Austin A40

Austin A40
Production period:	1947-1956 1958-1968
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Sedan , station wagon , convertible , roadster
Previous model:	Austin 8 , Austin 10 , Austin A35
Successor:	Austin 1100/1300

The Austin A40 was the name of various lower middle class passenger car lines that the Austin Motor Company manufactured between 1947 and 1968. From 1953 to 1954 the Austin A40 Somerset in CKD design was offered by Nissan as the Nissan A40 in Japan .

Austin A40 Dorset / Devon / Countryman (1947–1952)

A40 Dorset A40 Devon A40 Countryman
Austin A40 Devon (1948) in the distribution center
Production period:	1947-1952
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.2 liters (29 kW)
Length:	3893 mm
Width:	1549 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2350 mm
Empty weight :	965 kg

The Austin A40 Dorset was the first redesign after the Second World War and was the successor to the models 8 and 10. Like the pre-war vehicles, it had a separate frame and a 4-cylinder in-line engine with 1200 cc, the 40 bhp (29 kW) to the rear wheels. The vehicle thus reached 114 km / h. In the year of publication, the two-door Dorset was replaced by the Austin A40 Devon , which had a slightly different structure with four doors with the same mechanics.

There was a three-door station wagon from the Devon called the Austin A40 Countryman .

Austin A40 Sports (1950–1953)

A40 Sports
Austin A40 Sports (1950) with Jensen body
Production period:	1950-1953
Body versions :	Roadster
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.2 liters (34 kW)
Length:	4045 mm
Width:	1556 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2350 mm
Empty weight :	965 kg

In 1950 the Austin A40 Sports , a two-door sports tourer, was added. Its engine developed 46 bhp (34 kW) and accelerated the two-seater convertible to 127 km / h. The body was made of aluminum by the sports car manufacturer Jensen . The design was based on the Jensen Interceptor, also presented in 1950 . After three years this model was discontinued; There were two variants here, which were created in the course of the introduction of Somerset - the circuit moved from the tunnel to the steering column.

Austin A40 Somerset (1952-1954)

A40 Somerset
Austin A40 Somerset Cabriolet (1952)
Production period:	1952-1954
Body versions :	Limousine , cabriolet
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.2 liters (31 kW)
Length:	4051 mm
Width:	1600 mm
Height:
Wheelbase :	2350 mm
Empty weight :	978 kg

In 1952 the successor to the Devon came out: the Austin A40 Somerset had a more modern body and was available as a four-door saloon (sedan) and as a two-door convertible.

The slightly more powerful engine developed 42 bhp (31 kW), the handbrake was relocated and placed under the steering column as an “umbrella”, the gearshift was relocated from the center tunnel to the steering column.

Austin A40 Cambridge (1954–1957)

A40 Cambridge
Austin A40 Cambridge (1956)
Production period:	1954-1957
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engine : 1.2 liters (31 kW)
Length:	4121 mm
Width:	1562 mm
Height:	1560 mm
Wheelbase :	2521 mm
Empty weight :	1067 kg

Just two years later, in 1954, the new model was called Austin A40 Cambridge . With the same mechanics and the same performance, the new car had a fashionable pontoon body. The Austin A50 was also available with the same body, but a larger 1500 cc engine . The larger engine harmonized better with the Cambridge, while the A 40 was underpowered.

In 1957 the series was discontinued without a direct successor.

Austin A40 Farina I (1958–1961)

A40 Farina I ( ADO8 )
Austin A40 Farina Mark I (1958)
Production period:	1958-1961
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Otto engine : 0.95 liters (25 kW)
Length:	3670 mm
Width:	1511 mm
Height:	1430 mm
Wheelbase :	2121 mm
Empty weight :	800 kg

In 1958 the Austin A40 Farina appeared , which has little in common with its namesake. The 2-door sedan with hatchback and self-supporting body designed by Pininfarina in Italy was the successor to the Austin A35 , from which it had also taken over the mechanics: a 4-cylinder in-line engine with 948 cm³ and 34 bhp (25 kW). The car, which was also available as a three-door station wagon called the Countryman , reached a top speed of 115 km / h. In terms of design, the vehicle was praised as successful by the trade press, among other things because of the good gear ratio and progressive design.

From 1960 to 1967, 67,706 A40s were produced under license by the Italian manufacturer Innocenti in Milan.

Austin A40 Farina II (1961–1968)

A40 Farina II ( ADO44 )
Austin A40 Farina Mark II Countryman (1962)
Production period:	1961-1968
Body versions :	Limousine , station wagon
Engines:	Petrol engines : 0.95–1.1 liters (27–35 kW)
Length:	3683 mm
Width:	1511 mm
Height:	1430 mm
Wheelbase :	2210 mm
Empty weight :	800 kg

In 1961 the engine output increased to 37 bhp (27 kW) and the top speed to 120 km / h. The wheelbase was increased by 3 ½ ″ to 2210 mm.

From 1962 a larger engine (1098 cm³, 48 bhp / 35 kW) was offered, which helped the car to 125 km / h. When this model was also discontinued in 1968, its successor, the Austin 1100, was already established.

Web links

Commons : Austin A40  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• Further descriptions (English)

literature

• David Culshaw, Peter Horrobin: The Complete Catalog of British Cars 1895-1975. Veloce Publishing PLC, Dorchester 1997, ISBN 1-874105-93-6 .

Individual evidence

1. ^ Austin A40 - a multipurpose sedan. In: Motor Vehicle Technology 4/1959, pp. 156–157.