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| Lot number | 51 |
|---|---|
| Hammer value | £3,500 |
| Description | Austin A40 Devon Van |
| Registration | KFJ 760 |
| Year | c.1950 |
| Colour | Green |
| Engine size | 1,200 cc |
The A40 Dorset and Devon were introduced in 1947 to replace the pre-war 8 and 10 models, although these earlier cars made a brief reappearance after the Second World War to fill a gap until the new models were ready.
The Dorset and Devon were the first post-war saloons to be produced by Austin – featuring a mix of old and new technologies. The A40 model designation indicated the approximate horse power, whilst English counties were used to delineate the models, the Dorset having two doors and the Devon four. The Dorset proved less popular than the more practical Devon and by the time Austin had merged with other British manufacturers to form BMC in 1951, the two-door Dorset had been dropped from the range.
Built along traditional lines, with a robust chassis and independent coil suspension at the front, the Devon featured a new 1,200cc overhead valve engine which was the direct ancestor (but not quite the same design) as the famous ‘B’ series engine, which in various guises and capacities was to last until the 1980s.
The versatile chassis lent itself to various options, and soon other A40 Devon variants were also available including an aluminium-bodied Sports version fitted with a twin SU carburettor version of the 1200cc engine delivering 46bhp (just 4 more horses than the standard arrangement). Other variants included a four-seat Tourer, a Countryman estate car, as well as a Van and Pick-up version. A lot of car for the money and with a useful 70mph top speed, the A40 Devon sold well, boosting Austin's coffers and its standing in the sales charts.
More than 450,000 A40 Devon variants were built before the model's replacement in 1952 by the Austin A40 Somerset, but you will never find another one quite like this. Stondon Museum livery adorns the sides of this van, so if anyone would like to start up where the Saunders family have sadly left off, this may be your chance!
Bidders should note that at the time of cataloguing no paperwork for this vehicle had been located and the registration number KFJ 760 does not show up on the Experian database.
