Austin A40 Sports
| Austin A40 Sports | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Austin (BMC) |
| Production | 1950–53 |
| Designer | Eric Neale |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | sports car |
| Body style | 2-door convertible |
| Related | Austin A40 |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.2 L I4 |
| Transmission | 4-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 92 in (2,337 mm) |
| Length | 159 in (4,039 mm) |
| Width | 61 in (1,549 mm) |
| Height | 57.5 in (1,460 mm) |
| Curb weight | 19 long cwt (2,128.0 lb; 965.2 kg) |
See Austin A40 for other A40 models.
The Austin A40 Sports debuted at the 1949 London Motor Show as a four-passenger, aluminium-bodied convertible version of the Austin A40 – carrying an Austin of England nameplate, bearing Austin's Flying A hood ornament, and designed and manufactured in conjunction with Jensen Motors.
Production of the A40 Sports, which was intended as a sporty touring car rather than a true sports car, began in November 1950 for model year 1951. By the time production ended in 1953, just over 4,000 examples had been produced.
As one in a series of collaborations between Austin and Jensen Motors of West Bromwich, the A40 Sports originated when Austin's chairman Leonard Lord saw the Jensen Interceptor and requested that Jensen develop a body that could use the A40 mechanicals. The resulting body-on-frame A40 Sports was designed by Eric Neale, a stylist who had joined Jensen in 1946 after working at Wolseley Motors. During production, A40 Sports bodies were built by Jensen and transported to Austin's Longbridge plant for final assembly.
Per Lord's intention, the A40 Sports was based on the mechanicals of the Austin A40 Devon, though the centre section of the chassis was boxed to provide rigidity for the open body. The A40 Sports also employed a twin-SU carburetored version of the 1.2 L engine producing 46 bhp (34 kW) rather than 42 bhp (31 kW).Gear selection was originally via a floor-mounted shifter. Steering was worm and roller type, front suspension was independent coil springs with rigid beam axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear.
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