Austin
(1915 - 1997)
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United Kingdom
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Between 1922 and 1939, Austin built the Seven, the first mass-produced small car in England. Sports cars and hundreds of individual specials were also built on its basis. One of the most beautiful Austin Seven Specials in monoposto configuration could be portrayed for this report. A brief history of the Austin Seven is also included.
The Austin Twelve-Six with chassis number C1197 (registration SV 8805) is demonstrably one of the rare pre-production chassis that were manufactured in December 1930 and then exported to Australia uncrated. This procedure was common at the time in order to avoid import taxes. The pre-production series of 14 chassis was codenamed "Clifton" within the factory. This is where the "C" that precedes the chassis number comes from.
The American Austin and the American Bantam tried to make compact cars appealing to Americans in the 1930s. As close relatives of the Austin Seven, they carried English genes, but did not catch on in America. In the 1950s, Nash once again tried to position small cars as second cars with the Metropolitan, and with considerable success, not least thanks to the help of Austin. This report briefly introduces the history of the three cars and shows them in several variants in many pictures.
The Austin Seven Special was very successful in motorsport for a while and was popular with racing drivers who wanted to build their own cars. This vehicle report portrays an Austin Seven Special from 1937, tells of the driving experience in it and describes the history of the Austin Seven.
The Austin-Healey 100 was that British roadster with a four-cylinder engine, plug-in windows and minimal comfort, wasn't it? Yes, but there were exceptions, one of which was built in Belgium and was a coupé. Presented at the 1955 Brussels Motor Show, it was the prototype for a series of six cars, two of which have survived. This report is about the show car, tells its story and shows it in many pictures.
When the Austin-Healey 100 was shown for the first time at the Earls Court Motor Show in London in October 1952, it aroused enormous interest. With speed records and racing successes, it proved its sportiness, while at the same time being inexpensive. And anyone who wanted to be a little faster could get help from the factory. This is how the 100 M was created to Le Mans specification. This report summarizes the history of the four-cylinder Austin-Healey and shows a factory 100M in many pictures.
In 1955, Donald Healey produced 50 sports cars that could be taken straight to the next race and thus had a good chance of winning their class. Although the racing cars cost almost twice as much as a normal Austin-Healey 100, they also had 40 hp more and a lighter and more streamlined body, which made the sports car 210 km/h fast. This report portrays the second series 100-S built in detail and tells the story of this exceptional sports car.
With the Austin A40/A50 Cambridge models, the British manufacturer made the transition to a self-supporting pontoon body. Sixty years ago, this made them quite modern and, if it could be an A55, even almost sporty. This driving report tells the story of Austin's post-war mid-range models and shows the A55 in many current and historical pictures as well as in the sales literature. There is also a sound sample.
In 1956, Donald Healey presented the Austin-Healey 100 Six, the six-cylinder version of the successful 100 model. More space and more comfort was the thrust, although this was not entirely voluntary, as the British Motor Company no longer wanted to produce the large four-cylinder. Despite the additional weight and somewhat reduced sportiness, the 100 Six was a success and paved the way for the 3000 model. This vehicle report portrays a late Austin-Healey 100 Six and shows it on historical material and in the sales brochure.
The Austin A40 was a surprise in many respects. The bodywork by Pininfarina was a far cry from the tradition of the British manufacturer, the naming took no account of British sensitivities and the compact two-door even excelled in motor racing with a success at the 1959 Monte Carlo Rally. Perhaps the most famous A40 has survived and is the subject of this report, which is illustrated with current and historical images and a selection of sales literature.
With the Austin A 40, the English manufacturer broke with the conservative island tradition, at least according to the magazine 'hobby' in 1959. The A 40 combined the advantages of a station wagon with those of a small car and with an astonishing amount of comfort. This report reproduces the original wording of the driving report at the time and shows the car in many archive photos.
With the Austin-Healey Sprite, BMC filled a gap in the car range of the late fifties. The small and lightweight roadster was well received. Only its frog-eyed face, which makes it so desirable today, was not so well received at the time. On the other hand, the price was right back then and it was possible to make it faster. This report is about an early Austin-Healey Sprite Mark I from 1959 and shows it in historical and current photos, supplemented by sales literature and sound samples.
The Mini Cooper has given plenty to write about over the years, and many a test driver was looking forward to driving the next evolutionary stage and rushing the Mini around the corners. The articles listed here not only give an impression of the cars, but above all an insight into the test scale and the competition.
