Austin A110 Westminster MkII Auto

The Austin Motor Company launched its imposing Westminster range of large saloons and estates in 1954 to replace the A70 Hereford. It remained in production for the next 14 years, going through five generations (the A90, A95, A99, A105 and A110) before it was replaced by the new Austin 3-Litre in 1968, with some 101,634 examples produced in total.

The old fashioned bulbous styling of the early versions was replaced in 1959 with a much sharper new look courtesy of Italian styling house Pininfarina. In 1961 came the final and biggest variant, the A110. This had a longer wheelbase which allowed more space in the rear compartment as well as improving the roadholding.

Under the bonnet was the 2.9-litre C-Series straight-six engine with twin SU carbs from the Austin-Healey 3000 sports car. In A110 tune this developed 120bhp mated either to a 4-speed manual box as standard or a 3-speed Borg Warner automatic transmission as an option. In automatic guise it could reach 60mph in 13 seconds on its way to a top speed of 102mph. To enhance stopping ability, power assisted Lockheed disc brakes were fitted to the front. Very much a car for the executive class, some 26,105 examples were sold.

This particular A110 MkII Automatic was, appropriately enough, first registered to Westminster Bank, London EC2, in October 1965, as its original green log book confirms. Apart from an older repaint in the original mid-blue, the car appears to be in exceptionally sound and original condition throughout with nice straight bodywork and a well preserved blue leather interior. Nice touches include chrome cup-holders in the rear picnic tables and the original Smiths Radiomobile radio which still retains its original instruction book.

The car is said to drive beautifully and certainly performed well when we were treated to a short test drive on the occasion of our visit to take these photographs. The 78,700 miles on the odometer is believed to be genuine and is partially supported by the original Passport to Service book with nine stamps up to 33,109 miles in 1969 and most old MOTs back to 1994 at 70,899 miles. It also comes with its original owner’s handbook and a factory workshop manual. Currently MOTd until January 2012, this stately old saloon is in very pleasing condition throughout and will provide stylish family transport for many years to come.