Austin 1800
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The Austin 1800 was a saloon car built by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) from September 1964 to 1975 and colloquially known as the "Landcrab". The 1800 was voted European Car of the Year for 1965.
It was developed at BMC as the large-car follow-up to the successful Mini and Austin 1100 under the ADO17 codename. Additional badge-engineered Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85 variants were launched, in 1966 and 1967, catering for BMC dealerships selling these marques, and their loyal customers.
The car was unconventional in its appearance in 1964, with its large glasshouse and spacious, minimalist interior. Both Alec Issigonis and Pininfarina worked on its exterior. The technology "under the skin" was also unconventional and ahead of its time, including Hydrolastic suspension and an early example of anti-lock brakes, in the form of a valve which transferred braking force between front and rear axles when one set of wheels began to lock up. The bodyshell was exceptionally stiff, featuring greater structural rigidity than many modern cars in the present day.
In May 1968 a "Mark II" version was launched. This featured a cheaper interior, revised front grilles, and for the Austin and Morris models the slim, horizontal rear lights were replaced by vertical "fin" lights which gave a family look along with the smaller ADO16 range. The Wolseley retained its unique rear lights. Further modifications heralded a "Mark III" version in 1972. This had another change to the front grilles and interior, including a conventional hand-brake.
In 1969, the doors from the 1800 (with Mark II exterior handles) were used on the bodyshell of the otherwise new Austin Maxi.
[edit] Six-cylinder models
The range spawned numerous further models. The Australian-built Austin Kimberley, Austin Tasman and (for New Zealand) Morris Tasman "X6" models of 1970 were based on the 1800 platform and retained the same doors, albeit with some changes. These cars had a 2.2 L straight-six engine, which eventually made it into the British ADO17s in 1972; the British six-cylinder models were known as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and Wolseley Six.
A version unique to Australia was a pickup variant, sold from 1968 to 1971.
The ubiquitous doors even appeared on the further upmarket Austin 3-Litre of 1967 and, at prototype stage, Bentleys and Rolls-Royces.
The 1800 and 2200 were not strong sales successes. In 1975, all three models were replaced by the wedge-shaped ADO71, or 18-22 series, which bore the same names at Austin and Morris (1800 and 2200), while the Wolseley variant had no official model name save for being marketed as "the Wolseley saloon". Eventually, all three became the Leyland Princess.
[edit] External links
- The Unofficial Austin Rover Web Resource: BMC 1800/2200 index
- Austin 1800 in Australia
- Official Landcrab website
