Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

[?]
[?]
A40 Completely New
THE AUSTIN A/40
has secured al
most a unique posi
tion in the post
war motoring scene
— Britain has ex-
ported more of the
600,000 chassis which
have been produced
than any other
single make.
The "Devon" and
"Somerset" versions
now have a successor
in the Cambridge, a
picture of which was
reproduced on this -
page last week. The
new A40, moreover/is
, accompanied by a
companion car, the
A50.
This differs from the
1200 c.c. A40 only In
having a .1500 c.c. en
gine and a higher back
. axle ratio, providing
extra performance.
Both , are known as
the "Cambridge."
The new A40 Is the
first to employ Integral
construction. The dia
gram (above) shows
how deep and rigid
longitudinal sections are
' employed to ensure
rigidity.
Outside dimensions of
the Cambridge body are
slightly smaller, except
for length, than the old
Somerset, but Inside the
front seat is 2% inches
wider and the rear 12%
Inches wider at mini
mum width.
More Strength
Headroom is increased
- by % inch.
These extensions are
Jiossible because - of a.
onger. wheelbase, which
allows the rear seat to
bte well forward' of the
rear' axle and free of
restriction by the wheel
arches.
.Both Cambridge: ver-
slons are powered by
the British Motor Cor- "
poration's "B" series
engine. '
Based on the previous
A40, unit, both 1200 c.c.
and 1500 c.c. versions
have increased crank
shaft bearing diameter.
Thus ; the .A50- is
rugged enough to: give
the :. extra ; power from
the larger , bore, , and the
A40 should be $ven
more durable than pre
viously./ . :
' other .changes, from
the original A40 -engine
are : confined to detail,
but in their sum' contri
bute to/trouble-free 'ope
ration;1;;/:
The: clutch;, larger in
the/ASO/ is now .hydrau-'
lie, .' .Pendant":' control
pedals :" ' . 'haVe been
adopted:. ' : ',/ ;./ v-V-
The- gear box '-"is ;. ari...
entirely Jnew . design, in
which-. great; pains-have
been, -taken . to: -provide,
light and . instantaneous :
changes:
New Synchro
Baulk- type synchro
mesh . "is - .. / used with
chamfers to .make ..en
gagement .of : first ./arid
second easily picked up
at all times.
.Th'efthree.'upper ratios
of the , four-speed box
are synchronised, as be
fore. ' . - -
Suspension is basic- .
ally unchanged, except
for strengthened wish
bones, at the froriit and
heavy" rubber blocks for
quieter .running.
The -steering gear is
more robust, due to de
tail design changes.
Brakes have been
modified 4n . many res
pects to produce quieter
and fade-free service.
No firm date for the
irrival of export ship
ments in Melbourne is
yet available.
Diagram reproduced from "The- Motor," England. Help
Diagram reproduced from "The- Motor," England.
$