An elderly relative had one of these. He hung onto it for years as he hated modern cars for being too complicated. In the end it could no longer get through an MOT due to rust and a load of other issues and he had to scrap it. It was like a family member had passed away.
These were pretty sensational looking cars in their day. With their distinctive gear whine up through the gears when they got to speed they were outstandingly quiet. My father in law had the Riley version and it was always his favourite car and he had literally dozens of different cars throughout his life
My neighbours in the early 70s, Mr and Mrs Sear were the owners of an Austin Cambridge. Mrs Sear was of considerable girth. Local gossip (as I did not witness the event) spoke of a shocking accident as the rusty Austin lost its battle to keep Mrs Sear perched in the comfort of the passenger cabin, and the rusty floor along with the seat and Mrs Sear parted company from the parent vehicle. Luckily Mr Sear, who had lost an eye in a gardening incident was not a brisk driver and injuries were light. I was a young lad with a keen interest in cars and noticed the absence of the Austin. I can't recall if they replaced it with another car..and I guess nobody else in the world knows or cares either? God bless you Mrs Sear if you are looking in.
Well one fellow had to get rid of his skoda because of past memories their dog died on the back seat while his wife was attempting mouth to mouth resuscitation, their neighbours old cat unfortunately died around the same time while they were taking it on a tour of Europe.
@@marklittler784 They took their neighbours old cat on a tour of Europe? That was a nice thing to do for the old fella..😸😹😁 (Ha ha couldn't resist....) But more important HOW do you resuscitate a dog mouth to mouth - things don't fit???
First car was a 64 Wolseley 16/60 auto, great old bus. Those fins made reversing and parking a doddle. Being auto the starting handle came in handy on many occasions as well, really easy as well, sharpish 1/4 turn and she kicked in to life!
Our family had a similar 1963 Morris Oxford with the 1622cc engine. We loved that car. The smell of the leather seats was very atmospheric. It had a huge steering wheel too, with a large chrome inner wheel for the horn. It brings back many fond memories of our long drives to Cornwall for our holidays... 👀👍
A lot of people saying things like it was junk, obsolete, etc etc. but you have to remember that in 1959 theer were still thousands of pre-car cars on the road and most people couldn't even afford to buy and run THEM, ley alone brand new vehicles. A car with all the latest tech etc would have been too expensive to buy in big numbers. These Farina cars were like a breath of fresh air in 58/59 and many of their supposed faults or drawbacks were present on most other cars, including Rolls Royces which also rusted eventually.
Fond memories!! My Dad had the Morris Oxford version of this car in Clipper Blue reg number 650 SVT. He bought it brand new and though i was only 10 at the time, i used to sit in it and go through the motions of changing gears after watching my Dad. I well remember the glorious smell of leather upholstered seats and the sight of those big rear fins! Like the Cambridge there was LOTS of chrome! By the time i was 17 my Dad had bought a series 6 Oxford and after passing my test (first time!) couldn't wait to get home and tell my parents. I asked my Dad if i could go for a drive in his car thinking he would refuse outright....but got the shock of my life when he agreed....on condition i didn't go on the motorway. Where was the first place i went? Yep....straight to the motorway!!
Living in Australia I have the A60 with the 1622 engine. It is quite gutsy and gets along really well. Most people drove so slowly, I can easily keep up and sometimes even burn them off! Simple and solid. Quite comforting in this age. Cheers and thank you for this test and the camera angle, just perfect.
Back in 1960 I was a boy of 8....all taxis in Southport were this type or Oxfords. To get a taxi with Mum was a huge deal for us poor folk. We were poor but happy lol
Oh, that gear whine. I remember that like it was yesterday . So many of these and the A60 models were just everywhere. An uncle, and later his son, had the Morris. A friend's father was posh and had the Wolsley. That one had a very grand grille and half a tree as a dash, sorry, facia panel! Whatever the model, you could tell them a mile away by the gear whine, inside or out. As usual, shame about the rot. A true British classic in every sense. Excellent. Thanks very much.
Gray Fool in fact the Cambridge range didn’t suffer from first gear whine as much as the Morris Minor/A30 range. These cars were never meant to be floored in first, which was still considered to be an emergency gear (read the handbook). On the move these cars were quieter than most modern equivalents, without the rumble from oversized tyres.
@@PGtips2691 I'm pretty certain that the greasey bits were the same for the Austin and Morris versions. The MG had twin carbs but not many other changes. It was mostly trim and badges that were changed to differentiate the models.
PGtips2691 MG Magnette and Riley 4/68-4/72 had twin carbs, all else were single carb... engine size increased from 1498cc to 1622cc B series around...63?!?. As was the track being lengthened and widened over time. Synchro would die on 2nd at around 100k, but the box would just soldier on. They kept being made until 71. You could mod them with MGBs running gear, but the back plate needs machining...moreso on the 5 bearing 1798. Disc brakes could be fitted, easier using pricey Big Healey parts, cheaper MGB parts need machining to fit. But the drums are perfectly fine if set up correctly.
@@PGtips2691 The Ambassador made in India had the same B series engine. Most owners would move forward in second gear. Now I see why. I thought that it would damage the clutch.
Brought back happy memories of my first car. My Mother inherited it from her uncle in 1971 and it was passed down to me in 1973. At that time I was employed as a Merchant Navy Engineer Officer cadet. Running and maintaining the car gave me a good practical experience in mechanical engineering. Thankfully with modern cars, it is not necessary to do the annual engine de-coke. My Father used to count the washers that I'd left on his garage floor after each service I performed. However, the braking and clutch systems gave good practical experience on car hydraulics. As another correspondent noted, running on only three cylinders was quite normal. My solution was to enclose the distributor and cap within a plastic bag, which normally cured the 'tracking out' on the distributor cap. The car was very reliable during the 3 years that I owned it, a core plug coming out on the M4 on my way home from London being one of the more memorable moments. It is important to remember that back in the early 1970's, owning a car was way more important than what model of car you owned.
The video brought back happy memories. My Grandfather bought a two-tone (Black over Farina Grey) Austin A55 Mk11, with leather seat facings, new in October 1959 and travelled 30,000 miles in her before having to give up driving. I drove her for another 100,000 miles. She was so easy to work on and had a cavernous boot - I carried an A-Series Morris Minor engine in it without problems. A wonderful family car - wish I had her now!
This brings back some great childhood holiday memories, my dad owned this exact model, same colour, he bought it in 1962 & kept it for 20 years, went everywhere in it, many trips to Cornwall, Wales & even a fortnight to Sweden in 1977. That low speed gearbox whine is so distinctive! One quirky feature (by today's standards) you didn't mention was the floor mounted push switch for the headlight high beam. The car was sadly scrapped in 1982, with much rust & a respectable 107,000 miles on the clock!
Well if it lasted over 20 years, it lived on a good sight better than many of today's cars and gave good vfm. There aren't that many 1990s cars on the road nowadays even. They may have solved the rust, handling and economy problems these days, but the electrical mayhem and 'gadgets to go wrong' of today's vehicles is almost just as bad.
He did mention the dip footswitch at 13:08. My dad had three of these up the driveway at one time. A Morris Oxford, Austin A55 and a Vanden Plas one too.
I had one just like this for a number of years and it served me very well - driving every week from Ilford to Basingstoke - never let me down. It only cost me £95 to purchase and when I sold it, it went considerably more - good times!
