The AUSTIN A40 FARINA Mk1 & Mk2

The 1958-1967 Austin A40 Farina, BMC's first seller following a multi-car styling collaboration with Italian styling house Pininfarina, is the subject of this varied photo compilation. In it, photographs of A40 Farinas taken by myself over the last 30 years or so are mixed in with "in period" images from a time when the Austin A40 Farina Mk1 & Mk2 was still a common sight on British roads.
Sales of the A40 started well but as the years rolled by, and as a result of increasing competition in the small-car world (not least BMC's own 1100/1300 range which was available in 2 and 4 door format, and estate) saw sales never really reach the heights that BMC had predicted. The Mk1 gave way to the Mk2 in 1961, after which changes were evolutionary rather than revolutionary until the car disappeared from BMC new-car sales forecourts in 1967.
The passage of time, a fondness for rusting, and arguably being overshadowed for many years within the classic car world by its curvy and cute A30/A35 predecessors, had led to few of the sharp-lined Austin A40 Farinas of either Mark surviving in great numbers. Fortunately the very active Austin A40 Owners' Club is doing a fine job in helping to keep both parts supply and enthusiasm for these oft-overlooked cars going.
As well as photographs, I've also scanned a number of publications that feature A40s on their covers, not least an in-period flyer for the Speedwell Austin A40. Modified A40s are nothing new, even today there are quite a few around, but do any Speedwell-modified-from-new A40s survive? Other unusual entrants in this collection include a pickup and a van replica, plus race/rally examples and a few photos of un-restored and rather rusty A40s.
Your Austin A40 Farina memories welcomed as always in the comments! My own Mk1 A40 saloon has featured elsewhere on the channel already, and a few photos of it over the years can be found in this compilation.
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