When BMC launched the Mini on the market, it was a thoroughly unconventional car that broke with tradition. The engineers around Issigonis had landed a stroke of genius, only the car buyers in Germany did not really want to recognize this - much to the annoyance of the tester of the magazine 'hobby', who was thoroughly convinced by the compact speedster. This article reproduces the restored text from 1959 and is illustrated with pictures from the time and a rich selection of historical photographs, including the handbook and sales materials.
As a member of BMC's ADO9 family, the Morris Oxford V completely lacked both visual and technical originality. The spacious "saloon" matched its sibling models from Austin, MG, Wolseley and Riley in many respects, such as the Pininfarina-designed bodywork. The likewise split 1.5-liter four-cylinder had a comfortable, but also quite massive saloon to move. Did the British Motor Corporation's calculation work out? This article reproduces an original driving report and shows the British mid-range saloon in historical images and sales material.
At the beginning of the 1960s, the A60 Cambridge was overshadowed by the two mid-range top dogs Ford 17 M and Opel Rekord, at least in Central Europe. In terms of performance, it lagged slightly behind the two 1.7-litre cars, and the first gear was not synchronized. On the other hand, the Brit scored points with very good comfort, foolproof steering and plenty of storage space. This original test report from 1962 summarizes the findings of the time and is accompanied by historical images and sales material.
The Austin-Healey is one of the most sought-after classic cars in the classic car community and the six-cylinder models of the 1960s are particularly popular with fans, and not just because of their sporting successes and good performance. This report describes the history and characteristics of the three-liter Healeys and shows a BJ7 vehicle in detail, supplemented by archive photos and brochures, as well as a sound sample.
Compact external dimensions, a high-torque engine and selective weather protection - this proven formula has been used for decades to produce driving pleasure in series production. This was also the case with BMC, whose second-generation Austin-Healey Sprite was produced from 1961. Additional sales incentives were the 12-month warranty and the already low maintenance costs. The original test report from 1962, which is reproduced in this article and accompanied by historical images, clarified whether it deserved the title "sports car" and which ingredients make up a Sprite.
In Germany in the early sixties, small cars had a hard time, the vehicles in the "upper" classes scored points with more powerful engines and more generous space and were simply better suited as status symbols. However, a very special compact car, built by the British Motor Corporation, was able to convince the trade press in particular, and even more so, to inspire them. How do you pack so much car into such a space-saving package? This article reproduces a test report from July 1962 and shows the pioneering compact car in extensive historical footage.
In 1962, six competitors in the new thousand-car class - Renault R8, Auto Union (DKW) 1000 S, Glas 1004, Simca 1000, Austin A 40 and Ford Anglia - competed for points in the 'hobby' magazine. Naturally, it was interesting to see how the front-wheel drive two-stroke from DKW fared against the rear-wheel drive cars from Renault and Simca and the British hermaphrodites. And the performance of the new Glas 1004 was also eagerly awaited. This report is based on the restored original article from 1962 and shows the vehicles involved in many archive photos.
At the end of 1962, the magazine 'hobby' carried out a major comparative test with eleven saloons from Germany, France, England and Italy. In a tough competition, hot-blooded family sports cars had to be compared with utility saloons designed for comfort. The fact that a German representative won was not a matter of course, as places 2 to 4 went to "foreign countries". This article reproduces the original wording of the report at the time and shows all eleven sedans compared in many archive photos.
With the Austin 1100 Hydrolastic, the BMC Group once again proved its ingenuity after the Mini. The complex "water chassis" already known from the English and a perfect symbiosis of design and functionality made it very popular. The automobile magazine Automobil-Illustrierte, whose test from 1963 is reproduced here in the original wording, supplemented by many historical illustrations, took a similar view.
The predominant car on the roads of Germany, Austria and Switzerland in the early 1960s was the Volkswagen Beetle. Over the years, the Wolfsburg-based company had perfected it and made it better and more reliable step by step. However, a circle of competitors formed around Wolfsburg that were superior to the Beetle in terms of comfort, space, driving performance and economy ... and still lost out in the local market. This report characterizes the generation of thousands using the examples of the Austin Mini Cooper, DKW F12, Fiat 850, Ford Anglia, Morris 1100, Opel Kadett, Panhard PL17, Renault R8 and Simca 1000. The article is illustrated with over 120 archive photos and over a dozen original sales brochures.
Small, loud and leaky - objectively, there wasn't much to be said in favor of the Austin-Healey Sprite. However, there was this very difficult-to-measure criterion of driving pleasure, which rendered all bourgeois criticisms meaningless. What other sensible car could drift around bends so effortlessly and in such a controlled manner at a slightly higher walking speed? This historical test report explains what makes the little imp so likeable and why a lot of good compromises are sometimes better than a mediocre new development.
