Austin
A70 Hampshire
The
Austin A70 was conceived as a way of competing with the Standard
Vanguard of the day, it was announced in 1948 and replaced at the
time the Sixteen. You could regard it as a larger bodied version of
the A40 Devon but was fitted with a engine of 2199 cc. With its
steering column gear change, three people were easily accommodated
on the front bench seat, but there was not much room for the rear
passagers. It was only available as a Saloon (Longbridge build) and
was not that popular, and after a short production run of nearly
three years it was replaced by the A70 Hereford in 1950. It
received a new steering wheel for 1952 where the spokes were in the
shape of a 'T' instead of the previous 'Y'
Austin
A70 Hampshire
Date
when launched 1948 Discontinued in 1950
Total produced 34,360
Engine
2199 cc 68 bhp at 3.800 rpm Max torque 116lbs/ft at 1,700 rpm
Length 13ft 11.5ins Width 5ft 9.4ins Height 5ft 5.8ins
Wheel Base 8ft 0ins Track front 4ft 5.6ins rear 4ft 8ins
Price ex Works
Sept 1949 £648 in 1950 £921
A70
Hampshire Countryman (Woodies)
Owner
Colin Peck
Woodies
was the name given to estate car type of body usually constructed
on a chassis or Pick-Up version of a saloon. It was during WWII
that the this term came to the fore as there was an advantage,
because a Woodie was classed as a commercial vehicle. The owner was
then entitled to a larger petrol allowance.
After the War because there was a shortage of materials (mainly
steel and aluminium), wood was still available, so many firms did
conversions on any chassis that they could get there hands
on.
Austin decided that here was a growing market that they should
enter. So the Austin 16 chassis was the first production model to
have a wood estate type conversion that could be ordered from the
factory. Austin at the time decided not to do the conversion
themselves but to give the contract to a coachbuilder. Attached to
Papworth Hospital in Cambridge was a carpentry workshop called
Papworth Industries, which was for TB sufferers to help them be
employed in useful work while convalescing. Frank Jordon who was
the manager and always looking for work, traveled to Longbridge and
convinced the management that he could deliver. So returned with an
order for 250 estates based on the Austin 16 chassis BW1. With the
order completed ahead of time and of high quality, Austin placed a
further order for another 250 vehicles. These vehicles were
produced between 1947 and 1949, it was around this time that the
word ‘Shooting Brakes’ or ‘Countryman’ came on the scene , Austin
afterwards always called estates ‘Countryman’ and Morris called
them ‘Travellers’.
With the success of the BW1 it was decided to repeat the exercise
with the Austin A70 Hampshire using the BS2 saloon-chassis and was
designated the code BW3. It is still unclear why the BS2 did not
take up the code BW2 (If you know please contact
me).
Austin
placed an order for over 900 BW3s with Papworth Industries. At the
1950s Motor Show at Earls Court London the A70 Hereford was
announced as a 4dr Saloon and Coupe. But the BW3 was still using
the Hampshire components, so if you ordered a A70 saloon or coupe
you had a Hereford and if you ordered a A70 Countryman you received
a Hampshire.
This picture above at Papworth Industries shows on the left part of
an order by London dealers Car Mart to convert 200 Hampshire
pickups into Woodies. On the right is the production line for the
Austin Motor Co. Ltd. using chassis cabs delivered from
Longbridge.
A70
Hereford Countryman
Austin
A70 Hampshire - Hereford Countryman
Date
when launched 1949 Discontinued in 1954
Total produced Hampshire 901 Hereford 1,515
Engine
2199 cc 68 bhp at 3.800 rpm Max torque 116lbs/ft at 1,700 rpm
Length 13ft 11.5ins Width 5ft 9.4ins Height 5ft 5.8ins
Wheel Base 8ft 3ins Track front 4ft 5.6ins rear 4ft 8ins
Price ex Works
Sept 1949 £648 May 1953 £1099
In
the brochure of the day the bodywork was described as the
following:- wood and steel body of rigid construction; four doors,
rear opening; ventilating louvres on front doors; windscreen and
all windows of toughened glass: two rear panels opening
horizontally: anchor chains to hold bottom rear panel horizontal;
close-mounted individual front seats for three, folding rear seat
for two: load space increased when rear seat folded flat with
floor; leather upholstery.
Seemingly 636
BW3s were exported during 1950 and a combined total of 363 BW3s and
BW4s were exported during 1951, of which an estimated 163 were
BW3s. This brings the total of BW3s exported to 799 and this
accounts for almost 90% of the total production of 901
vehicles.
______________
Austin A70 Hereford 4 dr Saloon
On the launch of
the Hereford the brochures said the following. Powered by the
famous A70 engine which has achieved outstanding successes all over
the world, the new Austin Hereford saloon is a car that will afford
immense pleasure of ownership, Its quickly confirmed by the
effortless ease of its performance and the satisfying comfort of
its roomy, leather-upholstered interior. For carefree family
motoring or for important business journeys – you can depend on
it.
The new-style steering wheel blends with the distinctive design of
the fascia to give a quiet, pleasing effect. And the instruments
are readily readable and all controls conveniently placed for
instant use. Interior comfort is a notable feature of the A70
Hereford. The wide seats are trimmed in leather and have latex foam
moulded Dunlopillo foundations, while thick pile carpets cover the
floor. With wide opening forward-hinged doors afford exceptional
ease of entry.
Austin
A70 Hereford
Date
when launched 1950 Discontinued in 1954
Total produced 48,640
Engine
2199 cc 68 bhp at 3.800 rpm Max torque 116lbs/ft at 1,700
rpm
Length
13ft 11.5ins Width 5ft 9.4ins Height 5ft 5.8ins
Wheel
Base 8ft 3ins Track front 4ft 5.6ins rear 4ft 8ins
Price ex Works
Oct 1950 £537, Oct 1953 £845
Austin
A70 Hereford Coupe
Date
when launched 1951 Discontinued in 1952
Total produced 266
Engine
2199 cc 68 bhp at 3.800 rpm Max torque 116lbs/ft at 1,700 rpm
Length 13ft 11.5ins Width 5ft 9.4ins Height 5ft 5.8ins
Wheel Base 8ft 3ins Track front 4ft 5.6ins rear 4ft 8ins
Price ex Works
May 1951 £1121
Austin
A70 15 cwt Pick-Up
The A70 pick up
started out as a Hampshire and then changed to a Hereford around
about 1951 A great many of these vehicles were
exported.
Date
when launched 1949 Discontinued in 1954
Total
produced 20,434 all versions
Engine
2199 cc 68 bhp at 3.800 rpm Max torque 116lbs/ft at 1,700 rpm
Length 14ft 1.3ins Width 5ft 9.9ins Height 5ft
9ins
Wheel
Base 8ft 7.5ins Track front 4ft 5.8ins rear 4ft 8.3ins
Price ex Works in standard colour May1953 £679
Australian
A70 Hereford Pick Up
The A70 Hereford
Pickup was built at Longbridge on the 22nd November 1951. It was
exported to Australia, but in 2004 various
classic vehicles were purchased in Australia and imported into
Ireland 2004 via a sea container. I bought the A70 from the
importer, although because of the sea trip there were some bumps
and minor damage, its general condition was good. In 2005 it was
stripped down and the body had a re-spray. The upholstering
and the timber trim on top of the loading area and the timber lid
on the spare wheel compartment have been redone, everything else is
in its original state.
Reginald
van Acker