The Austin K2/Y was generally regarded as having a widely spaced four-speed gearbox that needed to be "understood", but once mastered provided good service.

The Austin chassis was one of three main designs fitted with variations of the Mann Egerton built bodies, the others being Morris Commercial CS11/30F and Bedford ML 54.

[citation needed] One veteran of the North African Campaign stated he once managed to carry 27 wounded, with passengers seated on the wings, bonnet, rear steps, and in extra stretchers suspended by rifles across the rear walkway; he was mentioned in dispatches for this feat.

The late version had two square fixed vents on the roof and a spare-wheel cover with a much smaller and rounder hump.

A K2/Y had a central role in the 1958 film Ice Cold in Alex (a WW II drama) featuring John Mills,[5] Sylvia Syms, Anthony Quayle and Harry Andrews.

[citation needed] Three Austin K2/Y ambulances participated in the VE-VJ days 50th anniversary parade down the Mall in London on 19 August 1995.