See Homepage.

This page: How smart does this 1950s delivery driver look stood alongside his gleaming LD van?

Lindt chocolates delivery van with driver.

Another one from Les' epic collection of images, this time showing an LD signwritten in the colours of Lindt, the chocolate manufacturers, or, as they say on the side of the van, suppliers of "The Chocolate of the Connoisseur".

Back to Car & Van Photographs - Page 3.

Morris LD

The LD range was a walk-through design, where the driver could jump in and out of either side quite easily, thanks to the sliding doors fitted to these particular Morris vans. They came badged as either Austin or Morris. The van shown here is obviously very well cared for, note the badge bar, auxiliary lamps, and radiator blind for the winter months. The coachwork doesn't look like a standard production body, so was probably built by an outside coachbuilding firm to Lindt's specifications. A close peek at the photograph also shows a BMC Drivers Club badge affixed to the front panel, near the offside indicator lamp. Even the wheels are nicely detailed, and the tyres polished til they gleam. The signwriting, applied to the gold and red coachwork, has been done very nicely without being overly flashy.

The driver looks mighty smart too, I wonder if modern-day chocolate delivery drivers look like this now? A smart cap and uniform, trousers with perfect creases, and stood upright to attention, ready for a day's van driving!

LD Brochure

From my own collection is the brochure shown below, which covers the Austin-badged LDs (1 & 1.5 ton rated), with some dimensions given for the standard van version.

Austin LD

The engine size quoted for these vans was 2199cc, which produced 46bhp at 3,250rpm, and a maximum torque figure of 97lb ft at just 1,800rpm. An alternative to the petrol engine was the LD Diesel, powered by a 2.2 litre BMC diesel engine.

The LD body was "fully forward control with metal and timber construction of body and cab. Toughened glass is fitted to all windows and the divided windscreen. Sliding cab doors are provided to ensure ease of entry and exit; they are fitted with sliding windows. Adjustable driving seat. Wide opening rear doors which can be held open at 90 degrees or folded back flat against the body sides. Ventilation panels above the windscreen can be controlled by the driver. The rear wheel arches in the body have flat tops. Interior protection laths are provided for the body sides."

More photographs of LDs feature elsewhere in the old motoring photographs pages here at oldclassiccar.

Custom Search

Old Classic Car (C) R. Jones 2023. Content not to be reproduced elsewhere.

Website by ableweb.