Austin A90 'Six' Westminster Deluxe

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The A90 Six Westminster was introduced at the 1954 London Motor Show alongside the smaller A40/50 Cambridge saloon range. 

It used the new BMC C-Series 2.6-litre straight-six engine which, with a single Zenith carb, produced 85bhp. Suspension was independent at the front using coil springs and wishbones, with leaf springs and anti-roll bar on the live axle at the rear. The four-speed column-change transmission had synchromesh on the top three ratios.

The interior, with leather trim on the De Luxe version and PVC on the standard model, had a split bench front seat arrangement which could seat three people abreast with the centre armrest folded up. The De Luxe model also had a central fold-down armrest in the rear. A heater was fitted as standard on the De Luxe model but optional on the standard version. When tested by Motor magazine, a 1955 Westminster De Luxe recorded a top speed of 85.7mph and acceleration from 0–60 mph in 18.9 seconds. The test car cost £834 including taxes.

This particular De Luxe was first registered in November 1955 to a Police Inspector, Denis Malcolm, who was to keep the car for the next 27 years. He clearly cherished the car as have subsequent owners, the vendor describing it as being in “pristine and highly original condition with a very low mileage.”

Finished in black with a beautifully patinated red leather interior, it also has a nice period sun visor fixed over the windscreen. Said to come with a good history file and an original owner’s handbook, it certainly sounds like an unusually good example of the model.