Austin A40

Austin · 1947–1967 · Petone-built

Read this first: five different cars wore the A40 badge, and they share almost nothing but the name.

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All Austin A40 PartsEverything we list for this model, in one place

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Not listed? Plenty of parts suit several marques and never get the model name in the title — ask us and we will check the books for you.

About the Austin A40

A40 was an Austin model series, not a single car, and the differences are structural. The Dorset (two-door, 1947–49) and Devon (four-door, 1947–52) sit on a separate chassis with the 1200cc Austin overhead-valve four; the Devon was one of Britain’s great export successes at 456,544 built including vans and pick-ups. The Somerset (1952–54) is the same mechanical package under A70-style bodywork, and the last Austin with a separate chassis. The A40 Cambridge (1954–56/57) is a clean break: a unitary shell sharing nothing structural with the Somerset. The A40 Farina (1958–67) is a different car again — Pininfarina-styled monocoque on BMC A-series running gear. Austins were assembled here at Petone by Associated Motor Industries, from SKD kits in 1946 and full CKD from 1948, Farinas included.

So when you order, tell us which A40. The 1200cc Austin OHV four (Devon, Somerset, Cambridge) and the A-series 948cc and 1098cc (Farina) are unrelated engines, and chassis cars and monocoque cars share no body parts. Two more traps worth knowing. Brakes: early Devons are hydraulic front with rod-operated rear, later cars full hydraulic; Farina Mk1 uses “hydromech” — hydraulic front, cable rear — and full hydraulics only arrive with the autumn 1962 update, so a 1961–62 Mk2 may still be hydromech. And the A50 Cambridge looks identical to the A40 Cambridge but runs the 1489cc B-series, which is a different engine entirely. Note also that Austin’s 1200 OHV is sometimes mislabelled “B-series” in reference books — B-series parts will not fit it.

Austin A40 — specification & changes within the model

A40 Dorset: 1947 – early 1949, two-door saloon, 15,939 built. Separate chassis. 1200cc Austin OHV four, 40bhp.
A40 Devon: 1947–52, four-door saloon, 456,544 built including commercials. Separate chassis, 1200cc OHV, 40bhp. Girling 9in drums; early cars hydraulic front and rod rear, later full hydraulic. Four-speed, early floor change, later column. Devon-based Countryman, van and pick-up ran on to 1956. Australia also built a two-door tourer and a coupé utility.
A40 Sports: 1950–53, 4,011 built. Aluminium Jensen body on a boxed Devon chassis, twin SU, 46bhp. GD2 cars floor change and mechanical brakes; GD3 from August 1951 column change and full hydraulics.
A40 Somerset: 1952–54, over 173,000 built including 7,243 Carbodies convertibles. The last Austin with a separate chassis. 1200cc OHV, 40–42bhp depending on source, four-speed column change, four-wheel hydraulic brakes. Somerset Special (1953, about 500 cars) had twin SUs.
A40 Cambridge: September 1954 to late 1956/early 1957, 30,666 built. First unitary A40 shell. 1200cc OHV, 42bhp @ 4500rpm, drums front and rear, four-speed column change with no synchro on first. Shares its shell with the 1489cc A50 — check the engine, not the body.
A40 Farina: 1958–67, 342,162 built. Monocoque on A-series running gear; drums all round, never discs. Mk1 1958–61: 948cc, 34bhp, hydromech brakes; Countryman estate added September 1959. Mk2 from October 1961: wheelbase 3.5in longer, front anti-roll bar, new grille and dash. Autumn 1962: 1098cc 48bhp, improved gearbox, full hydraulic brakes.
Built here: Associated Motor Industries, Petone, Wellington — SKD from 1946, full CKD from 1948, plant extended 1953. A40s, A70 Hampshires and Herefords through 1948–54, and the A40 Farina from English CKD kits.
Electrics: 12 volt across the range.