Innocenti A40
| Austin A40 Farina | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer: | BMC |
| Production: | 1958-1967 342,162 |
| Predecessor: | Austin A35 |
| Successor: | Austin 1100 |
| Class: | compact car |
| Mark I | |
| Production: | 1958-1961 169,612 |
| Body styles: | FR 4-door saloon FR 4-door hatchback |
| Engines: | 948 cc A-Series I4 |
| Mark II | |
| Production: | 1961-1967 172,550 |
| Body styles: | FR 4-door saloon FR 4-door hatchback |
| Engines: | 948 cc A-Series I4 |
The Austin A40 Farina was a compact car from British Motor Corporation in the 1960s.
Introduced in 1958, the A40 Farina should not be confused with the other models carrying this designation. The A40 Farina was designed by Pininfarina of Italy and was notable as the first hatchback automobile ever produced. The A40 Farina was also available as a 2-door sedan.
It replaced the Austin A35, and was quite a modern car. It shared the 948 cc A-Series straight-4 used in the A35.
An A40 Farina Mark II was introduced in 1961. It had a longer wheelbase to increase the space for passengers in the backseat, and the front grill got a new design as well as the dashboard. The Mark II had more power (37 hp/28 kW) but was otherwise similar mechanically. This version lasted in production through 1967. The A40 went under the name "Farina" in all countries but Sweden, where it got the name "Futura". The mixup with a common type of brown sugar with a similar name, was believed to be unavoidable.
Engines:
- 1958–1961 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 34 hp (25 kW) at 4750 rpm and 50 ft·lbf (68 Nm) at 2000 rpm
- 1961–1962 - 948 cc A-Series I4, 37 hp (28 kW) at 5000 rpm and 50 ft·lbf (68 Nm) at 2500 rpm
Innocenti
Innocenti also produced A40s under licence from BMC. They began producing knock-down kit versions of the A40 in 1960 but soon progressed to produce the entire car in Italy. Innocenti's A40 Berlina and Combinata corresponded to the saloon and Countryman versions of the Austin A40 Farina.
The cars began using the larger 1098 cc engine in 1962, being renamed A40S at that time. Innocenti also designed a new single-piece rear door for the Combinata. This top-hinged door used struts to hold it up over a wide cargo opening and was a true hatchback. Though the regular Austin A40 Farina is often credited as the first hatchback, the Innocenti A40S Combinata was recognizable as a truly modern hatch.
In the end, 67,706 Innocenti A40 and A40S cars were produced.
| 1947-1971 Lambretta (motorscooter) | 1960-1967 A40/A40S Berlina/Combinata - hatchback Austin A40 Farina | 1961-1968 950/1100 Spider - roadster Austin-Healey Sprite Mk.II | 1963-1974 IM3/IM3S/Austin I4/I5 - sedan Morris 1100 | 1965 -- 186 GT - coupé with a 6 cyl. Ferrari Dino engine | 1965-1975 Mini - Mini | 1974-1975 Regent - sedan Austin Allegro | 1974-1975 Innocenti Mini - 90L and 120L Bertone rebodied Mini | 1975-1982 Innocenti De Tomaso - De Tomaso further development of Innocenti Mini | 1983-1992 3C - De Tomaso-rebodied Daihatsu Charade | 1991-1993 Koral - Yugo Koral rebadged for the Italian market | 1991-1996 Elba - European version of the Brazilian Fiat Elba |