Excellent example. I'm 64 and can remember my Uncle having one of these. And at the same time my Father had the Morris Oxford Virstion. Both being 10 years old my Cousin and myself used to ask our Dad's which was the fastest. Of course at that age we did not know that they had the same engine 🙄😁 Great cars and memories 👍
I'm 64 and my uncle and remember my uncle having one of these. My dad had a Volvo 122s, which was a far superior vehicle. But anyway, I remember a Jenson overtaking my uncle and he tried his damnest to keep up after. It was heroic but doomed to failure. Somehow the car, and us, survived.
This brings back so many memories of travelling in my Dad’s A55 Cambridge, when young. He had that exact Farina model with the high rear fins, only in light grey. His next car was the later A60 Cambridge, which had a lower rear profile and was otherwise very similar. Not many of these around any more, as a lot were used for banger racing in the 1970s and 1980s.
Thankyou . I enjoy seeing all these beautiful cars from Britain that I love. Keep the good work up. I just think its not important, at least to me, to note how fast cars like these can accelerate from 0-60MPH in so many seconds etc. To me, it undermines everything this car was built to do and stood for. I love the British cars. If you want a racing car, get one. These vehicles have charm and looks. Your image is spoiled by suggesting it lacks in that field of 'speed'. I wish 99 per cent of cars made today, would not be able to go the crazy speeds they can and the road toll caused by speed through them, in the hands of mostly men (that have never grown up).John (Australia)
Talking of synchromesh, I was born in 1980, my first car was a 1964 Riley Elf: I still double de-clutch on downshifts now, I don’t think it’s a habit that will ever leave me.
@@travellifewithjobo5740 That doesn't make sense, the synchro is still doing its job whether you double clutch or not. It's just having to do less work.
As a teenager, I rode in several of these, the quintessential British middle-class cars of their day. The ride had a wallowy quality, which seemed to make the pointed front wings oscillate over poor surfaces or undulations. The most basic version was the Morris Oxford, with this Austin version boasting a bit more chrome and 'presence' and the Wolseley being the most deluxe, with leather-faced seats, wooden dash, and characteristic illuminated grille badge. The MG was a twin-carb version of the Morris ('MG' = 'Morris Garages', originally), then the Riley added leather to that spec. Badge engineering at its silliest height.
I've just remembered how those expensive Armstrong combined top link and piston shock absorbers (Dampers)used to wear out and you'd see these cars bouncing up and down like a Yo-yo after a bit of a bump. They kept that technology at least from 1946 (Austin 8.10 etc) as others moved over to telescopic shocks
In the early 60's my father had a Cambridge. He did work to the cylinder head and fitted twin carbs. Him and a friend made up a tubular exhaust for it. From somewhere they got stainless steel tubing of various sizes to make an exhaust system. He did some navigational rallying with it.
This was my first car - it had been the family car for a decade or more. My dad was a mechanic so it always ran well. He replaced the original engine with the 1622 engine from an A60 which had been rolled. He spotted the wreck and bought it for a few quid. Very comfortable car. I could get an indicated 85 mph out of it on the Chester bypass. It was quite happy cruising at 60-65. Fuel consumption was about 28 mpg on a run. They were torquey engines so performance is better than the horsepower rating might suggest (like diesels are today). I believe these cars were very popular with ex-pat farmers in Rhodesia and South Africa. This surprised me as the suspension is quite soft - not sure how they would handle unmade roads! Mine was black with red seats just like the one you're driving. Never heard the term Farina Austin! There's a button to dip/mainbeam the headlights to the left of your left foot. Back end will slide out if you overdo it on a corner, but because it's quite a long wheelbase it's very predictable and easily corrected. You can stick your Hillman up your arxx - these were much stronger, more durable cars.
We had one when I was a kid. When it was nearly out of fuel you could hear the electric fuel pump ticking as it started to pump air bubbles. The all round visibility is so much better in these old cars, a in a modern car all you can see is headrests.
I once owned an A55 mk2, identical to the one in this clip…lovely to hear the whine of the gearbox again. The A55 mk2 in my opinion was the best of the Cambridge’s, they seemed less prone to rusting, wish I still had my one🙂
I had the Westminster version of this back in the 60’s. Loved that car and it’s power. Hard steering though. That steering wheel was not the most comfortable. Had to use a lace on wheel cover. 9/10 .
I bought a 1968 Oxford Traveller a couple of years ago, just to scratch an itch from childhood. Was expecting porridgey handling and was amazed how sharp it was to drive. Easier to park than my modern Toyota, thanks to wonderful glass area and fins. Hard to explain, but the rear seat also folded so a portion of the seat back flipped up to give you a cushion for your head if you needed to kip in the back for the night. Just a standard thing they all had. I wonder how many people used it. I also wonder if it inspired the Maxi bed arrangement, since that replaced the Austin version.
Wow my Headmaster had one of these, and we used to listen for the distinctive whine coming down the road before the school bell You could set your watch by him LOL 👍 Tam.
I drove my Morris Oxford version from London to Bristol before the M4 was extended further than Maidenhead. It went very nicely at 50 MPH, which felt very quick in those days.
Lovely car. Always liked the Farina BMCs, I was a little lad when the were new. Good times, Britisch cars were British, French were French and so on, not dictated by legislation, the wind tunnel but by local culture. So nice, thank you!
My dad's first car for the family was one of these Austin Cambridges in blue. As a small child it seemed enormous to me; almost a limo. That memory has stuck with me and although I can now see that it is not as big as I remember it is still pretty big. Wagon Wheel biscuits was another one.
I absolutely LOVE these cars! So quality and classy, and as you say, real 1960's glamour.....My grandfather had a white Austin Cambridge and I think he loved it too! As a child, I spent many a happy hour sitting in the back on the leather back seat.....
I fondly remember our first family car wearing that same suit. It was a Wolseley 15/60 badged BMC with the quietest engine in tickover I’ve ever heard this side of a Lexus! Lovely simple robust engineering with the slight feel of being in something special. Ours had a different dash and I seem to remember that the dip switch was foot operated. The Wolseley was often regarded as the posher version of the Cambridge. In my youth I couldn’t pronounce the name so it became the “wooly”. It was quite a comfortable and reliable car which my father exchanged for a new Volkswagon Beetle 1600s which we loathed. It was more cramped, noisy and plasticky. I hated travelling in that VW and was relieved when dad crashed it (and that he was ok) and bought my favourite car of my youth, a Triumph TC 2000 TC bullnose. Without hesitation I’d happily have the Wolseley or the Triumph as classics today. I was using a TC2000 mk2 as my daily driver back in the late 1990’s!
The digits on the spedo use the same principle as the names on a map. The rule for cartographers is: if you hold a map up and shake it and all the names fall off they would land the right way up (reading left - right) - same for the numbers on the spedo.
The Austin logo cover plate on the dash was where the optional extra clock should have gone - I think. Dates back to 1954 with the earlier A40 / Cambridge models.
No it wasn't. It was obsolete when it was launched. That was the problem with too many British cars. At that time in 1960 our cars were a German Borgward Isabella TS and a very early Triumph Herald (1959) which at least both had IRS, quick steering, good damping. If you are not familiar with the Borgward it was the 1960 equivalent of a BMW 3 series, sporty, stylish, metallic paint, blue tinted wing mirrors, high cam OHV 1.5 engine that revved. The Austin was stuck in the stone age. We did have an MG Magnette before the Borgward so it's not like my dad didnt try to buy British.
First car I ever drove, in black too. Sat on my Grandfathers knees, twirling the steering wheel at the local park parking area at the tender age of 6. I'm 61 now and remember it like it was yesterday 😍
My dad had an A60 estate which he used for work sometimes with a trailer , it was very reliable and pulled well , I remember one day he got it up to an amazing 80 mph phew that was amazing , great channel love these old motors
My late uncle was a BMC dealer in the Netherlands. He was proud of the quality cars he sold during the sixties and fifties. He sold a lot of these Farina's and also Minors and Mini's. But the BL disaster in later years gave him an ulcer and made him switch to...Datsun in 1975.
