Austin A40 Sports
| Produced: |
1950-1953, 4011 produced. |
|---|---|
| Types: |
Convertible,2 doors,4 seats |
In 1950 Austin took an unusually bold step by launching the A40 Sports, something that would nowadays be called a "niche" model. The new A40 Sports had a two door convertible body built for Austin by low-volume sports car producer Jensen. The new car was not really a out-and-out sports car, it was more of a "fun" convertible, although it did feature twin carbs to give it a slight increase in performance.
Austin never really intended the A40 Sports to be a big seller, only just over 4000 cars were produced before production ended, allowing Jensen to concentrate on producing Austin Healey 100's for BMC. Despite the low volume production the A40 Sports was well regarded at the time and added a touch of glamour to the lower end of the Austin range.
| Capacity | Config | Model | Bore/Stroke | CR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1200cc | S4 OHV | 65.48mm x 89mm | 7.2 |
| Type | Gears | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Manual | 4 |
| Drivetrain | Steering | Front Suspension | Rear Suspension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worm | Independent/Coil Springs | Beam axle/Semi-elliptic leaf springs |
| Top Speed | 0-60 | SQM | MPG | Engine Pwr | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mph | 25.6 s | 23.2 s | 26 mpg | 46 bhp 4000 |
| Lot Num |
Description | Auctioneer | Date | Hammer Price | Hammer Price (inc premium) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Austin A40 Sports | H&H Sales Limited | 16 Apr 2009 | - | £4400.00 |
| 19 | Austin A40 Sports | BCA | 21 Feb 2005 | Not sold | |
| 660 | Austin A40 Sports | Lambert & Foster | 27 May 2004 | £450.00 | - |
| 333 | Austin A40 Sports (1952) | Lambert & Foster | 14 Jun 2001 | $2400.00 | - |
| 011 | Austin A40 Sports (1952) | H&H Sales Limited | 21 Feb 1996 | £3200.00 | - |
| 304 | Austin A40 Sports (1952) | Sothebys | 4 Sep 1993 | £2050.00 | - |
| 114 | Austin A40 Sports (1952) | Christies | 20 Jun 1992 | £2800.00 | - |
| Title | Pages | Options | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Article |
1952 Austin A40 Sports |
42 |
 |
|
| Publication | Practical Classics October 2009 | |||
| 1952 Austin A40 Sports - Persplex door cards, bespoke floorpans, custom colours and Practical Classics how-to guides - all sorts went into Alastair While's gorgeous A50 Sports rebuild. | ||||
| Article |
Delays at the A 40 |
50 |
|
|
| Publication | Practical Classics July 2002 | |||
| Delays on the A40 - The chassis had dissolved but at least aluminium doesn't corrode - er, yes it does. Danny Hopkins asks Allan Robinson why he paid £750 for a total wreck. | ||||
| Article |
Classic Cars February 2002 pg 97 |
97 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Cars February 2002 | |||
| Fifties Saloon Racers. We test four hopefuls set to scrap it out in a new Fifties saloon car racing series: Jaguar MkV11, Sunbeam Rapier, Austin A40 and Morris Minor. | ||||
| Article |
Surprise! - 1951 Austin A40 Sports |
22 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Mart Spring 2006 | |||
| Surprise! - 1951 Austin A40 Sports - Tester Steve Wilson found this early Fifties, all-Austin rag-top not at all what its A40 family suggested it would be... | ||||
| Article |
Sports Science |
108 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic & Sports Car September 2004 | |||
| Sports Science - Self-taught restorer Alastair White rebuilt his first classic aged 16 and has since tackled four cars, including this Austin A40 Sports. David Evans meets a quiet perfectionist. | ||||
| Article |
Classic Car Weekly 28 August 2002 pg 20 |
20 |
|
|
| Publication | Classic Car Weekly 28 August 2002 | |||
| Buying Power. Austin A40. Austin's A40 Farina was never as popular as its Mini and 1100 stablemates, but the world's first small hatchback makes a very usable classic, reckons Richard Gunn, assuming you can live with the rust. | ||||
