Info
Austin 3-Litre
1968 to 1971 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | British Leyland |
Production | 1968–1971 9,992 made |
Body and chassis | |
Class | full-size car |
Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate (Crayford Conversion) |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2912 cc C-Series Straight-6 |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 114.5 in (2,908 mm) |
Length | 185.75 in (4,718 mm) |
Width | 67 inches (1695 mm) |
Height | 56.6 in (1,438 mm) |
Curb weight | 3,304 lb (1,499 kg) |
Chronology | |
Predecessor | Austin A110 |
Successor | Austin 2200 |
The Austin 3-Litre was a British saloon car introduced by British Leyland at the London Motor Show in 1967. It became apparent that BMC were not geared up to producing the car: few or none seem to have been sold that year, but by July 1968 it was reported that the cars had begun to leave the factory. By that time the square headlights seen at the 1967 motor show had been replaced by conventional round twin headlamp units, and by the time of the October 1968 show the car had also acquired front quarter lights. In July 1968, with cars beginning to emerge from the plant, the manufacturers were asked to detail improvements reportedly implemented since the car's "launch" the previous October. Mention was made of orifice modifications to hydraulic valves in the rear suspension, and it was stated that there was a "new" final drive ratio of 3.9:1, though this was actually the same final drive ratio included in the launch information the previous October.
Codenamed ADO61, the car was intended to be BMC's offering in the 3-litre executive class and was originally designed in the early 1960s, before the British Leyland era. Unlike the visually similar (but smaller) front-wheel drive ADO17 range, the 125 bhp 3-litre engine (a 7-bearing modification of the BMC C-Series with twin SU carburettors) drove the rear wheels through a conventional 4-speed gearbox. The car used Hydrolastic suspension with self-levelling hydraulic rams at the rear and was praised for its excellent ride and handling. Alec Issigonis, who designed the front-wheel drive cars, had no part in the 3-Litre, which he was reportedly keen to point out.
- PERFORMANCE:3-litre Saloon
- Engine capacity: 177.69 cu in, 2,912 cu cm
- Fuel consumption: 21.7 m/imp gal, 18.1 mlUS gal, 13 1 x 100 km
- Max speed: 100 mph, 161 km/h
- Max power (SAE): 125 hp at 4,750 rpm
- Max torque (SAE): 157 1b ft, 21.7 kg m at 2,500 rpm
- Max engine rpm: 5,700
- Specific power: 42.9 hp/l
- Power-weight ratio: 26.5 lb/hp, 12 kg/hp
To cater for its intended market the interior was luxurious, featuring wood veneers and cloth headlining (but leather upholstery was not available, being replaced with a good-quality vinyl) and the boot was longer than that of the 1800, contributing to an overall length of 186 inches (4,700 mm) (the 1800 was 167 inches (4,200 mm) long).
Luxurious Wolseley and Vanden Plas 3-litre versions both reached prototype stage, but went no further. A small number of estate models were built however, converted by Crayford. In the early days of British Leyland proposals for a Rover-branded version were considered to replace the Rover P5 3-Litre but these did not progress beyond the drawing board.
Sales were very poor. The standard version had been withdrawn by 1969 while the de luxe version soldiered on until the model was discontinued completely in May 1971, after less than 10,000 had been produced. It suffered from a perception that it was merely an enlarged ADO17 "Landcrab" (indeed, it gained the nickname "Land-lobster"), with which it shared its central section and doors, although it was in fact a quite different car.
No replacement car was made by Austin in this class since by the time one would have been required, Rover and Triumph were also within British Leyland, and this was seen as a market segment more properly served by those marques.
Technical
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Austin 3-Litre Technical details and specifications (1968-1971)
ENGINE
location front
4 stroke; cylinders: 6, in line
bore and stroke: 3.28 x 3.50 in, 83.4 x 88.9 mm
engine capacity: 177.69 cu in, 2,912 cu cm
compression ratio: 8.2
cylinder block: cast iron
cylinder head: cast iron
crankshaft bearings: 7
valves: 2 per cylinder, overhead, push-rods and rockers
camshafts: 1, side
lubrication: eccentric pump, full flow filter
carburation: 2 SU type HS 6 horizontal carburettors
fuel feed: mechanical pump
cooling system : water
TRANSMISSION
driving wheels: rear
clutch: single dry plate (diaphragm), hydraulically controlled
gearbox: mechanical; gears: 4 + reverse
synchromesh 2nd, 3rd, 4th
gearbox ratios: 1st 3.435, 2nd 2.169, 3rd 1.381, 4th 1
(option) Borg-Warner 35 automatic gearbox, 3 ratios (1st 2.390, 2nd 1.450, 3rd 1 rev 2.090),
(option) overdrive
gear lever location: central
final drive: hypoid bevel
axle ratios: 3.910,3.560
CHASSIS
type integral
front suspension: independent, wishbones, hydrolastic (liquid) rubber cone springs, hydraulic connecting pipes to rear wheels
rear suspension: independent, swinging trailing arms, hydrolastic (liquid) rubber cone springs, hydraulic connecting pipes to front wheels, automatic levelling control.STEERING
rack-and-pinion,servo
turns of steering wheel lock to lock: 3.94
turning circle (between walls): 37.5 mBRAKES
front disc (diameter 10.40 in, 264 mm), rear drum, servo
brake area rubbed by linings: front 224 sq in, 1,444.80 sq cm
brake area rubbed by linings: rear 127.25 sq in, 820.76 sq cm
brake area rubbed by linings: total 351.25 sq in, 2,265,56 sq cm.ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
voltage: 12 V
battery: 70 Ah
generator type: alternator, 45 Ah
ignition distributor: LucasDIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
wheel base: 114.50 in, mm
front track: 23.25 in, 1,429 mm
rear track: 56 in, 1,422 mm
overall length: 185.65 in, 4,716 mm
overall width: 66.75 in, 1,695 mm
overall height: 56.75 in, 1 ,441 mm
ground clearance: 50 in, 165 mm
dry weight: 3,304 1b, 1-499 kg© Motor car History
Service
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Austin 3-Litre Maintenance and Service Guide (1968-1971)
Fuel: 97 oct petrol
Engine oil change: 12 imp pt. 14.37 US pt, 6.8 1, SAE 30, change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
Total lubricating system capacity: 13.50 imp pt, 16.28 US pt
Gearbox oil: 5 imp pt, 10.57 US pt, 2.8 1, SAE 30, change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
Gearbox oil auto: 8 imp pt, 9.51 US pt, 4.5 1,
Final drive oil: 2.50 imp pt, 5.28 US pt, 1.4 1, SAE 90, change every 6,000 miles, 9,700 km
Cooling system capacity: 19 imp pt, 22.83 US pt
Greasing: none
Tappet clearances: inlet 0.012 in, 0.30 mm, exhaust 0.012 in, 0.30 mm
Valve timing : inlet opens 16° before tdc and closes 56° after bdc, exhaust opens 51° before bdc and closes 21° after tdc
Normal tyre pressure: front 28 psi, 2 atm, rear 21 psi, 1.5 atm.
Width of rims: 5"
Tyres: 185 x 14
Fuel tank capacity: 15.5 imp gal, 18.5 US gal
Carrying capacity: 1,058 1b, 480 kg© Motor car History
Maintenance
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