Austin A110 Westminster Automatic

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The Austin Motor Company launched its imposing Westminster range of large saloons and estates in 1954 to replace the A70 Hereford. 

They remained in production for the next 14 years, going through five generations (the A90, A95, A99, A105 and A110) before being 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 3-speed manual box with overdrive 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 Automatic was purchased new through HA Saunders, Hereford’s Austin dealers, by the vendor’s late father. Registered with the appropriate number 110 BVJ, it was used on high days and holidays only before being taken off the road in 1982 and put in a barn on their farm.

Shortly after it was originally delivered, the local Herefordshire Constabulary paid a visit to the owner, asking if they could borrow it to see if it was going to be fast enough for police use! On its return, they reported that it was, and that they had seen an indicated 117mph – quite where this took place was not revealed. This clearly showed that it was either a particularly good example or had an over-optimistic speedometer – either way it's a cracking story.

The handbook lists the service work done over its 57,000 miles, showing it to have been extremely reliable. The family decided to recommission it in 2011, fitting new sills to bring it up to scratch and securing the car a fresh MOT in that year. It was then used once or twice before being put back into storage, thus this low mileage and unmolested car could do with some light recommissioning before use once more.

Complete with its original handbook, brochure and spare filter and spark plugs, this one-family-owned top of the range Austin now needs a second caring owner to give it the more regular exercise that it deserves.