1960 Austin A55 Cambridge MkII Goes For a Drive

The A55 Cambridge MkII was Austin's version of the 'Farina' bodied series of saloons from BMC. Today we take one for a drive and see if it drives can match it's sharp looks.
Thanks to Sussex Classics for the loan of the car, please check it out at www.sussexclassics.co.uk
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[@ianashton886]

An elderly relative had one of these. He hung onto it for years as he hated modern cars for being too complicated. In the end it could no longer get through an MOT due to rust and a load of other issues and he had to scrap it. It was like a family member had passed away.

[@scabbycatcat4202]

These were pretty sensational looking cars in their day. With their distinctive gear whine up through the gears when they got to speed they were outstandingly quiet. My father in law had the Riley version and it was always his favourite car and he had literally dozens of different cars throughout his life

[@brxee]

First car was a 64 Wolseley 16/60 auto, great old bus. Those fins made reversing and parking a doddle. Being auto the starting handle came in handy on many occasions as well, really easy as well, sharpish 1/4 turn and she kicked in to life!

[@timspooner59]

Back in 1960 I was a boy of 8....all taxis in Southport were this type or Oxfords. To get a taxi with Mum was a huge deal for us poor folk. We were poor but happy lol

[@MorgoUK]

Tim, you any relation to Bob Spooner?

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Tim Spooner I remember in an early episode of Minder, Arthur bought a terrible one for Terry to use as a minicab.

[@noelnigathe4875]

In mauritius as well in the 60s and 70s all taxis were of this model

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Living in Australia I have the A60 with the 1622 engine. It is quite gutsy and gets along really well. Most people drove so slowly, I can easily keep up and sometimes even burn them off! Simple and solid. Quite comforting in this age. Cheers and thank you for this test and the camera angle, just perfect.

[@paullacey2999]

Fast lady!If I ever go to Oz Im not tangling with you:)

[@PaulinesPastimes]

@@paullacey2999 haha

[@paullacey2999]

@@PaulinesPastimes Im looking at a Rover V8 so at least I have a chance....

[@PaulinesPastimes]

@@paullacey2999 😄

[@paullacey2999]

@@PaulinesPastimes cos My VW up aint up to the job....;)

[@royboy605]

Keep the hubnut video angle! It's awesome to see the gauges and controls at work!

[@grayfool]

Oh, that gear whine. I remember that like it was yesterday . So many of these and the A60 models were just everywhere. An uncle, and later his son, had the Morris. A friend's father was posh and had the Wolsley. That one had a very grand grille and half a tree as a dash, sorry, facia panel! Whatever the model, you could tell them a mile away by the gear whine, inside or out. As usual, shame about the rot. A true British classic in every sense. Excellent. Thanks very much.

[@PGtips2691]

Gray Fool in fact the Cambridge range didn’t suffer from first gear whine as much as the Morris Minor/A30 range. These cars were never meant to be floored in first, which was still considered to be an emergency gear (read the handbook). On the move these cars were quieter than most modern equivalents, without the rumble from oversized tyres.

[@grayfool]

@@PGtips2691 I'm pretty certain that the greasey bits were the same for the Austin and Morris versions. The MG had twin carbs but not many other changes. It was mostly trim and badges that were changed to differentiate the models.

[@williamross2579]

PGtips2691 MG Magnette and Riley 4/68-4/72 had twin carbs, all else were single carb... engine size increased from 1498cc to 1622cc B series around...63?!?. As was the track being lengthened and widened over time. Synchro would die on 2nd at around 100k, but the box would just soldier on. They kept being made until 71. You could mod them with MGBs running gear, but the back plate needs machining...moreso on the 5 bearing 1798. Disc brakes could be fitted, easier using pricey Big Healey parts, cheaper MGB parts need machining to fit. But the drums are perfectly fine if set up correctly.

[@vijayanandkumar5791]

@@PGtips2691 The Ambassador made in India had the same B series engine. Most owners would move forward in second gear. Now I see why. I thought that it would damage the clutch.

[@zeke3486]

Sounds like a tram :)

[@NOWThatsRichy]

This brings back some great childhood holiday memories, my dad owned this exact model, same colour, he bought it in 1962 & kept it for 20 years, went everywhere in it, many trips to Cornwall, Wales & even a fortnight to Sweden in 1977. That low speed gearbox whine is so distinctive! One quirky feature (by today's standards) you didn't mention was the floor mounted push switch for the headlight high beam. The car was sadly scrapped in 1982, with much rust & a respectable 107,000 miles on the clock!

[@wordsmith52]

Well if it lasted over 20 years, it lived on a good sight better than many of today's cars and gave good vfm. There aren't that many 1990s cars on the road nowadays even. They may have solved the rust, handling and economy problems these days, but the electrical mayhem and 'gadgets to go wrong' of today's vehicles is almost just as bad.