Groete It is so sad to see the collapse of the British motor industry. I think one of the factors of homelessness today in Canada is the giving away of all our industries
Thanks a mil F-D - This was absolutely magic to re-live. The drive took me straight back to my teens when my friends (and my own) parents all had "Farina-designed" cars. (The BMC range, the Peugeot 404 and the now long forgotten Ford copy of Euro styling, the Simca Vedette) - Somehow, the Brit cars (particularly the Wolseley and Riley versions) always seemed to have that "cut-above" feeling to a wide-eyed, car mad teenager. Your video brought it all back to me.. Thanks again. :-))
Passed my test in my fathers 1968 series Morris oxford in 1969. Terrible turning circle struggled to do 3 point turn. I think the turning circle was37 feet. Heavy steering he had it from new bull it proof engines. Nice seats would cruse easily at 70 MPH. Fuel consumption was 26 MPG. Always felt like a good solidly built car. Big pedals clutch and brake quite a heavy clutch . Once a ford Corsair ran into the back there was no damage to the oxford but the Corsair was well damaged. Loved it.
My Father's first 'proper' car, and I still have an Austin A40 of the same year. My first car, and had it for over 40 years now, my Grandmother brought it new. Same style but smaller. Mine's now fitted with a later dash and twin dials (speedo & rev counter) and they'll both go off-the clock....
They did have synchro on 2nd. It used to wear out rather quickly! The Riley version was the 4/68. Wolseley was the 16/60. What wonderful memories, or not!!!!
Used to have one of them years ago..and a Morris oxford. Built Like tanks ..once my brother got out the car and left the handbrake off;it careered down the road and flattened someone’s garden wall ,not a scratch on the car lol.. I used to like the bench seats you got in some theses cars...soo comfy.
The Wolseley was the first Farina to appear in December 1958, then came the Austin and Morris, Riley and MG Magnette. The early cars had big tail fins, but did not look very American when compared to the Ford Consul and Vauxhall Victor. By 1961 the fins were smaller, and the Austin Cambridge model changed from A55 to A60. The estate cars had the big rear lights and fins to the end of production in 1971.
My Grandpa had a beautiful one of these in the two tone blue and cream colour. He died in 1981 having kept the car till them. In 1995 I was in Zanzibar where the taxi we took from the port was an Austin Cambridge. The smell of the interior was identical to my Grandpa's car and I was taken right back to Sunday drives with him! Must be the vinyl!
Always nice to see cars like this running, but it’s impossible to review them sensibly now. Car manufacturing has passed through many design watersheds since, in all aspects of body, drivetrain and styling. These cars were very highly regarded in their day, for strength and reliability. They met the needs of the middle class owner, when Fords had a reputation for a ‘short life but a gay one’ and Vauxhall were trying to shake off a poor reputation for rapid rusting. Most comments about poor reliability and corrosion come from the fact that the rapid growth in car ownership from the late sixties meant that working class people bought used vehicles like these, often poorly treated.
Surprised that you describe these cars as "small". They're actually quite big (and heavy). Had 2 of the A60 variants. Their Achilles heel was a bad tendency to rust and the handling- if you took a corner too fast it was a terrifying experience.
When new 0-60 in 23 seconds I think. I still have a soft spot for the Farinas but if I were buying an oldie I’d go for the last of the old line pre-Farina A55s.
Gorgeous example, they make a great ambulance too. When I was a kid my mother accidentally stabbed me (she said it was an accident). All I felt was a little prick in my bum (no jokes please) as she passed me with a knife to peel an apple, then a warm sensation down my leg. Next I knew I was being ferried to hospital bleeding all over the lovely upholstery. The family friend who'd ferried me, he knew I was a petrolhead even then, he said you'd do anything to get a ride in my car!! Totally true and I will show anyone interested the scar which ironically looks like a little racing car, unfortunately it will also mean looking at my arse, not recommended!
We had an A60 estate in the 1970s. Since we were a family of six, we needed a big car, and with plenty of boot space, this was a great family car. It could go over 80mph, so it was no slouch. It did break down a few times, (gaskets would frequently blow), and the starting handle was useful on winter mornings. But it was the rust which eventually finished the car off. Shame they never made a more modern version of the car. With a hatchback it could have been a winner.
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An old workmate of mine before he retired asked me if I could find him one of those cars, I found him a beauty exactly the same as this one and he had many happy year driving it.
My A55mk ii is the 1959 model, the wipers park on the right it also has the single bulb numberplate light. BMC changed both in 1960 and kept that revised set up until the end of production. The un labelled toggle switches are : wipers (single speed) , lights (off / side / headlights) the two mounted under the dash on the right : blower and panel lights. the colour of mine is called Orchid , a very pastel shade of lilac / pink. My car lost its original registration number in the early 80's PNL 595 . I purchased it from said number plate dealer and have now owned her for over 35 years.
My grandad had a Wolseley 16/60 when I was at primary school. Two tone paint, leather seats (with centre armrest in the back) and, if I remember correctly, wooden dashboard. Lovely old car. I remember it because my grandad told us that the rear armrest was the 'gnu seat' where you carried your gnu when you were hunting...
The perennial country taxi driver's favourite from the 1960s, these Farina saloons were quite something. Thank you for getting all these bewildering model designations correct, sir!
My first car was the badge engineered Morris Oxford version, which I bought of the Biology teacher at the high school I went to. He replaced it with a Puegot 508, and promptly got his first ever speeding ticket..... and regretted selling the Oxford. It was quite slow off the mark, taking the best part of half a minute to reach 60 mph, but once there it could maintain the speed for a long stint, doing about 30 mpg. The car was comfortable, and quiet.... far and a way the most luxurious car I have owned (only 3 more since then a Mk 1 Cortina Station Wagon, a Moris Minor Van, an early 80's Honda City.... I generally use motorcycles to get around)..... wish I had never sold it!
Thanks for the journey back in time . I had a 1964 model of this car in two tone grey bought for £99 in 1975. It was my first car so holds a special place for me but that is really the only reason as I also remember the terrible rust in the floors with the floor carpets always ringing wet , non existent heater , the engine that would never start, keeping a blanket in the engine bay to keep the damp out in winter and the non Synchromesh gears . It did though take me on a Cornwall holiday and back with friends but a journey time of 11 hours each way with no problems, but had to scrap it when the noise from the back axle was nearly deafening and then a suspension spring gave way Suffice to say my next cars were all Fords !
Hi folks, My Dad had an Austin A40 Somerset, it had been the work's manager's car and sported optional red leather seats. Three of us kids just fitted in the back as a very tight squeeze. For one staycation holiday Dad hired an Austin Cambridge A60 for two weeks. Luxury! The thing I remember now, some sixty years later, is the wide rear window. And not having my youngest sister sitting on my lap!
My father owned one of the three '59 Earls Court motor show cars. They were distinguished by their two tone, what can be best described as, aquamarine topped off with mid grey paint jobs. The colour split was defined by that chrome belt line's "Z" bit below the C pillar. He was very proud he had got his hands on one. And I seem to remember it had seat belts fitted in the front. My father was very keen on that safety aspect. He would always insist we would belt up.
Morris Oxford and Austin Cambridge models were assembled in both, Australia where these cars were built to meet local needs, and in New Zealand ckd English models. They were popular as rugged and reliable taxis cabs, with big car passenger accommodation, most were column shift. They put on big mileages.making them an ideal commercial vehicle.
