Austin 1100
Ado 16 is an abbreviation for the design of a medium-class car produced by BMC (British Motor Corporation Ltd) between 1962 and 1974 and sold under various brand names.
At the end of the fifties, the project completed the Mini BMC had the need to think of a model that resumes the fundamental concepts (front-wheel drive, transverse engine, gearbox mounted under the engine), you would put a step up in size, habitability and displacement.
Alec Issigonis, in charge of the project, but not s’accontentò to make a copy on a larger scale of the Mini, and wanted to give the new media BMC own personality. The stroke of genius was the independent suspension with triangular arms with Hyrdrolastic system. The scheme provided for the interconnection between the front wheel and the rear side of the same through a hydraulic circuit. In place of the shock absorbers of the spheres were filled to mid-air and half of hydraulic fluid: when a sphere is compressing effect of a shaking of the wheel, the air contained in it was going to push the hydraulic oil, through the interconnection circuit, towards the other wheel of the same side. The advantages of this system were, improved comfort, less pitching during acceleration and braking and stability.
To give a proper dress originality mechanics, BMC turned to Pininfarina, which provided appropriate advice. The 16 Ado, in fact, had a successful line in 2 volumes (with 2 or 4 doors was missing the tailgate), which summarized perfectly modernity (the contestants were all three volumes) and British taste (small rear fins, classic front ).
The presentation of the Austin and Morris versions was in 1962. The car is available with 2 or 4 door body, was moved by the 4-cylinder with camshaft side A-Series of 1098cm ³, which powered with a single carburetor provided 48cv. The trade name of the model, both for Austin Morris, was simply the 1100s. Both versions also differed only in minor details of the front, creating confusion in the public. Both were then available in the Basic and Deluxe versions. The model, however, obtained a great success in Britain.
In 1963 the range was extended greatly. The lists of Austin and Morris versions s’arricchirono 3-door station wagon, called, respectively, Countyman (base and De Luxe) and Traveller (basic and De Luxe). Versions were launched simultaneously "upmarket" with bicarburatore by 55cv engine, front and details specific aesthetic, and equipment or luxury sports at various levels. The launch, very complex, with expected variations brands MG, Wolseley, Riley and Vanden Plas.
The range s’articolava ’63 versions:
In 1967, a slight facelift, which affected mainly the tail (where it was tempered the "fins") and the interior, gave birth to the MK2 series. Next to the 1100 version was made available by the variant 48cv 1275 cm ³ 55 (version monocarburatore) or 65HP (bicarburatore) of the A-Series engine. Austin and Morris versions, sedan and station wagon, they could adopt both 1100 48cv that from 1300 to 55cv, 65cv while by 1300 it was reserved for versions with MG brands, Wolseley, Riley E Vanden Plas.
In 1968, with the transformation of BMC British Leyland, the range was simplified with the removal of the trademark Riley and Wolseley versions. In 1971 also the MG version was suppressed. The role of sport was hired by the 1300 GT from 71cv, sold under the brand Austin. The 1300 GT is only available with a 4-door body, differed from the 1300 De Luxe mask, side profiles (with glossy black center band), the roof covered with vinyl and interior very well kept (Smiths instrumentation, dashboard burr). In 1974, all 16 remained in Ado list (Austin, Morris and Vanden Plas), left the scene, replaced by the Austin Allegro.
The Ado 16 obtained a good success on foreign markets was and, consequently, also built out of England. The main extra English productions took place in Italy, Spain, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Rhodesia.
The most interesting productions, why not restricted to local markets, are those of Italy and Spain.
In Italy from 1964 to 1974 were built by Innocenti of Milan, 4 versions of Ado 16 1100 Innocenti IM3 with engine 55cv, restyled front (by Pininfarina) and interiors, Innocenti I4, with 48cv engine, bodywork identical Morris and simplified the interior, the I4 S, identical to the I4 engine but with 55cv and Innocenti I5 with engine 55cv, preparation of IM3 and the front of the I4.
In Spain, the Ado 16 (identical to the British Austin and Morris) between 1967 and 1974, was produced at the plant Authi (Automoviles de Turismo Hispano Ingleses) of Pamplona. Also the version with reduced engine to 998 cm ³ for Denmark, Greece and Portugal was assembled dall’Authi.
From 1971 to 1978, on the mechanics of "Ado 16", the new model was released in three volumes Austin Apache, designed by Giovanni Michelotti and manufactured in South Africa. The production version of the car is left in Pamplona began in 1972 and was marketed as Austin Victoria, so named in memory of the Queen of Spain, who died a few years earlier.
In Australia it was also marketed as a Morris 1500.
Of all the 16 Ado produced outside the United Kingdom had great importance, at least in our market, those assembled by Innocenti Lambrate.
In 1963, in fact, the Milan entered into an agreement with the BMC to build in Italian a variant of Ado 16. The car is marketed in early 1964 under the name of IM3 (ie Innocenti-Morris 3rd model: the other two were the A40 and the Spider 950), showed some differences compared to the original model, the Morris 1100. The front, restyled by Pininfarina, it was, with its vertical headlights and wide grille, specific IM3. The interior, characterized by multiple finishes cured, were different. The 16 Italian Ado, in fact, it had a dashboard specifically covered in brushed aluminum, more comfortable seats (rear center armrest with reclining) and "shaped" door panels "richer", carpeted floor (instead of rubber) and a envelope of the most comprehensive accessories.
Even for the Innocenti engine made the right choice: the variant 55cv (the same versions of the Vanden Plas and MG) 4-cylinder A-serries 1098 cm ³, instead of the one from 48cv mounted on the Austin and Morris versions. The intention to make the IM3 a model, we would say today, "premium" was evident and also the list price, superior even to that of the much larger Fiat 1500, contributed to the purpose. In short, the IM3 was dedicated to that part of the audience that, while looking finishes and amenities at the top level, they did not want cars from the displacements and the exacting dimensions.
The moderate success met by the model, favored by the elegant and dall’abitabilità internal (with respect to the external dimensions) and the excellent road behavior, led to the Innocents think of a cheaper option, able to compete more directly with the Fiat 1100 (the IM3 in fact had a much higher price). Thus was launched in 1965 the I4 (some call J4 due to the "i" elongated, typical of the brand "Innocents"), in practice a Morris 1100 with no changes (body, interior and engine, 48cv, were identical to the original English). In 1966 was launched also the I4 S, ie with an I4 engine 55cv of IM3. At the end of the sixties, when the model was beginning to feel the weight of years, Innocenti reorganized the range. The IM3, retouched in some minor details, it became IM3 S, while the I4 and I5 I4 S space to the left. The I5 I4 was nothing more than a restyled front and in the The production in the interior of both models ended in 1974, when they were replaced by the Regent.