Squeezing into the 3.5 meter short and just 1.35 meter narrow MG Midget with a wheelbase of just over two meters is reminiscent of the small sports cars of the pre-war era. And when you set off, there is little to protect you from the roaring windstorm that hits you. A good 50 years ago, however, the MG Midget and its twin brother, the Austin-Healey Sprite, were the gateway to the world of sports cars and therefore extremely attractive. And they still are today, as this driving report with many historical and current photos shows.
Rally driver Pat Moss nicknamed her Austin-Healey 3000 "the pig". This is because the factory rally car was even faster, louder and more nervous than the production model on sale. This historical driving report makes it clear what distinguishes a sports car from a racing car.
Can a car just three meters long justify a price of over 10,000 marks? Especially when, on top of that, the equipment is meager and the comfort moderate? When looking at the Austin Cooper S, the voice of reason must be ignored for once. Because for its high price, it offers one thing above all: an incredible amount of driving pleasure. This historic test explains what makes this speedster so special.
In 1959, the Mini revolutionized the car world. But it did not remain alone, not even at the BMC. Over the years, many variants were created, one of which was the extended estate called the Morris Traveller or Austin Countryman, which could compete with many larger cars in terms of load capacity and was even superior to them in terms of elegance and driving dynamics. This driving report describes the history of the versatile little car and shows it in many current and historical pictures, supplemented by a sound sample.
The Austin-Healey Sprite - a car that made no compromises and whose design its driver simply had to be content with - won acclaim all over the world and secured big business for BMC. The 1966 test report, which does not view this sports car purely from the point of view of reason, explains its positive virtues.
The Donald Healey Motor Company built a series of prototypes based on the road-going Healeys, which were used at Le Mans and elsewhere. The vehicle shown here is now driven in Australia and took part in Le Mans in 1967.
When the Austin/Morris Cooper appeared in 1961, it was already seen as a very fast car. When the Cooper S was presented two years later, journalists described it as a rocket for the road. With 76 hp and just over 600 kg, it was capable of a lot more than 50 years ago, including three victories at the Monte Carlo Rally. Today, the Cooper S is a first-class cult car. This driving report is about a Morris Cooper S Mk I from 1967. It tells the story of the fast Minis and shows them in current and historical pictures. The sales brochure and sound samples are also included.
In 1968, the magazine 'hobby' compared the Japanese small car Honda N 360 (and its bigger brother N 600) with the Austin Mini 850 (and its sportier variant Mini 1000). Would the inexpensive Japanese car be able to take on the Mini from England, which has already matured into a classic? Is the Japanese bike suitable for European roads and requirements? The Honda performed excellently, but also revealed concept weaknesses. But even the English car did not master all disciplines of the comparison test with flying colors. This article reproduces the original wording of the test report and supplements the pictures taken at the time with archive photos and photos taken later.
When the British Motor Company saw the opportunity in the 1960s to position a new saloon in the upper middle class against top dogs such as the Rover P5 or Humber Super Snipe, the Austin 3 Litre was developed, which shared the passenger compartment with the Austin 1800 but was technically a new design. The combination of existing and new did not really work out, and the car was not a success on the market, even though its ride comfort and spaciousness had nothing to fear from comparison. This report describes the history of this rare saloon and provides driving impressions from today, accompanied by current and historical pictures, as well as several sales brochures.
At the end of 1969, British Leyland added the Austin/Morris 1300 GT to the ADO16 series. 68 hp did not turn the compact family car into a racing car, but it did make it a touring car suitable for long distances. You could overlook the weaknesses ... if you were an individualist. This article reproduces the wording of the historical test report and shows the car in many pictures and brochures from back then.
For most people, the VW Beetle is the Volkswagen par excellence, in every sense of the word. A car for the people, a people's car. And the Beetle was indeed an above-average success. But before it, Ford's Model T had already passed the 15 million mark, and in modern times the Toyota Corolla, VW Golf and Ford's F-series even managed to reach over 30 million, although they were not the only people's cars to do so. This report looks back at some selected production successes in car history and shows them in 200 pictures. A feast for the eyes!
Between 1964 and 1993, almost 50,000 Mini Moke vehicles were built, rustic leisure cars with little weather protection and dimensions and performance typical of small cars. The car, once designed as a military vehicle, is still popular today and now fetches prices that are more than ten times the original price. This report describes the varied history of the British anti-terrain vehicle and shows a vehicle from 1971 in many photos.
We are already used to top-restored cars, but new cars that are 30 or more years old are something out of the ordinary. This article portrays four classic cars that are actually still new and have only covered delivery kilometers. Despite the lack of use, however, you can't just drive off in them, as the article shows.
