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2. The chassis frame, which has it's main members constructed of box section welded steel pressings, is of cruciform shape. The whole structure is strengthened by cross bracing and by welding to the floor, engine bulkhead, front wheel arches and seat pans.

3. The pressed steel body, which has rear wing arches and seat pan welded to it, is bolted to the chassis frame and engine bulkhead. Detachable plates are provided in the rear position for inspection and maintenance purposes. The sides of the body are cut low to facilitate entry and exit. A folding hood and windscreen are fitted, the latter being hinged to the body so that it may be folded flat onto the engine cover or completely removed. In addition, the windscreen is hinged in it's frame so that it can be opened up if required. A mounting for a machine gun is provided on the body forward of the front passenger seat. Early production vehicles were fitted with side screens.

4. Two seats are provided in the front position. These are hinged to tip forward for access to the compartments beneath. The batteries are housed in the compartment under the front passenger's seat and in the FFW role, the wireless batteries are housed under the driver's seat.

5. One seat is provided in the rear position to accommodate two passengers, the backrest being in three separate hinged sections. The seat can be folded forward to form a platform for load carrying.

6. The engine cover is made in one piece, covering the whole of the engine compartment. The cover is fluted to give additional stiffness fro carrying the spare wheel and emergency cargo when necessary. The wheel is normally carried outside the body at the rear of the vehicle.

7. A full width front bumper and two small rear bumpers are fitted. A steel wire grille affords added protection for the radiator.

8. The fuel tank is located at the rear of the vehicle.

9. Power is supplied by a 4 cylinder water-cooled B40 engine which is of unit construction with the clutch and gearbox. The ignition system is fully screened to prevent radio interference. The screening also forms a waterproof casing for protection when the vehicle is forded.

10. A gilled tube radiator is provided together with a 10 blade fan for cooling purposes. The fan is driven through a friction clutch to prevent damage when the vehicle enters water. The cooling system is pressurized to 10 lb/sq in.

11. The power is transmitted through a single dry plate clutch to the gearbox which provides five forward speeds. All five speeds have constant mesh gears incorporating synchromesh operation.

12. The drive from the gearbox is transmitted through a universal jointed open propeller shaft to a transfer box which forms part of the rear axle.

13. The rear axle, which is resiliently mounted, employs a hypoid spiral bevel crown wheel and pinion and bevel type differential. The axle shafts are totally enclosed and provided with constant velocity tracta joint at the inner and outer ends. The tracta joints are housed in spherical housings formed in the hubs and axle casings.

14. The front axle is similar to the rear and in addition incorporates a sliding dog-clutch for engaging the drive. The drive from the rear to the front axle is taken through a universal jointed open propeller shaft.

15. Independent suspension is used for each of the four road wheels. Each suspension unit comprises an upper and lower wishbone arm, the ends of which are attached to the outer spherical housings by screwed type bushes and pins and to the axle cradle by plain pins and bushes. The bushes at the axle cradle are of the self lubricating Oilite type. Screwed type bushes are provided for the steering king pins on the front spherical housings. The lower arm of each unit is attached to one end of a torsion bar which runs longitudinally beneath the chassis frame. The opposite ends of the torsion bars are adjustable and attached to quick release brackets fixed on the centre of the frame cruciform, thus enabling each unit to be adjusted separately for correcting the trim of the vehicle when necessary.

16. Bump movement is limited by the action of a seating in the upper arm contacting a conical rubber buffer set in a steel cup attached to the chassis frame. The action of the buffer expanding in the cup progressively restricts the freedom of the buffer to distort and produces the effect of a secondary spring.

17. Double acting hydraulic shock absorbers are also fitted, one to each unit, to control bump and rebound.

18. Hydraulic brakes are fitted. The front brakes are of the two leading shoe type whilst the rear have floating cylinders with fixed abutments. The footbrake operates on all four wheels, and the handbrake mechanically on the rear wheels only.

19. Divided-disc road wheels with cross-country tyres are fitted.

20. Steering is controlled through a helical rack and pinion type steering box. All other controls are of orthodox pattern.

21. The electrical system is wired on the 24 volt negative earth system. In cargo role vehicles, two 12 volt batteries connected in series are housed beneath the front passenger's seat; these are charged by a 12A generator. Vehicles equipped for the FFW role are provided with an additional pair of batteries for the wireless station. These batteries are located beneath the driver's seat. To cater for the additional batteries the 12A generator and it's generator panel are replaced by a 25A, 2 speed generator and an associated generator panel.

Note: This description was taken directly from the Army Code No. 11780 User Handbook for the Truck, 1/4 ton GS Cargo, 4X4, Austin , Mk 1 and Truck, 1/4 ton GS, FFW, 4X4, Austin, Mk 1, issued Oct 1958.