[@ianrkav]

He did mention the dip footswitch at 13:08. My dad had three of these up the driveway at one time. A Morris Oxford, Austin A55 and a Vanden Plas one too.

[@wordsmith52]

Most cars had the dip switch on the floor in those days, including Ford.

[@AllansStation]

As a young "sales rep" this was my car back then, covered most of the U.K in it. Never had a problem. Heavy on the juice though!

[@zacknrudi]

Simply elegant design, spot on color scheme in and out and that dashboard, it is lovely!

[@chrisblay]

This brings back so many memories of travelling in my Dad’s A55 Cambridge, when young. He had that exact Farina model with the high rear fins, only in light grey. His next car was the later A60 Cambridge, which had a lower rear profile and was otherwise very similar. Not many of these around any more, as a lot were used for banger racing in the 1970s and 1980s.

[@davidtomlinson6138]

Same here Wales n back from the east mids 68 to 72

[@davidtomlinson6138]

I remember tha t , use to watch that 😮😁

[@bryjan51]

An amazing rare survivor that escaped the banger circuit. Like the camera mount position very much. Keep well Matt.

[@owenh1713]

Thanks a mil F-D - This was absolutely magic to re-live. The drive took me straight back to my teens when my friends (and my own) parents all had "Farina-designed" cars. (The BMC range, the Peugeot 404 and the now long forgotten Ford copy of Euro styling, the Simca Vedette) - Somehow, the Brit cars (particularly the Wolseley and Riley versions) always seemed to have that "cut-above" feeling to a wide-eyed, car mad teenager. Your video brought it all back to me.. Thanks again. :-))

[@martinda7446]

My neighbours in the early 70s, Mr and Mrs Sear were the owners of an Austin Cambridge. Mrs Sear was of considerable girth. Local gossip (as I did not witness the event) spoke of a shocking accident as the rusty Austin lost its battle to keep Mrs Sear perched in the comfort of the passenger cabin, and the rusty floor along with the seat and Mrs Sear parted company from the parent vehicle. Luckily Mr Sear, who had lost an eye in a gardening incident was not a brisk driver and injuries were light. I was a young lad with a keen interest in cars and noticed the absence of the Austin. I can't recall if they replaced it with another car..and I guess nobody else in the world knows or cares either? God bless you Mrs Sear if you are looking in.

[@marklittler784]

Well one fellow had to get rid of his skoda because of past memories their dog died on the back seat while his wife was attempting mouth to mouth resuscitation, their neighbours old cat unfortunately died around the same time while they were taking it on a tour of Europe.

[@furiousdriving]

hahaha glad she was OK but hahahaha

[@martinda7446]

@@marklittler784 They took their neighbours old cat on a tour of Europe? That was a nice thing to do for the old fella..😸😹😁 (Ha ha couldn't resist....) But more important HOW do you resuscitate a dog mouth to mouth - things don't fit???

[@DerekArmsden]

Who knew that KZbin comments would become the brightest source for elegantly written prose.

[@PaulinesPastimes]

Austins bring out the best memories!

[@petertuffley7475]

When I was in my teens our family owned a Wolseley 15-60 (the Wolseley equivalent of the Cambridge). Great car!

[@petehall889]

Ah, very nice.

[@johndean3930]

My favourtite ... I still love them so much. Cheers, John (Australia) Wolesley 15/60 24/80 Fan forever.

[@Bulletguy07]

Fond memories!! My Dad had the Morris Oxford version of this car in Clipper Blue reg number 650 SVT. He bought it brand new and though i was only 10 at the time, i used to sit in it and go through the motions of changing gears after watching my Dad. I well remember the glorious smell of leather upholstered seats and the sight of those big rear fins! Like the Cambridge there was LOTS of chrome! By the time i was 17 my Dad had bought a series 6 Oxford and after passing my test (first time!) couldn't wait to get home and tell my parents. I asked my Dad if i could go for a drive in his car thinking he would refuse outright....but got the shock of my life when he agreed....on condition i didn't go on the motorway. Where was the first place i went? Yep....straight to the motorway!!

[@b.2221]

Wow my Headmaster had one of these, and we used to listen for the distinctive whine coming down the road before the school bell You could set your watch by him LOL 👍 Tam.

[@simonhawkins8913]

Love this car, remember it well when I was just a small boy!! So very well described making it so interesting by Matt as always.. a new member as from today!!

[@rydermike33]

Wonderful car and a fine example there Matt. Thank you. I owned an Oxford and Wolseley 16/60 for a while and loved them.

