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THE
AUSTIN MOTOR COMPANY
Issued by the Press
and Public Relations Office.
The British Motor
Corporation Ltd, PO Box 41. Longbridge, Birmingham.
Telephone: Birmingham,
Priory 2101 extensions 41-392.
RELEASE DATE: Confidential
until Tuesday, 13 October 1964.
BMC ANNOUNCE THE AUSTIN 1800
- A NEW CONCEPT IN FAMILY MOTORING
Spacious Saloon of Compact Dimensions
with Transverse Engine and Hydrolastic Suspension
Luxury car standards
of roominess and riding comfort within an overall length of under 13
feet 9 inches. These are just two of the outstanding characteristics
of a brilliant new family car announced by the British Motor Corporation.
The Austin 1800 also offers silent, high speed cruising with 90 mph
maximum, unsurpassed road holding and cornering powers, excellent luggage
space, and built in safety and longevity from what is probably the strongest
body shell ever planned for quantity production.
Designed by Alec
lssigonis, the new '1800' follows the basic design conception of the
BMC Mini and '1100' models with transversely mounted engine and transmission
unit, front wheel drive and Hydrolastic suspension with "a wheel at
each corner". However, this world renowned design is now combined with
a standard of refinement and additional engineering innovations, which
provides a new concept of medium sized family car. It does not, incidentally,
replace any model in the existing Austin range.
PROVIDING SPACE FOR COMFORT
Although the Austin
1800 is over 9 inches shorter than an Austin A60 - itself a car of modest
overall length at 14 feet 6.5 inches (4.43 metres) - the interior body
and seat dimensions exceed those of cars of considerably greater external
dimensions. The rear seat width at 56 inches will accommodate 3 large
adults with ease, with more than the usual amount of leg room.
The biggest
single factor in achieving such roominess, of course, is the 'east-west'
engine location, which gives 70% of the car's length as passenger and
luggage accommodation. But other ingenious features also contribute.
A large tubular cross member which braces the body shell below the scuttle
is also employed to house the front horizontally located Hydrolastic
suspension units. Further space is saved by positioning the rear Hydrolastic
units horizontally beneath the car, in the recess provided by the rear
seat platform. This increases the storage space available for spare
wheel and fuel tank, resulting in larger boot space. At the same time
the smooth contours of the rear end of the car give maximum interior
width to the boot, which has a capacity of 17 cubic feet (0.48 cubic
metres). There is no intrusion into the boot space by the fuel tank
or spare wheel both these items being mounted under the floor.
Additional convenient
storage space is available for the impedimenta which most enthusiastic
drivers like to carry reflecting the fact that the BMC senior
engineers themselves have 'lived with the car' during a substantial
part of its development. Such items as maps, books, document cases,
gloves, etc can be swallowed easily by the rigid door pockets, yet remain
conveniently to hand. Umbrellas, cameras, handbags and the like can
be carried on the full width parcel shelf below the fascia, while the
rear window shelf offers no less than another 5¼ square feet of space
for such things as hats, rugs, etc.
DRAUGHT-PROOF VENTILATION
A high input fresh
air system allows a large amount of fresh air to be brought into the
car with the windows shut. Complete control over its warmth and direction
of flow can be gained by joint use of the heater-demister and the independently
supplied adjustable (for direction and flow) air grilles at each side
of the fascia. This system is so efficient that it has been possible
to dispense with the usual quarter windows on the front doors, thereby
achieving further reduction in wind noise at speed.
VIBRATIONLESS POWER
The 1798 cc, 4 cylinder,
OHV engine, has a 5 bearing crankshaft, delivers a smooth 84 bhp at
5,300 rpm.
It drives via a gear
train, a 4 speed gearbox with baulk-ring type synchromesh on all forward
gears.
A new design of engine
mounting combined with the use of control cables instead of the more
usual rods linking the gearbox to the gear lever helps to insulate the
car interior from all engine noises, contributing to a quiet high-speed
cruising performance.
SUSPENSION AND BRAKES
The now famous Hydrolastic
suspension system is employed. With liquid filled rubber suspension
units, (self-damping) inter-connected front to rear, a remarkably level
ride is obtained coupled with superb road holding. No attention is needed,
the system being sealed for life.
Continuously self
adjusting, the 9" diameter front disc brakes, combined with equally
large rear drum brakes, provide adequate stopping power for the car's
90 mph performance.
The 'G-sensitive'
valve in the hydraulic system reduces the possibility of locking the
rear wheels during emergency braking.
BUILT
TO LAST
In employing the
stiffest structure ever used for this category of family car, the designers
have aimed not only at safety, but also at increased longevity and freedom
from distortion and rattles over a huge mileage.
In conclusion it
may be said that the advanced design and quality of engineering inherent
in the new '1800' is such that it is confidently expected to carry on
the tradition of longevity established so convincingly by Lord Austin
in pre-war days. In fact, it is unlikely that the model will be obsolete
even in 10 years time and the life for any given car should be not less
than 150,000 miles.
Hence owners will
have the additional benefit of a low rate of depreciation.
SPECIFICATIONS IN BRIEF
* Engine:
Water-cooled, OHV 4 cylinder mounted transversely. Five bearing crankshaft.
Engine in unit with clutch, gearbox and final drive. Bore 3.16" (80.26
mm); stroke 3.5" (88.9 mm). Cubic capacity 109.75 cu in (1,798 cc).
Compression ratio 8.2:1.
Maximum bhp 84 (net)
at 5,300 rpm. Maximum torque 99 lbs. ft at 2,100 rpm.
* Fuel
System: SU carburettor, type HS4 SU electric fuel pump.
Tank capacity 10.75 imperial gallons, (48.8 litres).
* Gearbox:
BMC 4 speed, all synchromesh, cable operated from remote floor-mounted
gear lever.
Overall ratios:
Standard
Alternative
Top
4.188:1
3.882:1
Third
5.794:1
5.371:1
Second
9.285:1
8.609:1
First
13.783:1 12.779:1
Reverse
12.875:1 11.936:1
Top gear mph per
1,000 rpm, 16.62 (17.93 an alternative ratio of 3.882:1).
* Suspension:
Independent all round, Hydrolastic displacers inter-connected.
* Brakes:
Hydraulic, servo-assisted, 9" diameter front discs, 9" diameter rear
drums.
* Steering:
Rack and pinion, 4.4 turns lock to lock.
Dimensions:
Wheelbase
8 feet 10 inches
Track
- front 4
feet 8½ inches
Track
- rear
4 feet 7½ inches
Overall
Length 13 feet 8 3/16 inches
Overall
Width 5 feet 7 inches
Overall
Height (unladen) 4
feet 7½ inches
Ground
Clearance (laden) 6½ inches
Turning
Circle 37
feet between kerbs
Kerb
Weight (unladen + half tank petrol) 2
535 lbs.
(22.6cwt
or 1,149.85 kg)
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