A lovely delivery, fun to listen to. I had the A60 automatic and later a Magnette automatic. Leather seats, ooooh,lovely! Simple enough to work on but a bugger to change the oil filter. Powerful drum brakes, when properly adjusted.
My uncle bought a new Morris version , of this car. He gave me a lift home from the Kent coast , to South London, once, and I sat in the rear left seat ; my aunt was in the front left seat. I was in my late teens. To me the car was really comfortable, and large , inside; not at all, narrow, and ran well up the A2, which was not dual-carriageway , in those pre-motorway times.
My dad has a brand new Morris Oxford in Sri Lanka. He had to part with it after accident. He regretted it so much. It was a lovely car. I miss the good old times.
I remember a member of the cricket club my Dad played for , the Sherwood Cricket Club (Walderslade - Kent), drove one of the late 60's versions of the Cambridge. He was a lovely chap and was an excellent map reader so when the club was at an away game some distance from our part of the world he always led the convoy of cars and motorcycles to the away venue. Happy days. Excellent video and what a beautifully maintained car.
In about '73 Dad borrowed £25 from my gran to buy a '64 A60 (light blue with cream side stripe). His old Victor fb failed him and he needed a replacement at short notice. He ran the 60 until '82, with a couple of 56lb weights in the boot every winter. Whilst my mates dad's drove relatively new cars, I never felt ashamed sitting in the A60. He eventually replaced it with a 2.3 Litre Mk1 Granada which was a lot quicker, but never felt as fast as the Austin, the ride quality changing everything.
Love this car, remember it well when I was just a small boy!! So very well described making it so interesting by Matt as always.. a new member as from today!!
The Morris Oxford mk V deLuxe saloon also had a clock and reversing lights included. The BMC B series engine was developed from the Austin A40 Devon and Somerset engine, and then used for the Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG variants of the A55 Cambridge.
Both the Austin Cambridge and Morris Oxford were built in New Zealand as well. And the Wolseley Riley and MG variants were also available. The Morris Oxford and to a lessor extent, the Austin Cambridge were also reasonably common as taxis. Particularly the later versions. Together with a few Vanguards. However, most taxis in NZ were 6 cyl Holdens, Vauxhalls, Chrysler Valiants, Ford Zephyrs/ Falcons etc. The later A60 cars with the more subdued fins, weren't produced in Australia. As from 1962 they were building their own 6 cyl Farina based car - the Austin Freeway, together with a Wolseley version.
My Father had one in blue.He allowed me to borrow it and we (my girl friend and later my wife ) drove to Cornwall or was it Devon for a holiday back in 1964.It was a brilliant and at the time a luxury car with a radio !!
The other thing I remember about this vehicle is how painfully slow it was and for that reason my dad was so happy to trade his in for a six cylinder Westminster
To see this Pininfarina design executed properly I'd refer you to the Peugeot 404 which made the BMC range engineering look prehistoric.......which it was, even in 1960. I will concede that the boot was a great place for a picnic as you could sit in the boot as demonstrated.
I had a Wolseley like this in the late 1960's, but I ad to buy a Morris with a blown engine as well for its doors and things to rebuild the Wolseley. Loved it despite the rust.
Great video. I remember these as a kid. My dad had the wolsley version of it . But alas the inevitable rust took over to the point one of the headlights flew out under hard breaking! Lol. This is the sort of car I would choose if I did car restoration. Because it's still useable, everyday transport...
I remember these cars from the 60s. They were no performers but had a lot of torque, either via their engine or low-ration gearbox. Very popular in their day as reliable family cars and for daily transport.
There were many Austin Cambridge cars in Mauritius in the year 70s and 80s. Till now there are still some on the roads. Very good memories of these cars.
That leg room in the rear. It led to the range becoming really popular as private taxi's, up to wedding cars back in the day. I remember the treat of my mum ordering a taxi now and again in the early '70s (no car in the family), and it was always one of these. It made a 10 year old feel like royalty.
A rare survivor, I can't remember which model but I purchased one in the eighties for the grand sum of £30 ! It looked great from the outside but it was a bit nerve wrecking watching the road wiz by when lifting the carpets. I remember the battery was shot so had to use the starting handle. Bit of choke, one turn and always started. Luckily for me the police were otherwise engaged fighting the miners so stop checks for insurance, mot etc were rare. Aftet a few months I took her to a scrap yard and recieved over £40 ! She probably ended her life at the demolition derby like so many others. It nice to see a true survivor.
What a nostalgia trip watching this video. As a child with my brother and my sister I spent many hours travelling around in the back of a similar Morris Oxford. My Dad had 4 of them from the Minor styled version of the 50’s to a 1966 model. We went as far as Spain Quite a trip in the 1960. Don’t recall there ever being an issue with reliability.
In the opinion of many of us say that these cars were some of the finest ever produced. I along with many others have owned several models, I and many other of us used them for banger racing. Indeed, I and many other wish we still owned one to drive and use as a family car. Not as fast and dream lines designed , but a good reliable car to drive and easy to maintain.
An elderly relative had one of these. He hung onto it for years as he hated modern cars for being too complicated. In the end it could no longer get through an MOT due to rust and a load of other issues and he had to scrap it. It was like a family member had passed away.
These were pretty sensational looking cars in their day. With their distinctive gear whine up through the gears when they got to speed they were outstandingly quiet. My father in law had the Riley version and it was always his favourite car and he had literally dozens of different cars throughout his life
My neighbours in the early 70s, Mr and Mrs Sear were the owners of an Austin Cambridge. Mrs Sear was of considerable girth. Local gossip (as I did not witness the event) spoke of a shocking accident as the rusty Austin lost its battle to keep Mrs Sear perched in the comfort of the passenger cabin, and the rusty floor along with the seat and Mrs Sear parted company from the parent vehicle. Luckily Mr Sear, who had lost an eye in a gardening incident was not a brisk driver and injuries were light.
I was a young lad with a keen interest in cars and noticed the absence of the Austin. I can't recall if they replaced it with another car..and I guess nobody else in the world knows or cares either?
God bless you Mrs Sear if you are looking in.
Well one fellow had to get rid of his skoda because of past memories their dog died on the back seat while his wife was attempting mouth to mouth resuscitation, their neighbours old cat unfortunately died around the same time while they were taking it on a tour of Europe.
hahaha glad she was OK but hahahaha
@@marklittler784 They took their neighbours old cat on a tour of Europe? That was a nice thing to do for the old fella..😸😹😁
(Ha ha couldn't resist....)
But more important HOW do you resuscitate a dog mouth to mouth - things don't fit???
Who knew that TH-cam comments would become the brightest source for elegantly written prose.
Austins bring out the best memories!
First car was a 64 Wolseley 16/60 auto, great old bus. Those fins made reversing and parking a doddle. Being auto the starting handle came in handy on many occasions as well, really easy as well, sharpish 1/4 turn and she kicked in to life!
Our family had a similar 1963 Morris Oxford with the 1622cc engine. We loved that car. The smell of the leather seats was very atmospheric. It had a huge steering wheel too, with a large chrome inner wheel for the horn. It brings back many fond memories of our long drives to Cornwall for our holidays... 👀👍
A lot of people saying things like it was junk, obsolete, etc etc. but you have to remember that in 1959 theer were still thousands of pre-car cars on the road and most people couldn't even afford to buy and run THEM, ley alone brand new vehicles. A car with all the latest tech etc would have been too expensive to buy in big numbers. These Farina cars were like a breath of fresh air in 58/59 and many of their supposed faults or drawbacks were present on most other cars, including Rolls Royces which also rusted eventually.
