Austin Freeway

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Austin
Austin Freeway Limousine
Austin Freeway Limousine
Freeway (ADO40 / YD03)
Sales designation: Freeway
Production period: 1962-1965
Class : Middle class
Body versions : Limousine , station wagon
Engines: Petrol engines :
2.4 liters
(59-62 kW)
Length: 4432-4500 mm
Width: 1613 mm
Height: 1490-1500 mm
Wheelbase : 2540 mm
Empty weight :

The Austin Freeway (also: BMC ADO40 ) was a car that was only manufactured and sold in Australia by the Austin Motor Company from 1962 to 1966. It was a variant of the Austin Cambridge (BMC ADO 38) with a six-cylinder engine.

The second generation Austin Cambridge, introduced in 1959, was much larger than the previous model. The car was also made at the Austin branch in Australia, but the competition in Australia was different from that in the UK. In competition here were not Ford Consul and Vauxhall Victor , but the Holden Standard made in Australia and the Ford Falcon and Chrysler Valiant models taken over from the USA . These were equipped with six-cylinder engines, with which the Cambridge could not keep up. There was also a larger Austin model, the Westminster , but it was designed as a European luxury model and was therefore much too expensive. The engine of the Westminster could not be installed in the Cambridge.

In order to better keep up with the competition, the Australian BMC branch developed a six-cylinder engine on its own. A completely redesigned engine would have been too expensive, so the engine of the Cambridge (Austin B-Series) was simply extended by two cylinders with the same cylinder dimensions. A displacement of 1622 cm³ became 2433 cm³, the output was 80 HP (59 kW).

The new car was introduced in the spring of 1962. There were three models: the Austin Freeway with normal equipment as a four-door sedan and as a five-door station wagon and - only as a sedan - a luxury version, which was offered as the Wolseley 24/80 .

Sales of the Austin Freeway were disappointing as the competition was very strong and the body of the Austin Cambridge looked a bit old-fashioned. It also showed that the Wolseley was much more successful than the Austin models, as it could offer a level of equipment that was not common in Australia until then.

In the autumn of 1964, the cars were revised and from now on referred to as Mark 2 (also: BMC YDO3 ). The engine output rose to 84 hp (62 kW). However, since sales did not improve, production was ended in autumn 1965. Unsold stocks were available well into 1966.

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