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 DeLuxe 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 DeLuxe model also had a central fold-down armrest in the rear. A heater was fitted as standard on the DeLuxe model but optional on the standard version. When tested by Motor magazine, a 1955 Westminster DeLuxe 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 A90 was bought new in May 1955 by one John Rowe of Aberdare who was to keep it right up until his death in 2005. The vendor acquired it from his estate after becoming intrigued by some features on the car which led him to think it may perhaps have had some sort of (low level) competition history. These include the non-standard floor-change gearbox, the front driving lamps and the inlet manifold pressure gauge fitted below the far right side of the dash.

As he already owned a Healey 100/6 at the time, the vendor thought the A90 might at least make a useful source of spares (sharing the same engine and gearbox as the Healey). However, ten years down the line and the vendor no longer has the Healey and cannot see himself restoring the A90 so it now has to go as the room it takes up is required for another project.

Although the car is by no means a basket case, it certainly requires a fair amount of work and is being offered here at no reserve and strictly ‘as seen’. It comes with a V5C and two old MOTs from 1971 and 1983. There is also an original sales brochure, handbook, lubrication chart and radio booklet which the vendor may be prepared to pass on to the buyer if he thinks they are going to restore the car rather than break it for parts…

CATALOGUE AMENDMENT; This lot is provided with an older version of the V5C.