Fond memories!! My Dad had the Morris Oxford version of this car in Clipper Blue reg number 650 SVT. He bought it brand new and though i was only 10 at the time, i used to sit in it and go through the motions of changing gears after watching my Dad. I well remember the glorious smell of leather upholstered seats and the sight of those big rear fins! Like the Cambridge there was LOTS of chrome! By the time i was 17 my Dad had bought a series 6 Oxford and after passing my test (first time!) couldn't wait to get home and tell my parents. I asked my Dad if i could go for a drive in his car thinking he would refuse outright....but got the shock of my life when he agreed....on condition i didn't go on the motorway. Where was the first place i went? Yep....straight to the motorway!!
Living in Australia I have the A60 with the 1622 engine. It is quite gutsy and gets along really well. Most people drove so slowly, I can easily keep up and sometimes even burn them off! Simple and solid. Quite comforting in this age. Cheers and thank you for this test and the camera angle, just perfect.
Fast lady!If I ever go to Oz Im not tangling with you:)
@@paullacey2999 haha
@@PaulinesPastimes Im looking at a Rover V8 so at least I have a chance....
@@paullacey2999 😄
@@PaulinesPastimes cos My VW up aint up to the job....;)
Back in 1960 I was a boy of 8....all taxis in Southport were this type or Oxfords. To get a taxi with Mum was a huge deal for us poor folk. We were poor but happy lol
Tim, you any relation to Bob Spooner?
Tim Spooner I remember in an early episode of Minder, Arthur bought a terrible one for Terry to use as a minicab.
In mauritius as well in the 60s and 70s all taxis were of this model
Oh, that gear whine. I remember that like it was yesterday . So many of these and the A60 models were just everywhere. An uncle, and later his son, had the Morris. A friend's father was posh and had the Wolsley. That one had a very grand grille and half a tree as a dash, sorry, facia panel!
Whatever the model, you could tell them a mile away by the gear whine, inside or out. As usual, shame about the rot. A true British classic in every sense. Excellent. Thanks very much.
Gray Fool in fact the Cambridge range didn’t suffer from first gear whine as much as the Morris Minor/A30 range. These cars were never meant to be floored in first, which was still considered to be an emergency gear (read the handbook). On the move these cars were quieter than most modern equivalents, without the rumble from oversized tyres.
@@PGtips2691 I'm pretty certain that the greasey bits were the same for the Austin and Morris versions. The MG had twin carbs but not many other changes. It was mostly trim and badges that were changed to differentiate the models.
PGtips2691 MG Magnette and Riley 4/68-4/72 had twin carbs, all else were single carb... engine size increased from 1498cc to 1622cc B series around...63?!?. As was the track being lengthened and widened over time.
Synchro would die on 2nd at around 100k, but the box would just soldier on. They kept being made until 71. You could mod them with MGBs running gear, but the back plate needs machining...moreso on the 5 bearing 1798. Disc brakes could be fitted, easier using pricey Big Healey parts, cheaper MGB parts need machining to fit. But the drums are perfectly fine if set up correctly.
@@PGtips2691 The Ambassador made in India had the same B series engine. Most owners would move forward in second gear. Now I see why. I thought that it would damage the clutch.
Sounds like a tram :)
Keep the hubnut video angle! It's awesome to see the gauges and controls at work!
As a young "sales rep" this was my car back then, covered most of the U.K in it. Never had a problem.
Heavy on the juice though!
Brought back happy memories of my first car. My Mother inherited it from her uncle in 1971 and it was passed down to me in 1973. At that time I was employed as a Merchant Navy Engineer Officer cadet. Running and maintaining the car gave me a good practical experience in mechanical engineering. Thankfully with modern cars, it is not necessary to do the annual engine de-coke. My Father used to count the washers that I'd left on his garage floor after each service I performed. However, the braking and clutch systems gave good practical experience on car hydraulics. As another correspondent noted, running on only three cylinders was quite normal. My solution was to enclose the distributor and cap within a plastic bag, which normally cured the 'tracking out' on the distributor cap. The car was very reliable during the 3 years that I owned it, a core plug coming out on the M4 on my way home from London being one of the more memorable moments. It is important to remember that back in the early 1970's, owning a car was way more important than what model of car you owned.
The video brought back happy memories. My Grandfather bought a two-tone (Black over Farina Grey) Austin A55 Mk11, with leather seat facings, new in October 1959 and travelled 30,000 miles in her before having to give up driving. I drove her for another 100,000 miles. She was so easy to work on and had a cavernous boot - I carried an A-Series Morris Minor engine in it without problems. A wonderful family car - wish I had her now!
For those who were beginning to think the title of the video was false advertising, he finally does start driving at 14:58.
He is a bit of a dick, too fond of his own voice.
This brings back some great childhood holiday memories, my dad owned this exact model, same colour, he bought it in 1962 & kept it for 20 years, went everywhere in it, many trips to Cornwall, Wales & even a fortnight to Sweden in 1977.
That low speed gearbox whine is so distinctive! One quirky feature (by today's standards) you didn't mention was the floor mounted push switch for the headlight high beam.
The car was sadly scrapped in 1982, with much rust & a respectable 107,000 miles on the clock!
Well if it lasted over 20 years, it lived on a good sight better than many of today's cars and gave good vfm. There aren't that many 1990s cars on the road nowadays even. They may have solved the rust, handling and economy problems these days, but the electrical mayhem and 'gadgets to go wrong' of today's vehicles is almost just as bad.
He did mention the dip footswitch at 13:08. My dad had three of these up the driveway at one time. A Morris Oxford, Austin A55 and a Vanden Plas one too.
Most cars had the dip switch on the floor in those days, including Ford.
I had one just like this for a number of years and it served me very well - driving every week from Ilford to Basingstoke - never let me down. It only cost me £95 to purchase and when I sold it, it went considerably more - good times!
Excellent example. I'm 64 and can remember my Uncle having one of these. And at the same time my Father had the Morris Oxford Virstion. Both being 10 years old my Cousin and myself used to ask our Dad's which was the fastest. Of course at that age we did not know that they had the same engine 🙄😁 Great cars and memories 👍
I'm 64 and my uncle and remember my uncle having one of these. My dad had a Volvo 122s, which was a far superior vehicle. But anyway, I remember a Jenson overtaking my uncle and he tried his damnest to keep up after. It was heroic but doomed to failure. Somehow the car, and us, survived.
This brings back so many memories of travelling in my Dad’s A55 Cambridge, when young. He had that exact Farina model with the high rear fins, only in light grey. His next car was the later A60 Cambridge, which had a lower rear profile and was otherwise very similar. Not many of these around any more, as a lot were used for banger racing in the 1970s and 1980s.
Same here Wales n back from the east mids 68 to 72
I remember tha t , use to watch that 😮😁
Brilliant old motor and you don’t need to be a contortionist to get into it like you do with modern cars. Happy memories!
Rose tinted memories they were crap without a doubt i remmeber the at 68 years of age now.
Thankyou . I enjoy seeing all these beautiful cars from Britain that I love. Keep the good work up. I just think its not important, at least to me, to note how fast cars like these can accelerate from 0-60MPH in so many seconds etc. To me, it undermines everything this car was built to do and stood for. I love the British cars. If you want a racing car, get one. These vehicles have charm and looks. Your image is spoiled by suggesting it lacks in that field of 'speed'. I wish 99 per cent of cars made today, would not be able to go the crazy speeds they can and the road toll caused by speed through them, in the hands of mostly men (that have never grown up).John (Australia)
Talking of synchromesh, I was born in 1980, my first car was a 1964 Riley Elf: I still double de-clutch on downshifts now, I don’t think it’s a habit that will ever leave me.
