Austin A40 Somerset

Key facts

Year

1953
Country

Great Britain
Capacity

1,200cc
Cylinders

4 cylinder
Valves

Overhead valve
Output

42hp @ 4,500rpm
Performance

68mph, 0-60mph 31.6 seconds
Price new

£728
Owner

National Motor Museum Trust
Manufacturer

Austin Motor Co. Ltd, Longbridge, Birmingham

The Austin A40 appeared in 1948, replacing pre-war models such as the Austin Eight, Ten and Twelve. Available as either the four-door Devon or the short-lived two-door Dorset, the A40 retained a separate chassis and incorporated independent front suspension. Styling showed a distinct American influence. The A40 became the Somerset in February 1952 and was restyled to match the A70 Hereford and A30. Hydraulic brakes and a column gear change were now standard, previously only available on the Devon in 1951.

A total of 166,063 A40 Somerset saloons were built between 1952 and 1954, along with 7,243 drophead coupes. By 1954 the Somerset looked dated and a completely new A40, the Cambridge, with unitary chassis was introduced. This shared the B-series engine with the rival Morris Oxford, following the merger of Austin and Morris to form the British Motor Corporation (BMC) in 1952.

Rated 0 out of 5

An altogether unexpectedly high performance … The Austin Motor Company have managed to follow up one best seller with another

The Motor
9 April 1952