Austin A40 Devon

Infobox Automobile


name =Austin A40 Devon
manufacturer =Austin/BMC
production =1947-1952
456,544
class =midsize car
body_style =4-door Devon saloon
2-door Dorset saloon
estate
van
pickup truck
predecessor =Austin 10
successor =Austin A40 Somerset
related =Austin A40 Sports
engine =1.2 L (1200 cc) Straight-4
width = Auto in|61|0
length = Auto in|153|0
weight = Auto lb|2130|0
height = Auto in|63.5|0
wheelbase = Auto in|92.5|0:"See Austin A40 for other A40 models and Austin A40 Sports for the sports car version of the Devon."

The A40 Devon (and similar 2-door A40 Dorset) were automobiles sold by the Austin Motor Company from 1947 through to 1952. They were the first post-war saloons to be produced by Austin, and thus featured a mixture of old and new technologies.

Both cars were body-on-frame designs with modern bodies and a 1.2 L straight-4 OHV engine producing Auto bhp|40|0 at 4200 rpm. They also featured front coil sprung independent suspension but retained a rigid axle and semi elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The Girling brakes with Auto in|9|0 drums were operated hydraulically at the front and mechanically at the rear. Later cars had column operated gear change and full hydraulic braking. A sliding sunroof and heater were extra cost options on the UK market.

The Devon was the 4-door version and was more successful than the 2-door Dorset, which was dropped in 1949 after only 15,939 were made.

The "Countryman" estate was produced up until 1956. A van and pickup truck were also produced.

For a semi-sports car version, Jensen supplied an alloy body (see Austin A40 Sports).

A car tested by The Motor magazine in 1948 had a top speed of convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on and could accelerate from 0-convert|60|mph|km/h|abbr=on in 37.2 seconds. A fuel consumption of convert|34.1|mpgimp|L/100 km mpgus was recorded. The test car, which had the optional sliding roof, cost £505 including taxes. cite journal | authorlink = Unsigned |title = The Austin A40 Devon Road Test| journal =The Motor| volume = | pages = | date = October 13 1948]

More than 450,000 cars were produced before it was replaced in 1952 by the Austin A40 Somerset.

References

External links

* [http://dragnuts.ning.com/video/video/show?id=649284%3AVideo%3A36326 Video of 1948 Austin Devon dragster]