The Morris 1300 Traveller was suitable for moving house, but also as a double bed on long journeys. The estate version of the ADO 16 series amazed with its extensive variability and plenty of interior space. However, the three-door estate was significantly more expensive than the saloons. As a result, it remained rare, and today it is even really rare. This driving report focuses on the Morris Traveller and Austin Countryman, showing the vehicles in historical and current pictures and in the sales documents from back then.
The Austin Maxi, which was launched in 1969, was intended to set new standards for everyday cars in England. It appealed to reason and economic thinking and was not intended to offer much prestige, let alone sporting performance, which is why it was not very popular at the beginning. However, this historical test report reveals what made the Series II car the least problematic Austin model of its time.
A car with many names: The Princess or Morris or Wolseley or Austin 18-22 is considered a prime example of unsuccessful product marketing. In 1975, mot magazine had the opportunity to test drive the car, which was later mocked as an "anteater" due to its curious shape.
The Austin Mini was Alec Issigonis' masterpiece. The indestructible little car, which could comfortably transport four people in a length of just 3.05 meters, was built from 1959 to 2000. Rally and race victories also made it an icon in motorsport. The Mini concepts are still a role model today and the original Mini even outlived its successor, the Mini Metro. This report looks back on the history of the Mini, shows an almost new example from 1982 in detail and documents Mini enthusiasts with well over 120 photos, sales brochures, many further references and even the original instructions from 1960.
The Austin Metro had everything it needed to be successful. Nevertheless, it could not overtake the classic Mini that it was supposed to replace. We have driven the English road flea in the rare "Moritz" version and show it in many photos, and show it in current and historical pictures, as well as in the sales literature of the time.
Current market prices for Austin
4-Door Sedan, 134 PS, 3993 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 28 PS, 803 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 34 PS, 948 cm3
null, 50 PS, 1200 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 43 PS, 1200 cm3
2-Door Sedan, 34 PS, 948 cm3
null, 34 PS, 948 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 51 PS, 1489 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 61 PS, 1622 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 88 PS, 2660 cm3
null, 88 PS, 2660 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 47 PS, 1098 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 58 PS, 1275 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 84 PS, 1798 cm3
4-Door Sedan, 125 PS, 2912 cm3
5-Door Sedan, 68 PS, 1485 cm3
Off-Road Vehicle, 62 PS, 2199 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Austin
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin 20hp Tourer 1922 Sold Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting (April 7, 2019) |
20hp Tourer | 1922 | Sold | Bonhams Goodwood Members Meeting (April 7, 2019) | |
| Austin-Healey 3000 Mark III to Works Rally Specification 1964 Not Sold Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale (September 9, 2023) |
3000 Mark III to Works Rally Specification | 1964 | Not Sold | Bonhams Goodwood Revival Sale (September 9, 2023) | |
| Austin-Healey 3000 Mk III BJ8 1967 Not Sold Gooding & Co. Geared Online Scottsdale Edition (January 24, 2022) |
3000 Mk III BJ8 | 1967 | Not Sold | Gooding & Co. Geared Online Scottsdale Edition (January 24, 2022) | |
| Austin Maestro L 1988 Sold DVCA Dorchester (March 2, 2017) |
Maestro L | 1988 | Sold | DVCA Dorchester (March 2, 2017) | |
| Austin 1800S 1970 Withdrawn Bonhams Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia, December Sale (December 9, 2013) |
1800S | 1970 | Withdrawn | Bonhams Collectors' Motor Cars and Automobilia, December Sale (December 9, 2013) | |
| Austin Model R 1919 Sold Charterhouse Herborne Sale (September 9, 2013) |
Model R | 1919 | Sold | Charterhouse Herborne Sale (September 9, 2013) | |
| Austin-Healey Lenham Sprite GT 1959 Not Sold ACA Kings Lynn Auction (June 18, 2016) |
Lenham Sprite GT | 1959 | Not Sold | ACA Kings Lynn Auction (June 18, 2016) | |
| Austin-Healey 100-4 BN2 1956 Sold RM/Sotheby's Online Only Open Roads December (December 1, 2021) |
100-4 BN2 | 1956 | Sold | RM/Sotheby's Online Only Open Roads December (December 1, 2021) | |
| Austin-Healey 3000 MK III BJ8 1967 Sold Silverstone Auctions The May Sale (May 23, 2015) |
3000 MK III BJ8 | 1967 | Sold | Silverstone Auctions The May Sale (May 23, 2015) | |
| Austin Seven Ruby 1937 Sold SWVA Dorset Sale (April 29, 2016) |
Seven Ruby | 1937 | Sold | SWVA Dorset Sale (April 29, 2016) |
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