Austin - Austin 1800
The Austin 1800 was available in 1964 as the larger car option of a Mini or Austin 1100, with a generous 8 foot 10 inches of wheelbase. You could see a lot of the Mini about it, and the modern bodywork style of the time was initially designed by Issigonis, which Pininfarina was tasked with to alter and make less box like. The Austin 1800 was a low and wide car. The interior was also uncluttered, as Issigonis wanted, having an ultra modern ribbon speedometer, as had even been seen on the V16 BRM GP cars earlier. The suspension was the Hydrolastic type which freed up a huge amount of space, and Issigonis put in much thought and effort to make this as ground breaking a car as the Mini had been earlier, with it's modern front wheel drive, and attention to detail with a brake biasing system. It was therefore most unfortunate that there were too many teething problems after it was released for sale to the public, although as expected these issues were gradually worked through - whether it was difficult gear changes, steering ratios, engine problems with engine mount bonding failures and so on, which with hindsight was only because there had been insufficient testing before production began. The Austin 1800 Series 2 cars came out in 1968 and for 1969 the 1800S model which had twin SU carburettors and higher compression, taking the power output from 86 to 96bhp, which was even fitted with a 120mph speedometer . . .
The Austin 1800 and Austin 1800S tyre size was originally 165R14. Blockley produces this excellent speed rated, steel belt radial construction period correct 165HR14 tyre size, with correct tread pattern. See full details of this superb 165R14 tyre below. We also list a wider version of this tyre should it be required.
