Austin A99 Westminster (ADO
10)
This was the first of the large cars that
were designed by Farina. The lines followed the usual Farina look
with a simple front, and fins at the rear. There were only two
versions made with this body style, with the Austin made at
Longbridge and the Wolseley version made at Cowley.
The body was available in a two-tone paint scheme as shown above.
The facia was rather plain, painted white with the instruments
housed in two round dials.
It used the larger 2,912 cc of the C series engine which with its
twin SU carburettors produced 103 bhp. The suspension used was an
uprated version of the that used on the previously model, but had
the addition of a rear anti-roll bar. Transmission was an all new
all-synchromes three-speed
gearbox with Porsche synchromesh, coupled with a Borg-Warner
overdrive which worked on top and second gears. For those wanting
an automatic a Borg-Warner automatic transmission was
optional.
Austin A99
Westminster
Date when launched March
1959
Discontinued in August 1964
Total produced 13,410
Engine
2912 cc 103 bhp at 4,500
rpm Max torque158lbs/ft at 2,000 rpm
Length 15ft 8ins
Width 5ft
8.5ins Height 4ft 11ins
Wheelbase 9ft 0ins Track
front 4ft 6ins rear 4ft 5.3ins
Price ex Works (Oct 1959)
£1,149 with overdrive, £1219 with automatic
Austin A110
Westminster
A110 MK
I
The A110 was the
replacement for the A99, it had the same body, but externally the
main difference was the now horizontal grille bars. The headlamps
have lost the bright surround and replaced with a normal surround.
The side lights - indicators are now in a rectangular housing, all
these simple changes gave a more pleasing appearance to the
front.
The wheel base was increased by 2inches by moving the axle rearward
on the springs. It was fitted with telescopic shock absorbers at an
angle along with more rubber in the axle mountings, this reduced
road noise been transmitted into the body. With the axle in its new
position it allowed the wheel arches to be modified so the rear
seat could be moved giving more leg room.
The engine was now more powerful, by applying modifications as used
on the Healey 3000. By making changes to the cylinder head to
improve gas flow, this was coupled with a change to the cam
profiles on the camshaft. Then a twin-bore exhaust system was
fitted. The gear-change was now floor mounted, and after a few
months of production power-steering was offered as a option.
Mk I
Date when
launched Oct1961
Discontinued in May 1964
Total produced 26,105 Mk I & II
Engine
2912 cc 120 bhp at 4,750
rpm Max torque163lbs/ft at 2,750 rpm
Length 15ft 8ins
Width 5ft
8.5ins Height 5ft 0.5ins
Wheelbase 9ft 2ins Track
front 4ft 6ins rear 4ft 5.3ins
Mk
II
Date when
launched May1964
Discontinued in 1968
Total produced 26,105 Mk I & II
Longbridge production finished in 1966,
Cowley continued to make the Wolseley version till 1968
Engine
2912 cc 120 bhp at 4,750
rpm Max torque163lbs/ft at 2,750 rpm
Length 15ft 8ins
Width 5ft
8.5ins Height 5ft 0.5ins
Wheelbase 9ft 2ins Track
front 4ft 6ins rear 4ft 5.3ins
Price ex Works
Basic £998 Deluxe £1077 Auto £1095
Super £1113 Auto £1210
Austin A110 Mk
II
