1971 Austin 3-Litre

Lot details
Registration No: XOX676J
Chassis No: ABSAD-8622M
Mot Expiry: Aug 2011

9,900 miles from new

Though the 3-litre was not unveiled until the 1967 London Motor Show, it was conceived several years prior as a replacement for the aging Austin Westminster and its Wolseley and Vanden Plas siblings. Codenamed ADO61, it shared its centre section with the smaller front-wheel drive Issigonis-designed 1800 (codenamed ADO17 - nicknamed 'Landcrab'). However, the two models had little else in common. Penned to rival such market stalwarts as the Vauxhall Cresta, Ford Executive and Rover P5, the 3-litre was powered by a new, longitudinally-placed 125bhp, 2912cc straight-six unit - essentially a shorter, lighter, seven-bearing update of the BMC C-Series engine. This drove the rear wheels via a conventional four-speed, all-synchromesh manual gearbox with optional Laycock de Normanville overdrive, or a three-speed Borg Warner Type 35 automatic unit. The suspension was a unique version of BMC's hydrolastic system with the addition of a self-levelling facility for the rear - a set-up that received much praise for the resulting ride and handling. As befitted its intended market, the 3-litre's interior had a suitably opulent air, courtesy of quality trim, wood veneer and cloth headlining. The lengthy nose required to house the six-cylinder engine was visually balanced by a sizeable boot - the resulting car was some nine inches longer than the 1800. Luxurious Wolseley and Vanden Plas derivatives reached prototype stage but progressed no further. Some 9,992 3-litres had been made by the time production ceased in 1971.

The 1971 example offered is finished in Persian Blue complemented by a Grey interior and is equipped with the optional automatic transmission. It was apparently purchased new from Patrick Motors, Birmingham by a Mr Pulley as a retirement present for his wife. Following her death two years later it was stored for twenty-seven years before being sold to a gentleman in Christchurch. Three more keepers ensued prior to the vendor's purchase in February 2010. Since then: the bodywork has been stripped bare and resprayed in the original colour; the brightwork rechromed; the interior trim removed, cleaned and replaced; the engine and gearbox serviced. Remarkably the odometer shows just under 10,000 miles, a figure which the vendor is confident represents the total distance covered from new. A rare survivor, 'XOX 676J' is offered for sale with MOT, tax, history file and related photos.