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The Austin Motor Co. Ltd. was founded in 1905 by Herbert Austin. The Austin cars were known to be rugged and reliable, and totally uninspiring. Production of trucks took place from 1913, with the first example to be an 2 to 3 tonner. After making around 2.000 of the early trucks the company left the truck truck market and did not return until 1939, when a completely new range was launched.
The range was, to some degree, modeled on the contemporary
Bedfords, and thus was known as "Birmingham Bedfords". Large numbers were built for military use during WW II.

The most popular vehicle manufactured was the Austin Seven. In 1939 the 8HP version was introduced, and was produced until 1947. A 10HP version came in 1939 and paralleled the 8HP until 1947. At the same time as the 10HP version a 12HP version was also available.
As well a new Austin built 16HP motor was available in this and a station wagon. Notable at this point was the introduction of rod operated brakes, sliding roof and openable windscreen. Leather seats became a standard.

After the war the K-truck range continued with little change, but a new model, the Loadstar, entered the market in 1950.

The year 1947 saw the introduction of car names and a new model numbering system. The A40 Dorset was a 4 door saloon, and the Devon was the 2 door equivalent. Coil springs, independent front suspension and a standard Overhead Valve engine were introduced. As well the brakes were of a hydro mechanical design.
For business use vans and pickups were made.

Austin also introduced the Luxury Car with the A125 Sheerline and the A135 Princess. These had a larger engine.

In 1948 the A70 Hampshire was introduced. The following year the A90 Atlantic with it's cyclops headlight came along. It was also introduced as a convertible.

The fifties brought a whole upgrade of the line. The A40 Sports Convertible arrived. It had a body by Jensen Coachworks. The A70 Hereford came along with all hydraulic brakes. The A30 was Austin's answer to the Morris Minor.

The Cambridge series were made in an A40, A50, and A60 version. All were 4 door. Later bodies in the 60 were designed by Pininfarina.

In 1951 the British Motor Corporation (BMC) was formed by the merger of Austin and the Nuffield organization who produced
Morris-Commercial trucks.

Westminster A90, A95 and A105 in 1954 brought a 6 cylinder engine and automatic transmission. A35 was a facelifted A30 and was brought out in 1956 in both Saloon and Countryman version. The Princess IV was called a "Sports Saloon" and was a luxury tourer.

A completely new BMC truck plant was opened in Bathgate, Scotland in 1961.

Wolseley came into the act in the 60's, when the bodies were gussied up and presented under the Wolseley banner. They had leather and wood where Austin had vinyl and paint.

From here the line went to a mainly front wheel drive format. As Austin and Morris were now in the same corporation (BMC) it was pretty hard to tell them apart. The most memorable cars of this era are the Morris Mini which were basically the same in format between the two manufacturers.

From 1968 all Austin and Morris trucks were badged as BMC, and from 1970 all carried the
Leyland name.


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