Austin Freeway
Encyclopedia
The Austin Freeway is an automobile
which was developed by the Australia
n division of the British Motor Corporation
(BMC), based on the British
Austin A60 Cambridge. Introduced in 1962, it was offered in both four-door saloon and five-door station wagon
body styles
.
Using the locally built 2433 cc six-cylinder "Blue Streak" engine, it represented the first attempt by BMC to challenge the dominant Holden
and Ford Falcon
models in the lucrative six cylinder family car class with a locally developed vehicle. The engine was a direct development of the company's
1622cc B-series unit
, cylinder dimensions in the six cylinder unit being identical to those of its four cylinder counterpart.
An upmarket variant, the Wolseley 24/80
sedan was also offered.
Although more expensive than its opposition, the Freeway was well equipped by contemporary standards, offering features such as windscreen washers and a fresh air heater / demister. Styling was not greatly changed from its British ancestor, although the grille treatment clearly set it apart from the Cambridge.
3,090 units were sold in its first year but volumes fell well short of those of the much more powerful six cylinder Chrysler Valiant
, introduced in Australia earlier the same year. Declining sales saw the Freeway discontinued in 1965.
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
which was developed by the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n division of the British Motor Corporation
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
(BMC), based on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Austin A60 Cambridge. Introduced in 1962, it was offered in both four-door saloon and five-door station wagon
Station wagon
A station wagon is a body style variant of a sedan/saloon with its roof extended rearward over a shared passenger/cargo volume with access at the back via a third or fifth door , instead of a trunk lid...
body styles
Car body style
Automobiles' body styles are highly variable. Some body styles remain in production, while others become less common or obsolete. They may or may not correlate to a car's price, size or intended market classification. The same car model might be available in multiple body styles comprising a...
.
Using the locally built 2433 cc six-cylinder "Blue Streak" engine, it represented the first attempt by BMC to challenge the dominant Holden
Holden
GM Holden Ltd is an automaker that operates in Australia, based in Port Melbourne, Victoria. The company was founded in 1856 as a saddlery manufacturer. In 1908 it moved into the automotive field, before becoming a subsidiary of the U.S.-based General Motors in 1931...
and Ford Falcon
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
models in the lucrative six cylinder family car class with a locally developed vehicle. The engine was a direct development of the company's
British Motor Corporation
The British Motor Corporation, or commonly known as BMC was a vehicle manufacturer from United Kingdom, formed by the merger of the Austin Motor Company and the Nuffield Organisation in 1952...
1622cc B-series unit
BMC B-Series engine
The BMC B-series was a straight-4 internal combustion engine family, mostly used in motor cars, created by British company Austin Motor Company. The pre-cursor of the "B" series engine was a 1200 cc OHV engine which was used in the 1947 Austin A40 Devon. This A40 Devon engine was based on a...
, cylinder dimensions in the six cylinder unit being identical to those of its four cylinder counterpart.
An upmarket variant, the Wolseley 24/80
Wolseley 24/80
The Wolseley 24/80 is an automobile which was produced by British Motor Corporation from 1962 to 1965.The car was in most respect identical to the contemporary Austin Freeway, but employed different frontal treatment in order to maximise the perceived differences between the cars and therefore, it...
sedan was also offered.
Although more expensive than its opposition, the Freeway was well equipped by contemporary standards, offering features such as windscreen washers and a fresh air heater / demister. Styling was not greatly changed from its British ancestor, although the grille treatment clearly set it apart from the Cambridge.
3,090 units were sold in its first year but volumes fell well short of those of the much more powerful six cylinder Chrysler Valiant
Chrysler Valiant
The Chrysler Valiant is a passenger car which was introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1962 with production ceasing in 1981. Initially a rebadged locally assembled Plymouth Valiant from the U.S., the Valiant range was sold throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as South Africa...
, introduced in Australia earlier the same year. Declining sales saw the Freeway discontinued in 1965.
External links
- The Austin Freeway and Wolseley 24/80 Retrieved on 8 May 2009