Its not a bad habit to have, kind to the car
I remember Thoses non synchromesh gears..if you tried to put them in first and wheels were still rolling ,the kickback on the hand was pain full lol.
I was told years ago that if you double-de-clutch,it damages the syncro-mesh
@@travellifewithjobo5740 That doesn't make sense, the synchro is still doing its job whether you double clutch or not. It's just having to do less work.
@@travellifewithjobo5740 Must have been some gobsh*te in the pub who told you that m8. It's complete bollox.
As a teenager, I rode in several of these, the quintessential British middle-class cars of their day. The ride had a wallowy quality, which seemed to make the pointed front wings oscillate over poor surfaces or undulations. The most basic version was the Morris Oxford, with this Austin version boasting a bit more chrome and 'presence' and the Wolseley being the most deluxe, with leather-faced seats, wooden dash, and characteristic illuminated grille badge. The MG was a twin-carb version of the Morris ('MG' = 'Morris Garages', originally), then the Riley added leather to that spec. Badge engineering at its silliest height.
Ahem! The Morris had a centre armrest - not so the Austin. Now why is that still in my head all these years later?
I've just remembered how those expensive Armstrong combined top link and piston shock absorbers (Dampers)used to wear out and you'd see these cars bouncing up and down like a Yo-yo after a bit of a bump.
They kept that technology at least from 1946 (Austin 8.10 etc) as others moved over to telescopic shocks
@@ianrutherford878 Indeed - even kept them on sports models such as the MGB.
@@ianrutherford878 Ours certainly did.
In the early 60's my father had a Cambridge. He did work to the cylinder head and fitted twin carbs. Him and a friend made up a tubular exhaust for it. From somewhere they got stainless steel tubing of various sizes to make an exhaust system. He did some navigational rallying with it.
This was my first car - it had been the family car for a decade or more. My dad was a mechanic so it always ran well. He replaced the original engine with the 1622 engine from an A60 which had been rolled. He spotted the wreck and bought it for a few quid. Very comfortable car. I could get an indicated 85 mph out of it on the Chester bypass. It was quite happy cruising at 60-65. Fuel consumption was about 28 mpg on a run. They were torquey engines so performance is better than the horsepower rating might suggest (like diesels are today). I believe these cars were very popular with ex-pat farmers in Rhodesia and South Africa. This surprised me as the suspension is quite soft - not sure how they would handle unmade roads! Mine was black with red seats just like the one you're driving. Never heard the term Farina Austin! There's a button to dip/mainbeam the headlights to the left of your left foot. Back end will slide out if you overdo it on a corner, but because it's quite a long wheelbase it's very predictable and easily corrected. You can stick your Hillman up your arxx - these were much stronger, more durable cars.
We had one when I was a kid. When it was nearly out of fuel you could hear the electric fuel pump ticking as it started to pump air bubbles.
The all round visibility is so much better in these old cars, a in a modern car all you can see is headrests.
I once owned an A55 mk2, identical to the one in this clip…lovely to hear the whine of the gearbox again. The A55 mk2 in my opinion was the best of the Cambridge’s, they seemed less prone to rusting, wish I still had my one🙂
An amazing rare survivor that escaped the banger circuit. Like the camera mount position very much. Keep well Matt.
my Dad had one of these, he learned to drive in it, it was quite elderly when he bought it but i have never forgot the number plate 1955 DW
I had an Austin A55 Cambridge in the 60s and I loved it.
My uncle had a similar one Siam Di Tella in the 1960s. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Very good car and wonderful memory!
I had the Westminster version of this back in the 60’s. Loved that car and it’s power. Hard steering though. That steering wheel was not the most comfortable. Had to use a lace on wheel cover. 9/10 .
I bought a 1968 Oxford Traveller a couple of years ago, just to scratch an itch from childhood. Was expecting porridgey handling and was amazed how sharp it was to drive. Easier to park than my modern Toyota, thanks to wonderful glass area and fins. Hard to explain, but the rear seat also folded so a portion of the seat back flipped up to give you a cushion for your head if you needed to kip in the back for the night. Just a standard thing they all had. I wonder how many people used it. I also wonder if it inspired the Maxi bed arrangement, since that replaced the Austin version.
Wow my Headmaster had one of these, and we used to listen for the distinctive whine coming down the road before the school bell You could set your watch by him LOL 👍 Tam.
I drove my Morris Oxford version from London to Bristol before the M4 was extended further than Maidenhead.
It went very nicely at 50 MPH, which felt very quick in those days.
My girlfriend used to borrow her father's A55 so we could explore some of the quieter lanes in Dorset. Happy days...
Simply elegant design, spot on color scheme in and out and that dashboard, it is lovely!
Lovely car. Always liked the Farina BMCs, I was a little lad when the were new. Good times, Britisch cars were British, French were French and so on, not dictated by legislation, the wind tunnel but by local culture. So nice, thank you!
My dad's first car for the family was one of these Austin Cambridges in blue. As a small child it seemed enormous to me; almost a limo. That memory has stuck with me and although I can now see that it is not as big as I remember it is still pretty big. Wagon Wheel biscuits was another one.
I absolutely LOVE these cars! So quality and classy, and as you say, real 1960's glamour.....My grandfather had a white Austin Cambridge and I think he loved it too! As a child, I spent many a happy hour sitting in the back on the leather back seat.....
When I was in my teens our family owned a Wolseley 15-60 (the Wolseley equivalent of the Cambridge). Great car!
Ah, very nice.
My favourtite ... I still love them so much. Cheers, John (Australia) Wolesley 15/60 24/80 Fan forever.
I fondly remember our first family car wearing that same suit. It was a Wolseley 15/60 badged BMC with the quietest engine in tickover I’ve ever heard this side of a Lexus! Lovely simple robust engineering with the slight feel of being in something special. Ours had a different dash and I seem to remember that the dip switch was foot operated.
The Wolseley was often regarded as the posher version of the Cambridge. In my youth I couldn’t pronounce the name so it became the “wooly”.
It was quite a comfortable and reliable car which my father exchanged for a new Volkswagon Beetle 1600s which we loathed. It was more cramped, noisy and plasticky. I hated travelling in that VW and was relieved when dad crashed it (and that he was ok) and bought my favourite car of my youth, a Triumph TC 2000 TC bullnose. Without hesitation I’d happily have the Wolseley or the Triumph as classics today. I was using a TC2000 mk2 as my daily driver back in the late 1990’s!
Remember annual holiday trips from Surrey to Devon in one of these. Mum and Dad, four kids and Granny, plus a full boot and roofrack!
The digits on the spedo use the same principle as the names on a map. The rule for cartographers is: if you hold a map up and shake it and all the names fall off they would land the right way up (reading left - right) - same for the numbers on the spedo.
The Austin logo cover plate on the dash was where the optional extra clock should have gone - I think. Dates back to 1954 with the earlier A40 / Cambridge models.
A gorgeous car a real peace of British engineering makes me weep to think what we had and it's all gone 😢😭😷👍👌
Now you're joined in despair by Yanks.
No it wasn't. It was obsolete when it was launched. That was the problem with too many British cars. At that time in 1960 our cars were a German Borgward Isabella TS and a very early Triumph Herald (1959) which at least both had IRS, quick steering, good damping. If you are not familiar with the Borgward it was the 1960 equivalent of a BMW 3 series, sporty, stylish, metallic paint, blue tinted wing mirrors, high cam OHV 1.5 engine that revved. The Austin was stuck in the stone age. We did have an MG Magnette before the Borgward so it's not like my dad didnt try to buy British.
