Austin A40 Farina Mk1
The Austin A40 Farina is one of the most historically significant small cars in British motoring history, though its importance has only been fully recognised in retrospect. When launched in 1958, it introduced two revolutionary concepts to the mass market: Italian styling by Pininfarina on a budget British car, and a rear-opening tailgate that effectively created the hatchback body style years before the term was coined.
The collaboration with Pininfarina (marketed as 'Farina' in period) was a masterstroke by BMC. Battista 'Pinin' Farina's design studio created a clean, modern shape that was utterly unlike anything else in the British small-car market. The crisp lines, large glass area, and absence of the fussy chrome embellishments typical of the era gave the A40 Farina a continental sophistication that made its British rivals look dated overnight.
The Countryman variant featured what would now be called a hatchback — a rear door incorporating the window that opened upwards to reveal a flat load floor. While the concept was not entirely new (the Citroen Traction Avant had a similar arrangement), the A40 Farina Countryman brought it to the mass market in a practical, affordable package. The two-box design, with its combination of passenger and load space, anticipated the modern hatchback formula that would eventually dominate European car sales.
Mechanically, the A40 was conventional BMC. The 948 cc A-Series engine (later enlarged to 1,098 cc in the Mk2) was a proven unit shared with the Morris Minor and Austin-Healey Sprite. Performance was modest — 34 bhp in the Mk1 — but the A40 was a car designed for economy and practicality rather than speed. It was reliable, simple to maintain, and cheap to run.
The Mk2, introduced in 1961, brought the larger 1,098 cc engine with 48 bhp, a revised grille, and detail improvements. Production continued until 1967, by which time the arrival of the front-wheel-drive BMC 1100/1300 had rendered the A40's layout obsolete.
Total production exceeded 340,000 units, making the A40 Farina one of BMC's most successful models. Today it is an affordable and charming classic, appreciated for its Pininfarina styling and its pioneering role in the development of the modern hatchback.
Rust is the A40 Farina's greatest enemy, affecting the sills, floor pans, inner wings, A-posts, and rear wheel arches. A solid shell is essential — repairs often exceed the car's value. The A-Series engine is one of the most well-supported classic engines, with cheap and widely available parts. The gearbox is reliable but can develop worn synchromesh on second gear. Interior trim is simple but increasingly difficult to source in correct patterns. The Countryman model (with tailgate) is more sought-after and valuable than the saloon. Mk2 cars with the larger engine are generally preferred for usability.
Austin A40 Farina Mk1 production: approximately 172,000 (1958-1961). Mk2 production: approximately 170,000 (1961-1967). Total: approximately 342,197 units. Available as Saloon (two-door) and Countryman (with tailgate). The Mk1 used the 948 cc A-Series; the Mk2 used the 1,098 cc A-Series. Assembly also took place in Australia (as the Austin Lancer), South Africa, and other BMC overseas plants.