Austin Cambridge

See Austin A40 for other A40 models.

The Cambridge (sold as A40, A50, A55, and A60) was an automobile range sold by the Austin Motor Company from 1954 through 1969. It replaced the A40 Somerset but was entirely new with modern unibody construction.

The Cambridge was only produced with a 4-passenger, 4-door saloon body, though a few pre-production 2-doors were also made. It had a modern body design with integrated fenders and a full-width grille.

A40 Cambridge

The 1.2 L straight-4 pushrod engine used in the A40 was carried over from the Somerset. Only 30,000 A40 Cambridge models were produced. The A40 name was re-used on the A40 Farina, though that car was neither a replacement nor much related to the A40 Cambridge.

A50 Cambridge

The A50 Cambridge used a new 1.5 L (1489 cc) B-Series four which was good for 50 hp (37 kW). It sold better and remained in production through 1957 with nearly 115,000 made.

Technical advances in the A50 Cambridge included an optional Borg-Warner overdrive unit for the top three (of four) gears. A semi-automatic transmission was also offered, though it was not popular with buyers.

A55 Cambridge

In 1957, the A55 Cambridge was introduced to replace the A50 model. It used the same 1.5 L B-Series engine as its predecessor, though 51 hp (38 kW) was now available. The Cambridge had been restyled somewhat and now had a larger boot. Just over 150,000 were produced when it was replaced by a new Pinin Farina-designed A55 Cambridge for 1959.

A55 Cambridge Mk. II

The A55 Cambridge Mark II was produced from 1959 through 1961. It was a rebadged Morris Oxford and retained the 1.5 L B-Series engine, now with an SU carburettor. A "Countryman" estate model appeared in 1960. Just under 150,000 were built in total.

A60 Cambridge

An updated Cambridge model, now called the A60, was introduced for 1961. It included a new 1.6 L version of the B-Series straight-4 engine. New styling covered a chassis that was both longer in wheelbase and wider in track than the A55. A Diesel version was introduced later.

The A60 Cambridge sold well, with over 275,000 built when production finally ended in 1969. Its intended successor, the front wheel drive Austin 1800, did not dent sales, so Cambridge production was moved to the Morris plant at Cowley.