@@tomfrazier1103 We still had the pickup truck sector but the coronavirus recession should finish those off.
BTW a very nice looking example of this car.
Junk, pommy rubbish
These cars were very popular here in Argentina. They were used as taxis, and there is a monument for them at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires!
First car I ever drove, in black too. Sat on my Grandfathers knees, twirling the steering wheel at the local park parking area at the tender age of 6. I'm 61 now and remember it like it was yesterday 😍
My dad had an A60 estate which he used for work sometimes with a trailer , it was very reliable and pulled well , I remember one day he got it up to an amazing 80 mph phew that was amazing , great channel love these old motors
My late uncle was a BMC dealer in the Netherlands. He was proud of the quality cars he sold during the sixties and fifties. He sold a lot of these Farina's and also Minors and Mini's. But the BL disaster in later years gave him an ulcer and made him switch to...Datsun in 1975.
What is a BL disaster
@@theTESLAwizard British Leyland disaster
Groete It is so sad to see the collapse of the British motor industry. I think one of the factors of homelessness today in Canada is the giving away of all our industries
Thanks a mil F-D - This was absolutely magic to re-live. The drive took me straight back to my teens when my friends (and my own) parents all had "Farina-designed" cars. (The BMC range, the Peugeot 404 and the now long forgotten Ford copy of Euro styling, the Simca Vedette) - Somehow, the Brit cars (particularly the Wolseley and Riley versions) always seemed to have that "cut-above" feeling to a wide-eyed, car mad teenager. Your video brought it all back to me.. Thanks again. :-))
My first car. Loved being able to easily see all four corners. And I have first-hand evidence that those bumpers really worked!
Passed my test in my fathers 1968 series Morris oxford in 1969. Terrible turning circle struggled to do 3 point turn. I think the turning circle was37 feet. Heavy steering he had it from new bull it proof engines. Nice seats would cruse easily at 70 MPH. Fuel consumption was 26 MPG. Always felt like a good solidly built car. Big pedals clutch and brake quite a heavy clutch . Once a ford Corsair ran into the back there was no damage to the oxford but the Corsair was well damaged.
Loved it.
My Father's first 'proper' car, and I still have an Austin A40 of the same year. My first car, and had it for over 40 years now, my Grandmother brought it new. Same style but smaller. Mine's now fitted with a later dash and twin dials (speedo & rev counter) and they'll both go off-the clock....
Good looking car for the time, not a cheap build design..
They did have synchro on 2nd. It used to wear out rather quickly! The Riley version was the 4/68. Wolseley was the 16/60. What wonderful memories, or not!!!!
The 1489cc version of the Wolesley was the 15/50. The 1622cc was the 16/60... I own a 1965 Riley 4/72 and a 1963 Wolesley 16/60
Used to have one of them years ago..and a Morris oxford.
Built Like tanks ..once my brother got out the car and left the handbrake off;it careered down the road and flattened someone’s garden wall ,not a scratch on the car lol..
I used to like the bench seats you got in some theses cars...soo comfy.
So cuddly
Awesome! I have one exactly like this right now in Sweden, in very good condition.
To Lainen : you are SO lucky!
The Wolseley was the first Farina to appear in December 1958, then came the Austin and Morris, Riley and MG Magnette. The early cars had big tail fins, but did not look very American when compared to the Ford Consul and Vauxhall Victor. By 1961 the fins were smaller, and the Austin Cambridge model changed from A55 to A60. The estate cars had the big rear lights and fins to the end of production in 1971.
Only 2 fuses and 1 1/4 SU carb,had several of these now am the keeper of a Riley 4/72
My Grandpa had a beautiful one of these in the two tone blue and cream colour. He died in 1981 having kept the car till them. In 1995 I was in Zanzibar where the taxi we took from the port was an Austin Cambridge. The smell of the interior was identical to my Grandpa's car and I was taken right back to Sunday drives with him! Must be the vinyl!
Always nice to see cars like this running, but it’s impossible to review them sensibly now. Car manufacturing has passed through many design watersheds since, in all aspects of body, drivetrain and styling. These cars were very highly regarded in their day, for strength and reliability. They met the needs of the middle class owner, when Fords had a reputation for a ‘short life but a gay one’ and Vauxhall were trying to shake off a poor reputation for rapid rusting. Most comments about poor reliability and corrosion come from the fact that the rapid growth in car ownership from the late sixties meant that working class people bought used vehicles like these, often poorly treated.
Surprised that you describe these cars as "small". They're actually quite big (and heavy). Had 2 of the A60 variants. Their Achilles heel was a bad tendency to rust and the handling- if you took a corner too fast it was a terrifying experience.
When new 0-60 in 23 seconds I think. I still have a soft spot for the Farinas but if I were buying an oldie I’d go for the last of the old line pre-Farina A55s.
Gorgeous example, they make a great ambulance too. When I was a kid my mother accidentally stabbed me (she said it was an accident). All I felt was a little prick in my bum (no jokes please) as she passed me with a knife to peel an apple, then a warm sensation down my leg. Next I knew I was being ferried to hospital bleeding all over the lovely upholstery.
The family friend who'd ferried me, he knew I was a petrolhead even then, he said you'd do anything to get a ride in my car!! Totally true and I will show anyone interested the scar which ironically looks like a little racing car, unfortunately it will also mean looking at my arse, not recommended!
Glad you made it to the hospital and it didn't break down
To think they were still selling variants of these when more modern cars like the Hillman Avenger were available, it was by then utterly outclassed.
We had an A60 estate in the 1970s. Since we were a family of six, we needed a big car, and with plenty of boot space, this was a great family car. It could go over 80mph, so it was no slouch. It did break down a few times, (gaskets would frequently blow), and the starting handle was useful on winter mornings. But it was the rust which eventually finished the car off. Shame they never made a more modern version of the car. With a hatchback it could have been a winner.
An old workmate of mine before he retired asked me if I could find him one of those cars, I found him a beauty exactly the same as this one and he had many happy year driving it.
Wonderful car and a fine example there Matt. Thank you. I owned an Oxford and Wolseley 16/60 for a while and loved them.
My A55mk ii is the 1959 model, the wipers park on the right it also has the single bulb numberplate light. BMC changed both in 1960 and kept that revised set up until the end of production. The un labelled toggle switches are : wipers (single speed) , lights (off / side / headlights) the two mounted under the dash on the right : blower and panel lights. the colour of mine is called Orchid , a very pastel shade of lilac / pink. My car lost its original registration number in the early 80's PNL 595 . I purchased it from said number plate dealer and have now owned her for over 35 years.
My grandad had a Wolseley 16/60 when I was at primary school. Two tone paint, leather seats (with centre armrest in the back) and, if I remember correctly, wooden dashboard. Lovely old car. I remember it because my grandad told us that the rear armrest was the 'gnu seat' where you carried your gnu when you were hunting...
The perennial country taxi driver's favourite from the 1960s, these Farina saloons were quite something. Thank you for getting all these bewildering model designations correct, sir!
that took some doing I can tell you!
@@furiousdriving, reminds me of the time when I memorised the 11 different engine options in the F10 BMW 5-Series! That was also pretty crazy...
Excellent review Matt. Loved the old cambridges .Your enthusiasm for these old vehicles is admirable
Thanks, I do love driving these things
My first car was the badge engineered Morris Oxford version, which I bought of the Biology teacher at the high school I went to. He replaced it with a Puegot 508, and promptly got his first ever speeding ticket..... and regretted selling the Oxford. It was quite slow off the mark, taking the best part of half a minute to reach 60 mph, but once there it could maintain the speed for a long stint, doing about 30 mpg. The car was comfortable, and quiet.... far and a way the most luxurious car I have owned (only 3 more since then a Mk 1 Cortina Station Wagon, a Moris Minor Van, an early 80's Honda City.... I generally use motorcycles to get around)..... wish I had never sold it!
