Austin 3-Litre
| Austin 3-Litre | |
|---|---|
1971 Austin 3-Litre
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Austin |
| Production | October 1967– May 1971 |
| Assembly |
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| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Executive car (E) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate (Crayford Conversion) |
| Layout | |
| Related | Austin 1800-2200 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2912 cc C-Series Straight-6 |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 114.5 in (2,908 mm) |
| Length | 185.75 in (4,718 mm) |
| Width | 67 in (1,702 mm) |
| Height | 56.6 in (1,438 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,304 lb (1,499 kg) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Austin A110 |
| Successor | None |
The Austin 3-Litre is a British saloon car that was introduced by Austin at the London Motor Show in 1967. It became apparent that BMC were not geared up to producing the car: few or none seem to have been sold that year, but by July 1968 it was reported that the cars had begun to leave the factory. By that time the square headlights seen at the 1967 motor show had been replaced by conventional round twin headlamp units, and by the time of the October 1968 show the car had also acquired front quarter lights. In July 1968, with cars beginning to emerge from the plant, the manufacturers were asked to detail improvements reportedly implemented since the car's "launch" the previous October. Mention was made of orifice modifications to hydraulic valves in the rear suspension, and it was stated that there was a "new" final drive ratio of 3.9:1, though this was actually the same final drive ratio included in the launch information the previous October.
Codenamed ADO61, the car was intended to be BMC's offering in the 3-litre executive class and was originally designed in the early 1960s, before the British Leyland era. Unlike the visually similar (but smaller) front-wheel drive ADO17 range, the 125 bhp 3-litre engine (a 7-bearing modification of the BMC C-Series with twin SU carburettors) drove the rear wheels through a conventional 4-speed gearbox. The car used Hydrolastic suspension with self-levelling hydraulic rams at the rear and was praised for its excellent ride and handling. Alec Issigonis, who designed the front-wheel drive cars, had no part in the 3-Litre, which he was reportedly keen to point out.
To cater for its intended market the interior was luxurious, featuring wood veneers and cloth headlining (but leather upholstery was not available, being replaced with a good-quality vinyl) and the boot was longer than that of the 1800, contributing to an overall length of 186 inches (4,700 mm) (the 1800 was 167 inches (4,200 mm) long).
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