The Austin A40 Devon and the similar 2-door A40 Dorset are automobiles that were marketed by Austin from 1947 to 1952. They were the first post-war saloons produced by Austin, featuring a mix of old and new technologies. They were previewed by the UK press at the Paris Motor Show on 22 October 1947, who expressed immediate disappointment at the car’s conservative appearance.
Austin A40 Devon at a glance
| Marketed | 1947 to 1952 |
|---|---|
| Built | more than 450,000 |
| Engine | 1.2 L straight-four OHV, 40 bhp (30 kW) at 4,200 rpm |
| Construction | body-on-frame, modern body |
| Suspension | independent front with coil springs; rigid rear axle on semi-elliptic leaf springs |
| Brakes | Girling 9 in (229 mm) drums, hydraulic front and mechanical rear at first |
| Dorset | 2-door, dropped in 1949 after 15,939 were made |
| Performance (The Motor, 1948) | 70 mph (110 km/h), 0–60 mph in 37.2 s, 34.1 mpg; £505 with the optional sliding roof |
| Replaced by | the A40 Somerset in 1952 |
This page is based on English Wikipedia only (a trusted source), so the facts were not cross-checked against a second source.
History of the Austin A40 Devon
Both the Devon and the Dorset were body-on-frame designs with modern bodies and a 1.2 L straight-four OHV engine producing 40 bhp. They had front coil-sprung independent suspension but kept a rigid axle and semi-elliptic leaf springs at the rear. The Girling brakes with 9 in drums were operated hydraulically at the front and mechanically at the rear; later cars had a 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 until late 1956; equipped as a six-seater, its folding rear seat could be converted into a two-seater able to carry a half-ton load. A van and a pickup truck were also produced.
Abroad
The Devon was the first post-war-designed Austin to be assembled in New Zealand, from CKD kits at the Austin Distributors Federation plant in Petone. A prototype A40 Dorset Tourer was built at Longbridge in 1948; it was never put into production in England, but various versions of the A40 Tourer were made in Australia beginning in September 1948.
Performance and sales
A car tested by The Motor in 1948 had a top speed of 70 mph and could accelerate from 0–60 mph in 37.2 seconds, with fuel consumption of 34.1 mpg (imperial). The test car, with the optional sliding roof, cost £505 including taxes. Commentators praised the “excellent (floor lever controlled four speed) gear change” on the early models, though the brakes needed fairly firm pedal pressure. The car sold well, boosting Austin’s standing in the sales charts; its success was attributed to the fact that it offered a lot of car for the money. More than 450,000 were built before it was replaced in 1952 by the Austin A40 Somerset.
Design and features
- Engine: a 1.2 L OHV straight-four of 40 bhp.
- Suspension: coil-sprung independent front, leaf-sprung rigid rear.
- Options: a sliding sunroof and heater.
Austin A40 Devon versions
- A40 Devon (four-door) and A40 Dorset (two-door): the saloons.
- Countryman estate, van and pickup: to late 1956 for the Countryman.
- A40 Sports: the sports car version of the Devon.
More Austin cars are in our Austin collection, for example the Austin 8, the Cambridge that replaced the Somerset and the A70.
Austin A40 Devon questions and answers
When was the Austin A40 Devon built?
From 1947 to 1952.
What is the difference between Devon and Dorset?
The Devon has four doors and the Dorset two; the Dorset ended in 1949 after 15,939 were made.
How powerful was it?
Its 1.2 L OHV four produced 40 bhp at 4,200 rpm.
How many were made?
More than 450,000.
What replaced it?
The Austin A40 Somerset in 1952.
Video: 1948 Austin A40 Devon Four Door Sedan Gray MeadGdnsBrit040613
Video by Jack R on YouTube.
Sources
- Austin A40 Devon, English Wikipedia: mechanicals, bodystyles, performance and sales
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