[@janecatlow7027]

I absolutely LOVE these cars! So quality and classy, and as you say, real 1960's glamour.....My grandfather had a white Austin Cambridge and I think he loved it too! As a child, I spent many a happy hour sitting in the back on the leather back seat.....

[@dj_efk]

Talking of synchromesh, I was born in 1980, my first car was a 1964 Riley Elf: I still double de-clutch on downshifts now, I don’t think it’s a habit that will ever leave me.

[@furiousdriving]

Its not a bad habit to have, kind to the car

[@susanbrown2909]

I remember Thoses non synchromesh gears..if you tried to put them in first and wheels were still rolling ,the kickback on the hand was pain full lol.

[@travellifewithjobo5740]

I was told years ago that if you double-de-clutch,it damages the syncro-mesh

[@kw9849]

@@travellifewithjobo5740 That doesn't make sense, the synchro is still doing its job whether you double clutch or not. It's just having to do less work.

[@narabdela]

@@travellifewithjobo5740 Must have been some gobsh*te in the pub who told you that m8. It's complete bollox.

[@johnk4493]

Brought back happy memories of my first car. My Mother inherited it from her uncle in 1971 and it was passed down to me in 1973. At that time I was employed as a Merchant Navy Engineer Officer cadet. Running and maintaining the car gave me a good practical experience in mechanical engineering. Thankfully with modern cars, it is not necessary to do the annual engine de-coke. My Father used to count the washers that I'd left on his garage floor after each service I performed. However, the braking and clutch systems gave good practical experience on car hydraulics. As another correspondent noted, running on only three cylinders was quite normal. My solution was to enclose the distributor and cap within a plastic bag, which normally cured the 'tracking out' on the distributor cap. The car was very reliable during the 3 years that I owned it, a core plug coming out on the M4 on my way home from London being one of the more memorable moments. It is important to remember that back in the early 1970's, owning a car was way more important than what model of car you owned.

[@rogersaxon7671]

My uncle had a similar one Siam Di Tella in the 1960s. Buenos Aires, Argentina. Very good car and wonderful memory!

[@wannabe1259]

My first car. Loved being able to easily see all four corners. And I have first-hand evidence that those bumpers really worked!

[@JamesAlexander14]

Brilliant old motor and you don’t need to be a contortionist to get into it like you do with modern cars. Happy memories!

[@paulthesquid3595]

Rose tinted memories they were crap without a doubt i remmeber the at 68 years of age now.

[@eggy1962]

my Dad had one of these, he learned to drive in it, it was quite elderly when he bought it but i have never forgot the number plate 1955 DW

[@chromemutt]

My dad had an A60 estate which he used for work sometimes with a trailer , it was very reliable and pulled well , I remember one day he got it up to an amazing 80 mph phew that was amazing , great channel love these old motors

[@MGBetts1]

I love these. I was never aware of all the detail - my dad had a later variant. Fins were everything back in the day, especially '59 - '60. Thinking Caddies!

[@phillipclaridge3112]

I had one just like this for a number of years and it served me very well - driving every week from Ilford to Basingstoke - never let me down. It only cost me £95 to purchase and when I sold it, it went considerably more - good times!

[@jacklane6076]

I once owned an A55 mk2, identical to the one in this clip…lovely to hear the whine of the gearbox again. The A55 mk2 in my opinion was the best of the Cambridge’s, they seemed less prone to rusting, wish I still had my one🙂

[@williambradbury1919]

Excellent example. I'm 64 and can remember my Uncle having one of these. And at the same time my Father had the Morris Oxford Virstion. Both being 10 years old my Cousin and myself used to ask our Dad's which was the fastest. Of course at that age we did not know that they had the same engine 🙄😁 Great cars and memories 👍

[@1104kdd]

I'm 64 and my uncle and remember my uncle having one of these. My dad had a Volvo 122s, which was a far superior vehicle. But anyway, I remember a Jenson overtaking my uncle and he tried his damnest to keep up after. It was heroic but doomed to failure. Somehow the car, and us, survived.

[@n.mmitkovich2629]

This one, reminds me a lot on Peugeot 404. Love the cars of that era.

[@jorgetoro3573]

Same designer. Pininfarina.

[@Lainen]

Awesome! I have one exactly like this right now in Sweden, in very good condition.

[@nygelmiller5293]

To Lainen : you are SO lucky!

[@Twirlyhead]

My dad's first car for the family was one of these Austin Cambridges in blue. As a small child it seemed enormous to me; almost a limo. That memory has stuck with me and although I can now see that it is not as big as I remember it is still pretty big. Wagon Wheel biscuits was another one.

[@ixonchitts]

Remember annual holiday trips from Surrey to Devon in one of these. Mum and Dad, four kids and Granny, plus a full boot and roofrack!