Thanks for the journey back in time . I had a 1964 model of this car in two tone grey bought for £99 in 1975.
It was my first car so holds a special place for me but that is really the only reason as
I also remember the terrible rust in the floors with the floor carpets always ringing wet , non existent heater ,
the engine that would never start, keeping a blanket in the engine bay to keep the damp out in winter and the non
Synchromesh gears . It did though take me on a Cornwall holiday and back with friends but a journey time of 11 hours each way
with no problems, but had to scrap it when the noise from the back axle was nearly deafening and then a suspension spring gave way
Suffice to say my next cars were all Fords !
To David Elias, I'm afraid I think you didn't realise how much fixing cars can need! It would have been the same with Ford's, or anything else.
Hi folks, My Dad had an Austin A40 Somerset, it had been the work's manager's car and sported optional red leather seats. Three of us kids just fitted in the back as a very tight squeeze. For one staycation holiday Dad hired an Austin Cambridge A60 for two weeks. Luxury! The thing I remember now, some sixty years later, is the wide rear window. And not having my youngest sister sitting on my lap!
My father owned one of the three '59 Earls Court motor show cars. They were distinguished by their two tone, what can be best described as, aquamarine topped off with mid grey paint jobs. The colour split was defined by that chrome belt line's "Z" bit below the C pillar. He was very proud he had got his hands on one. And I seem to remember it had seat belts fitted in the front. My father was very keen on that safety aspect. He would always insist we would belt up.
Morris Oxford and Austin Cambridge models were assembled in both, Australia where these cars were built to meet local needs, and in New Zealand ckd English models. They were popular as rugged and reliable taxis cabs, with big car passenger accommodation, most were column shift. They put on big mileages.making them an ideal commercial vehicle.
A lovely delivery, fun to listen to. I had the A60 automatic and later a Magnette automatic. Leather seats, ooooh,lovely!
Simple enough to work on but a bugger to change the oil filter. Powerful drum brakes, when properly adjusted.
Brakes not so good when reverse parking, twin leading shoe (what's that granddad?) learnt to drive on a Wolseley 1500 BTW.
My uncle bought a new Morris version , of this car.
He gave me a lift home from the Kent coast , to South London, once, and I sat in the rear left seat ; my aunt was in the front left seat. I was in my late teens.
To me the car was really comfortable, and large , inside; not at all, narrow, and ran well up the A2, which was not dual-carriageway , in those pre-motorway times.
My dad has a brand new Morris Oxford in Sri Lanka. He had to part with it after accident. He regretted it so much. It was a lovely car. I miss the good old times.
I remember a member of the cricket club my Dad played for , the Sherwood Cricket Club (Walderslade - Kent), drove one of the late 60's versions of the Cambridge. He was a lovely chap and was an excellent map reader so when the club was at an away game some distance from our part of the world he always led the convoy of cars and motorcycles to the away venue. Happy days. Excellent video and what a beautifully maintained car.
Mark Persad Could he get cricket on the radio ? Shipping forecast ?
In about '73 Dad borrowed £25 from my gran to buy a '64 A60 (light blue with cream side stripe). His old Victor fb failed him and he needed a replacement at short notice. He ran the 60 until '82, with a couple of 56lb weights in the boot every winter. Whilst my mates dad's drove relatively new cars, I never felt ashamed sitting in the A60. He eventually replaced it with a 2.3 Litre Mk1 Granada which was a lot quicker, but never felt as fast as the Austin, the ride quality changing everything.
Love this car, remember it well when I was just a small boy!!
So very well described making it so interesting by Matt as always.. a new member as from today!!
The Morris Oxford mk V deLuxe saloon also had a clock and reversing lights included. The BMC B series engine was developed from the Austin A40 Devon and Somerset engine, and then used for the Morris, Wolseley, Riley and MG variants of the A55 Cambridge.
The cricket and the shipping forecast !! ...... You crack me up geez .... Well done
Both the Austin Cambridge and Morris Oxford were built in New Zealand as well. And the Wolseley Riley and MG variants were also available. The Morris Oxford and to a lessor extent, the Austin Cambridge were also reasonably common as taxis. Particularly the later versions. Together with a few Vanguards. However, most taxis in NZ were 6 cyl Holdens, Vauxhalls, Chrysler Valiants, Ford Zephyrs/ Falcons etc. The later A60 cars with the more subdued fins, weren't produced in Australia. As from 1962 they were building their own 6 cyl Farina based car - the Austin Freeway, together with a Wolseley version.
My Father had one in blue.He allowed me to borrow it and we (my girl friend and later my wife ) drove to Cornwall or was it Devon for a holiday back in 1964.It was a brilliant and at the time a luxury car with a radio !!
A radio! You were posh ;-)
The other thing I remember about this vehicle is how painfully slow it was and for that reason my dad was so happy to trade his in for a six cylinder Westminster
To see this Pininfarina design executed properly I'd refer you to the Peugeot 404 which made the BMC range engineering look prehistoric.......which it was, even in 1960. I will concede that the boot was a great place for a picnic as you could sit in the boot as demonstrated.
I had a Wolseley like this in the late 1960's, but I ad to buy a Morris with a blown engine as well for its doors and things to rebuild the Wolseley. Loved it despite the rust.
I had the ‘61 Morris Oxford version in Australia. My first car. In 1980. Oil filled shock absorbers that leaked, requiring frequent top up.
Great video. I remember these as a kid. My dad had the wolsley version of it . But alas the inevitable rust took over to the point one of the headlights flew out under hard breaking! Lol.
This is the sort of car I would choose if I did car restoration. Because it's still useable, everyday transport...
Great video! The first car I ever drove at age 17 was my parent's Morris Oxford - very similar to the A55 Cambridge.
I remember these cars from the 60s. They were no performers but had a lot of torque, either via their engine or low-ration gearbox. Very popular in their day as reliable family cars and for daily transport.
There were many Austin Cambridge cars in Mauritius in the year 70s and 80s. Till now there are still some on the roads. Very good memories of these cars.
That leg room in the rear. It led to the range becoming really popular as private taxi's, up to wedding cars back in the day. I remember the treat of my mum ordering a taxi now and again in the early '70s (no car in the family), and it was always one of these. It made a 10 year old feel like royalty.
My father drove us from Nottingham to Krakow Poland and back in one of those in 1968
A rare survivor, I can't remember which model but I purchased one in the eighties for the grand sum of £30 !
It looked great from the outside but it was a bit nerve wrecking watching the road wiz by when lifting the carpets.
I remember the battery was shot so had to use the starting handle. Bit of choke, one turn and always started.
Luckily for me the police were otherwise engaged fighting the miners so stop checks for insurance, mot etc were rare.
Aftet a few months I took her to a scrap yard and recieved over £40 !
She probably ended her life at the demolition derby like so many others. It nice to see a true survivor.
What a nostalgia trip watching this video. As a child with my brother and my sister I spent many hours travelling around in the back of a similar Morris Oxford. My Dad had 4 of them from the Minor styled version of the 50’s to a 1966 model. We went as far as Spain Quite a trip in the 1960. Don’t recall there ever being an issue with reliability.
In the opinion of many of us say that these cars were some of the finest ever produced. I along with many others have owned several models, I and many other of us used them for banger racing. Indeed, I and many other wish we still owned one to drive and use as a family car. Not as fast and dream lines designed , but a good reliable car to drive and easy to maintain.