Austin

Austin was merged with BMC in 1952, which in turn was incorporated into British Leyland in 1967. Austin has been its own car brand until 1987. Here are all the posts about Austin.

Austin A40 Sports – an attempt to create a sports car

Posted 13/12/2021 by Anders de Lange

It was the factory's director Leonard Lord who came up with a brilliant idea to get better publicity around the world. A bet.

The Austin car factory was for many years one of England's largest car manufacturers. The factory was started by Herbert Austin in 1905 as the Austin Motor Company. The first model was a large 5-litre car with 4 cylinders. Leading up to the First World War, a number of different models were produced. In 1, Austin launched the famous 1922, a small and affordable car. It hit the market very well and was also produced by BMW as the Dixi. After the Second World War, the factory quickly entered the market with new models. In 7, Austin joined forces with Morris to form BMC (British Motor Corporation). The most famous model in the 2s and 1952s was the Austin and Morris Mini. Mini-Cooper made the brand famous in car racing in the 50s. Other popular models were the Austin Cambridge and the Austin 60.

Around the world in less than 30 days

Although the Austin car brand was known in Europe, there was a desire to get better publicity worldwide. The factory believed that the brand new model A40 Sports could be used in a real PR promotion. This would generate press coverage and give the Austin car brand positive publicity around the world. It was the factory's director Leonard Lord who came up with a brilliant idea. He made a bet with his PR associate Alan Hess. If Hess could drive around the world in less than 30 days, he would win. Hess accepted the bet and began planning the trip. Already in 1951, the starting shot went off. The trip was to be a combination where the car was to drive across the different continents. Between the continents, the car and crew were to be transported by plane. Hess managed the trip in just 21 days and ensured that Austin received plenty of press coverage. But even this did not help sales. After a production of around 4000 cars, production ended in 1953.

Main goal Austin Sports

Width: 155 cm
Length: 404 cm
Height: 146 cm
Engine: 1200 ccm
Top speed: 125 km/h

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Exciting car history from Anders de Lange's archives

Austin mini

Posted 14/11/2021 by Anders de Lange

It was smaller than other cars in the same price range, had very small wheels, lacked luggage space, but the technology was completely new. With very good driving characteristics, it immediately made its debut in car racing.

Austin and Morris became BMC

Austin was for many years one of England's largest car manufacturers. The factory was started by Herbert Austin in 1905 as the Austin Motor Company. The first model was a large 5-litre car with 4 cylinders. Leading up to the First World War, a number of different models were produced. In 1, Austin launched the famous 1922, a small and affordable car. It hit the market very well and was also produced by BMW as the Dixi. After the Second World War, the factory quickly came on the market with new models. In 7, Austin joined forces with Morris to form BMC (British Motor Corporation). The most famous model in the 2s and 1952s was the Austin and Morris Mini. Mini-Cooper made the brand famous in car racing in the 50s. Other popular models were the Austin Cambridge and the Austin 60.

Austin Mini Seven

When BMC launched this model in 1959, it came as both Austin and Morris. The only difference between them was the color selection and the grill. For car buyers, the new model was a big surprise. It was smaller than other cars in the same price range and it had very small wheels. It also lacked luggage space. The technique was completely new. The car was equipped with rubber suspension and the transverse engine drove the front wheels. But it had very good driving characteristics, and immediately made its debut in car racing. When the Mini-Cooper came on the market with a larger engine in 1961, it also became a winner in major international rallies. The Mini-Cooper got a bigger engine in 1964 and it resulted in victory in the Rallye Monte Carlo. The model range was expanded to include a van, pick-up and station wagon. In 1967, the Mini MKII was launched with a number of changes and improvements.

Data Austin Mini and Cooper S

Length 303 cm
Width 139 cm
Height 135 cm

Engine 848 ccm and 36 hp. Top speed 116 km/h.
(Cooper S: 1275 ccm and 76 hp. Top speed 160 km/h).

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Austin A30

Posted 10/04/2021 by Anders de Lange

In the motoring press, this model received a lot of praise. It was described as one of the most modern family cars on the market.

