Austin Pilot Cab

Following the 1968 merger, the FJ cab was given a mild makeover to form the basis of Leyland’s Laird and Terrier light trucks (and was also used on the heavier models in the “Redline” range, such as the Boxer and Clydesdale, and even the 16-ton Mastiff).

The most obvious difference between the FJ cab and the Pilot was that the former’s stylish twin headlights were dropped in favour of single units, mounted in pods at the outer extremities of the cab.

While this may have offered a broader field of vision for night driving, it also made the headlights rather more vulnerable to damage. As with its ex-BMC stablemates, the Pilot cab gained Leyland badging in 1970, and remained in production for the following five years, before being transformed into the more modern-looking G-series cab. Some of trucks received Austin brand, probably because of customers’ requests.

Predecessor: Austin FJ