The Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman (sold by Morris in New Zealand alongside the Austin models), the “X6” models, are a pair of Leyland Australia-designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800 (ADO17) platform, produced from 1970 to 1972 and sold by Austin.
Austin Kimberley and Tasman at a glance
| Produced | 1970–1972 |
|---|---|
| Platform | Austin 1800 (ADO17) |
| Engine | transverse 2.2 L OHC straight-six based on the Austin Maxi 1500/1750 unit |
| Power | Tasman 76 kW (102 hp), single carburettor; Kimberley 86 kW (115 hp), extra carburettor |
| Gearbox | four-speed manual or three-speed automatic |
| Trim | Kimberley upmarket with four rectangular headlights; Tasman basic vinyl trim and two round headlights |
| Doors | retained from the 1800, with recessed handles for Australian Design Rules |
| Claim to fame | the only car in production at its launch with a transverse straight-six |
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 Kimberley and Tasman
These cars were offered as an Australian replacement for the Austin 1800. Their boxy styling, developed for the car to be a proper six-seater, was all new, though a few features, including the doors, were kept; the doors used recessed handles to satisfy Australian Design Rules safety concerns. The body had exceptionally stiff torsional rigidity, a trait it inherited from the 1800s.
At the time of the X6’s launch on the Australian market it was quite an advanced design in comparison with the competitors from Ford, Holden and Chrysler, whose rear-wheel-drive, conventionally sprung underpinnings dominated the market.
Engine
The standard powerplant was a transverse-mounted 2.2 L OHC straight-six based on the 1500/1750 Austin Maxi unit; at its introduction it was the only car in production with a transverse straight-six engine. The Tasman’s single carburettor gave 76 kW (102 hp) and the Kimberley, with its extra carburettor, 86 kW (115 hp). Both were sold with either a four-speed manual or a three-speed automatic. The engine would also be used in the ADO17 Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and Wolseley Six, and later in the ADO71 Princess; in Australia, enlarged to 2.6 litres, it also appeared in the Morris Marina and Leyland P76, mounted longitudinally.
Kimberley and Tasman
The differences between the two were generally in trim: the Kimberley was the upmarket model, with a plush interior and four rectangular headlights, while the Tasman had basic vinyl trim and a simplified grille with two round headlights.
Design and features
- Body: a boxy six-seater with recessed door handles.
- Engine: a transverse straight-six, unusual for its time.
- Gearbox: four-speed manual or three-speed automatic.
Austin Kimberley and Tasman versions
- Tasman (1970–1972): single carburettor, basic trim.
- Kimberley (1970–1972): two carburettors, upmarket trim.
- Mark II versions of both.
More Austin cars are in our Austin collection, for example the Austin 1800 on whose platform it is built, the Freeway, another Australian Austin, and the Marina.
Austin Kimberley and Tasman questions and answers
What are the Austin Kimberley and Tasman?
Australian-designed X6 sedans based on the Austin 1800 platform, built from 1970 to 1972.
What engine did they have?
A transverse 2.2 L OHC straight-six based on the Maxi unit.
What is the difference between them?
The Kimberley had two carburettors, four rectangular headlights and a plush interior; the Tasman was simpler.
Why was the engine notable?
It was the only transverse straight-six in production when the cars launched.
Where were they sold?
In Australia, with the Tasman also sold by Morris in New Zealand.
Sources
- Austin Kimberley, English Wikipedia: design and engine
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