Austin

Austin A30

This small car from Austin appears in 1951. A modern car with a self-supporting body. New technical solutions also saw the light of day, including a completely new engine equipped with overhead valves. Initially, it was sold as the Austin A-30 "Seven" to take advantage of its predecessor's good name and reputation. This small family car was initially produced as a 4-door passenger car, but was soon followed by a 2-door variant and station wagon. In the motoring press, this model received a lot of praise. It was described as one of the most modern family cars on the market. This was important because at this time English car manufacturers were, together with the American market leaders, worldwide.

Although it was relatively spartanly equipped, there were many exciting extras available on the market. This little car also participated in motorsport, especially in England. But it was probably as a simple, small and practical family car that it will be remembered for posterity.

The model was replaced by the Austin A-35 in 1957. It had largely the same appearance but with a larger rear window and some technical changes,

Technical data at introduction in 1951

Engine: 803 ccm, 28 hp.
Length: 346 cm
Width: 140 cm
Height: 150 cm
Top speed 115 km/h.

advertisement 1954 — Advertisement from 1954

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Englishman for tough conditions.

Posted 08/02/2021 by Anders de Lange

Austin was for many years one of England's largest car manufacturers. The factory was started by Herbert Austin in 1905 as the Austin Motor Company.

The first model was a large 5-litre car with 4 cylinders. Leading up to the First World War, a number of different models were produced. In 1, Austin launched the famous 1922, a small and affordable car. It hit the market very well and it was also produced by BMW as the Dixi. After the Second World War, the factory quickly came on the market with new models. In 7, Austin joined forces with Morris to form BMC (British Motor Corporation). The most famous model in the 2s and 1952s was the Austin and Morris Mini. Mini-Cooper made the brand famous in car racing in the 50s. Other popular models were the Austin Cambridge and the Austin 60. To replace the aging Mini model, a new small car was developed which was launched in 60 with the designation Mini Metro. It also appeared under other brands produced by British Leyland.

Should compete with Land-Rover

A very special and little-known model from Austin was named "Gipsy". Austin introduced this model as a replacement for the Austin Champ. The aim was to offer a model that would compete directly with Land-Rover. The Gipsy was introduced with model variants that were very similar to the models produced by Land-Rover. The model from Austin was equipped with a very advanced spring system. Here there was independent suspension on all wheels. The system was developed by Alex Moulton and was named "Flexitor". The system used rubber springs that should provide better accessibility and greater comfort when driving off-road. In order to make the model known, Austin invested in many "stunts" to get publicity around this model. The problem was that Land-Rover had a solid grip on the "off-road" market, and had several variants to offer. When BMC was merged with Leyland to "British Leyland", Land-Rover and Austin Gipsy ended up in the same company. The production of "Gipsy" was stopped after approx. 21000 cars had been produced.
Austin "Gipsy" was produced between 1958 and 1968.

Facts about Austin "Gipsy"

Length: 406 cm
Width: 170 cm
Height: 185 cm
Engine: 2199 ccm, 62 hp

Clipping from Aftenposten on 04.09.1958/XNUMX/XNUMX

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Austin A-90 Atlantic

Posted 31/01/2021 by Anders de Lange

A slightly special car model from Austin.

Tailored for the USA

A small mistake from Austin was the launch of the model A-90 Atlantic in 1948. There were many good reasons for releasing this model onto the market. Austin wanted a better position in the important American market for several reasons. Exports were important in the first years after the war ended in 1945. Austin chose to bring out a completely new model that was tailored for export to the United States, among others. The model had a design that was influenced by competing American car models. But the new model from Austin had a handicap, namely an engine with only 4 cylinders. It was difficult when American competitors had larger 6-cylinder engines.

Tested on track and mountain roads

Ahead of its introduction in the US, it was run on several tracks and achieved good results. Sales were very poor and one of the reasons was probably that the model was too similar to an American car. Car buyers looking to buy a sports car chose other European models. In Norway, we got the first glimpse of the new car when it was tested on Norwegian roads in 1948. The trip went from Oslo to Bergen with television footage on the square in Hønefoss. It attracted a lot of interest.

Production of this model was stopped in 1952 after disappointing sales of less than 8000 copies.

Technical data Austin A-90 Atlantic

Engine: 2260 ccm – 88 hp
Length: 449 cm
Width: 177 cm
Height: 152 cm
Top speed 155 km/h