Austin Kimberley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Austin Kimberley | |
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| Manufacturer | Leyland Australia |
| Also called | Austin Tasman Morris Tasman Morris Kimberley |
| Production | 1970-1974 |
| Predecessor | Austin 1800 |
| Successor | Leyland P76 |
| Class | Mid-size car |
| Body style(s) | 4-door saloon |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Engine(s) | 2227 cc E-series SOHC straight-6 |
| Related | Austin 1800 |
The Australian Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman (Morris badged in New Zealand) "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australian designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the the Austin 1800 (ADO17) platform.
These cars were offered as an Australian replacement to the Austin 1800. Their boxy styling, developed for the car to be a proper six-seater, was all-new, but a few features, including the 1800s doors, were retained. These doors however utilized recessed door handles, in order to satisfy Australian Design Rules safety concerns.
The standard powerplant for the X6 range was a transverse mounted 2.2L OHC straight-six engine, based on the 1500/1750 Austin Maxi unit. At the time of the X6's introduction, it would have been the only car in production with a transverse straight-six cylinder engine.
Due to the application in this car, it would also be used in BMC AD017 in Britain, firstly in the Austin 1800 based Austin 2200, and later in the Princess. In Australia, in an ill-advised move, this engine also appeared in the Morris Marina.
The differences generally between the Austin Kimberley and Tasman were in their trim. The Kimberley was an upmarket model, with a plush interior and four rectangular headlights, while the Tasman had basic vinyl trim, and a simplified grille with single round headlights.
In the early 1970s, British Leyland had an idea of a medium sized Vanden Plas model, based on the Australian X6 models. Had the car entered production (there was a running prototype made), it would have had a formalized Wolseley 1800/2200 front end, the rest of the car's bodyshell being X6 based.
A second proposal was a ute variant (codenamed YDO14), to replace the Australian Austin 1800 ute. Although this model never made production, one-off Austin Tasman ute was built, and served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia.
[edit] Marketing
In the marketplace, the cars were intended as competitors to the more established larger Holden Kingswood, Ford Falcon and Chrysler Valiant models. However, the complexities of front-wheel-drive were an issue against the car, and compounded with the lack of body variations and models, the X6 was never a serious threat to the dominance of the rear-wheel-drive and multiple-body Holdens, Fords and Chryslers.
Due to this, Leyland Australia developed a much larger rear-wheel-drive car to replace the X6, and compete directly with the Holden, Ford and Chrysler models (in both straight-6 and V8 forms), the Leyland P76, which was introduced to Australia and New Zealand in 1973.
When introduced, a notable selling point of the X6 was its two bench seats, which could seat six. Interestingly one advertisement for the New Zealand specification Morris Tasman X6 proclaimed that the bench seats could hold the driver and seven schoolboy rugby players!
[edit] Notable Vehicles
A white Morris Tasman X6 is preserved at the Wanaka Transport Museum, in New Zealand. Fittingly, while the cars themselves are moved constantly around the museum, it is always shown parked alongside an Austin 1800.
A one-off Austin Tasman ute was built, and served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia.
In the late 1980s, in New Zealand, a Morris Kimberley had a unique stretch-limousine conversion, and was spray-painted pink.
[edit] External links
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