis of the FE retained and only received a new body, the FG was completely redesigned. Only the concept of the separate front vent window in the front area was similar to the FE. The only difference between the Morris and Austin variants was the different radiator grilles and brand emblems, as well as the designation on the home market. In export, the Austin was often marketed as the Austin FG.

When the FG was introduced, the design of the driver's cab represented a quantum leap in commercial vehicle construction. The doors were mounted over the angled rear corners of the cab and hung at the rear as narrow suicide doors . As a result, they barely protruded beyond the width of the cabin when opened and thus provided the advantage of being similar to a sliding door. BMC marketed this under the term practical angle, popularly one spoke of the “three-groschen bit”, based on the pre-decimal, a twelve-sided British coin. This door also made it easier to get in, as it was no longer necessary to climb above the height of the front wheel to reach the door , as is usual with many forward control vehicles. According to studies, only a third of the amount of effort required for the driver to get in and out of the cab was required, which was seen as a great advantage, especially in delivery services. Last but not least, maneuvering was made considerably easier by the sloping rear door window.

Another innovation on the FG's cab were the curved “Street View” windows mounted on the front corners below the windshield. These helped the driver with parking, and the blind spot was also enormously reduced. For example, even smaller children could be noticed by the driver when driving in pedestrian zones. The concept was rounded off by the shift lever and handbrake mounted on the right-hand side of the driver's seat (in the right-hand drive version), which basically gave free passage in the cab.

However, the angular design also had some conceptual disadvantages. The space itself in the cabin was very narrow and therefore the seats were quite narrow. More Kurpolent drivers had additional trouble getting in and out of the car through the narrow doors. In addition, the waste heat from the front engine, together with the narrow cabin, quickly created stuffy air in summer. This is probably one of the reasons why the front windows could be opened like on the predecessor, although this type of construction actually went out of fashion at the time.

BMC finally refined the angle concept with the BMC 350 EA , which had sliding doors as standard. The "Street-View" windows experienced a partial return on the Leyland Roadrunner, who had a small window on the passenger side in the front area below the windshield, giving the driver a view of the edge of the road.

From 1960 the series was marketed with payloads from 1½ to 5 tons. In addition to the flatbed truck , vehicles with box bodies were also offered ex works. In addition, in cooperation with body manufacturers, there were also standard models in box van form for delivery services of all kinds. The FG was often seen as a Sunblest baker's delivery vehicle or as a laundry delivery vehicle. These models had a sliding door instead of a partition at the end of the cabin. British Gas was a major buyer of the FG models.

To alleviate the conceptual disadvantages of the FG, BMC submitted in 1961 for FM.

Morris FM / Austin FG K100 1961-1968, BMC FM 1968-1970, Leyland FM 1970-1980

The Morris FM was essentially a modified version of the FG cab with a larger front to allow the engine to be attached further forward. This created more space in the driver's cab for larger and more comfortable seats. Another possibility was to lock the (now larger) driver's seat centrally in the driver's cab by means of a rail next to a foldable passenger seat, or a three-seater bench. However, the FM retained the two most striking features of the FG, the viewing windows on the edge of the road and the specially arranged doors. The FM was delivered almost exclusively to the Post Office Telephone, now British Telecom, and the Royal Post.

  • BMC FG

  • Leyland FG

  • Leyland FG

  • Leyland FG

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ English trucks . In: Motor Vehicle Technology 05/1961, pp. 201-202.

Web links

Commons : Austin FG  - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files