Austin A40 Somerset

Infobox Automobile


name = Austin A40 Somerset
manufacturer = BMC
production = 1952-1954
173,306
class = midsize car
layout = FR layout
body_style = 4-door saloon
2-door convertible
engine = 1.2 L I4
transmission = 4 speed manual - synchromesh on 2nd, 3rd and top
length = Auto in|158.5|0cite book |last=Culshaw |first= |coauthors=Horrobin |title=Complete Catalogue of British Cars |year=1974 |publisher=Macmillan |location=London |id=ISBN 0-333-16689-2]
width = Auto in|63|0
height = Auto in|62.5|0
weight = 2232lb
wheelbase = Auto in|92|0
predecessor = Austin A40 Devon/Dorset
successor = Austin A40 Cambridge
designer =

:"See Austin A40 for other A40 models."

The A40 Somerset was an automobile sold by the Austin Motor Company from 1952 until 1954. It replaced the A40 Devon and was quite similar to that body-on-frame car, including using the same 1.2 L straight-4 pushrod engine. The engine was updated to produce 42 hp (31 kW), however giving the car a top speed of convert|69|mi/h|km/h|0|abbr=on.

The Somerset featured an updated "Transatlantic" body style designed for export and resembled the larger A70 Hereford. It had a bench front seat and column mounted gear change. The Somerset was initially only a 4-door saloon, though a 3-passenger 2-door convertible model made by Carbodies of Coventry was also sold. The 2 door and convertible differed from the 4 door cars in having separate front seats that folded forwards to give access to the rear.

Over 173,000 were sold before the Somerset was replaced by the A40 Cambridge in 1954. 7243 of them were convertibles cite book |last=Robson |first=Graham |title=A-Z British Cars 1945-1980|year=2006 |publisher=Herridge & Sons |location=Devon, UK|id=ISBN 0-9541063-9-3 ]

A convertible version tested by The Motor magazine in 1953 had a top speed of convert|74|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 28.6 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|30.1|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car cost £705 including taxes. These figures were all obtained on the contemporary low octane fuel.cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Austin A40 Convertible Road Test| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = September 2 1953]

External links

* [http://www.austinmemories.com Austin Memories]

References