This was another masterpiece from Alec IssigonisA car that was ahead of its time, although people didn't know that when the car came on the market.
A modern concept
A compact car with 4 doors in a 2-box design. The shape resembled a modern combi-coupé, but without a rear door it was technically a saloon. The concept of one wheel in each corner, transverse engine and front-wheel drive had previously been introduced in the Austin Mini – and the Austin 1100/1300 was technically an extension of the Mini with the same concept. The new model received the Hydralastic suspension system – comfortable and space-saving. The engines were inherited from the Mini – the BMC A-series 1100 and 1275 cc (1300).
Model history
The model was produced from autumn 1962 to 1974. You could get the model either with 2 doors or 4 doors. Later it came in a station wagon version, called Countryman. At the end of the 60s, you could also get the Austin 1300 GT with double carburetors and GT decor, recognizable among other things with a black grill.
BMC ADO 16
BMC and later British Leyland were "experts" in "rebadging" where practically the same model was sold under different brands. Teen 16 was a common term for all the cars mentioned here. ADO 16 was launched as: Austin, Morris, MG, Riley, Wolseley and Vanden Plas Princess. It was not only the front of the cars that was changed. BMC's premium brands got luxury interiors with leather and walnut.
To provide a fuller picture of Alec Issigonis' masterpiece, we have also included images of parallel models.
MG 1100/1300
Vanden Plas Princess 1100/1300
Austin Countryman/Morris Traveller
About the pictures
Sedan
The main image of the two cars (Austin 1300 and 1300 GT), as well as the red Van den Plas 1100 participated in the Enfield Pageant of Motoring 2025. The two-tone Austin belongs to a private collection and was photographed in Nes, Romerike. The red car in profile is photographed at a car show in Felixstowe, England, 2017 (Photo: Umdash9). The white MG is photographed at a car show in Perpignan, France, 2023. The image of the black Van den Plas 1300 was taken at another car show at the same location in 2022.
Countryman/Traveler
The car in the main photo participated in the Enfield Pageant of Motoring 2025. It is a Morris 1100 Traveller.
Click on an image to view in a larger format.
Copyright notice
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