Austin debutantes - well, 75 years ago!
Two debutantes for 1948, seventy-five years ago were the Austin A70 Hampshire and A90 Atlantic.
The Hampshire effectively replaced the Sixteen, and used basically the same 2199 cc engine. Looking like a scaled up A40 Devon, this tough but comfortable family car sold relatively well in this country, particularly in the bush.
The Atlantic was aimed directly at the American market, and while it broke many endurance records over there, the most successful export country was Australia, as it was for most of the post-war Austins, including the A40 Devon and the A30.
The Austin A70 Hampshire released at the 1948 Motor Show in October.
The Atlantic was also announced at Earls Court Motor Show in 1948
Nairn Hindhaugh
