Gill (automobile)
The Gill was an English car based on the Astra and built in George Street, Paddington, London from 1958 to 1960 by a subsidiary of the British Anzani Company. It was another product of the fuel shortages that occurred during the 1956 Suez Crisis.
| Gill Getabout | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Gill Cars Ltd |
| Production | 1958-1960 |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Microcar |
| Body style | 2-door coupé |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 322 cc Anzani two-cylinder[1] |
| Transmission | 3-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 114 inches (2895 mm)[1] |
Like the Astra it featured a rear-mounted 322 cc air-cooled engine mounted under the floor at the rear and all-round independent suspension with swing axles at the rear. Drive was by chain to the rear wheels through a three-speed motorcycle gearbox with floor-mounted change lever. The brakes were hydraulically operated.
The two seat body was made from aluminium over a wood frame mounted on a steel chassis. It shared the Astra's front bodywork [2] but from the windscreen back it was bodied as a coupé called the Getabout. A four-seat taxi version was also proposed and some saloons might have been made. At £500 (£523 for the de-luxe)[1] the car was expensive when a Ford Popular cost £444.
References
- Robson, G (1974). A-Z of British Cars 1945-1980. Devon: Herridge. ISBN 0-9541063-9-3.
- G.N. Georgano, Nick (2000). Beaulieu Encyclopedia of the Automobile. London: HMSO. ISBN 1-57958-293-1.