Austin Ant

__NOTOC__The Austin Ant was a small four-wheel drive vehicle designed by Sir Alec Issigonis for the motor manufacturer British Motor Corporation (BMC). Although the Ant is widely regarded as a military vehicle, some sources suggest it was conceived with civilian use in mind as well. Article "Ant Hill Mob" in "Classic and Sports Car" magazine, March 2007, published by Haymarket Publishing Ltd., United Kingdom] In its military rôle it was a potential successor to the military version of an earlier Issigonis design, the Mini Moke.

The Ant was cancelled in 1968 before full-scale production began, during the period when BMC became part of the British Leyland (BL) conglomerate; the merger caused several overlaps in model ranges, and the Ant was regarded as too close a competitor for the Land Rover range. [http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?codeadof.htm The unofficial Austin-Rover web resource; Austin Drawing Office numbers] ]

The Ant used an A-Series engine, tranverse mounted and tilted slightly backward to allow greater ground clearance and suspension movement. The main gearbox was placed in the engine sump, as on the Mini. A reduction gearbox took power from the main gearbox to the rear axle via a propshaft. The same layout was used 30 years later (with a K-Series engine) on the Rover Group's Land Rover Freelander.

References

ee also

Other Issigonis-designed military vehicles

* Mini Moke
* Nuffield Guppy

External links

* [http://www.austinmemories.com Austin Memories]
* [http://www.4wdonline.com/Austin/Ant.html Image of Austin Ant]