[@bobjackson33]

I had the Westminster version of this back in the 60’s. Loved that car and it’s power. Hard steering though. That steering wheel was not the most comfortable. Had to use a lace on wheel cover. 9/10 .

[@barryhumphries4514]

Our family had a similar 1963 Morris Oxford with the 1622cc engine. We loved that car. The smell of the leather seats was very atmospheric. It had a huge steering wheel too, with a large chrome inner wheel for the horn. It brings back many fond memories of our long drives to Cornwall for our holidays... 👀👍

[@cyrilclark5167]

Great video! The first car I ever drove at age 17 was my parent's Morris Oxford - very similar to the A55 Cambridge.

[@kenhuelle3902]

Thank you so much for making this video. I just love this automobile! I appreciate your passion and knowledge that you share. What a beautiful representation of a by gone era! I would love to own one some day! Sincerely, Ken from across the pond🙂

[@carsyoungtimerfreak1149]

Lovely car. Always liked the Farina BMCs, I was a little lad when the were new. Good times, Britisch cars were British, French were French and so on, not dictated by legislation, the wind tunnel but by local culture. So nice, thank you!

[@trailingarm63]

This was my first car - it had been the family car for a decade or more. My dad was a mechanic so it always ran well. He replaced the original engine with the 1622 engine from an A60 which had been rolled. He spotted the wreck and bought it for a few quid. Very comfortable car. I could get an indicated 85 mph out of it on the Chester bypass. It was quite happy cruising at 60-65. Fuel consumption was about 28 mpg on a run. They were torquey engines so performance is better than the horsepower rating might suggest (like diesels are today). I believe these cars were very popular with ex-pat farmers in Rhodesia and South Africa. This surprised me as the suspension is quite soft - not sure how they would handle unmade roads! Mine was black with red seats just like the one you're driving. Never heard the term Farina Austin! There's a button to dip/mainbeam the headlights to the left of your left foot. Back end will slide out if you overdo it on a corner, but because it's quite a long wheelbase it's very predictable and easily corrected. You can stick your Hillman up your arxx - these were much stronger, more durable cars.

[@slepycitron]

A lovely delivery, fun to listen to. I had the A60 automatic and later a Magnette automatic. Leather seats, ooooh,lovely! Simple enough to work on but a bugger to change the oil filter. Powerful drum brakes, when properly adjusted.

[@alexgroves8566]

Brakes not so good when reverse parking, twin leading shoe (what's that granddad?) learnt to drive on a Wolseley 1500 BTW.

[@pablosassano6333]

These cars were very popular here in Argentina. They were used as taxis, and there is a monument for them at Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires!

[@ciaranmurray6623]

Excellent review Matt. Loved the old cambridges .Your enthusiasm for these old vehicles is admirable

[@furiousdriving]

Thanks, I do love driving these things

[@6F6G]

We had one when I was a kid. When it was nearly out of fuel you could hear the electric fuel pump ticking as it started to pump air bubbles. The all round visibility is so much better in these old cars, a in a modern car all you can see is headrests.

[@Rog5446]

I drove my Morris Oxford version from London to Bristol before the M4 was extended further than Maidenhead. It went very nicely at 50 MPH, which felt very quick in those days.

[@petehall889]

The video brought back happy memories. My Grandfather bought a two-tone (Black over Farina Grey) Austin A55 Mk11, with leather seat facings, new in October 1959 and travelled 30,000 miles in her before having to give up driving. I drove her for another 100,000 miles. She was so easy to work on and had a cavernous boot - I carried an A-Series Morris Minor engine in it without problems. A wonderful family car - wish I had her now!

[@mr-wx3lv]

Great video. I remember these as a kid. My dad had the wolsley version of it . But alas the inevitable rust took over to the point one of the headlights flew out under hard breaking! Lol. This is the sort of car I would choose if I did car restoration. Because it's still useable, everyday transport...

[@ReferenceFidelityComponents]

I fondly remember our first family car wearing that same suit. It was a Wolseley 15/60 badged BMC with the quietest engine in tickover I’ve ever heard this side of a Lexus! Lovely simple robust engineering with the slight feel of being in something special. Ours had a different dash and I seem to remember that the dip switch was foot operated. The Wolseley was often regarded as the posher version of the Cambridge. In my youth I couldn’t pronounce the name so it became the “wooly”. It was quite a comfortable and reliable car which my father exchanged for a new Volkswagon Beetle 1600s which we loathed. It was more cramped, noisy and plasticky. I hated travelling in that VW and was relieved when dad crashed it (and that he was ok) and bought my favourite car of my youth, a Triumph TC 2000 TC bullnose. Without hesitation I’d happily have the Wolseley or the Triumph as classics today. I was using a TC2000 mk2 as my daily driver back in the late 1990’s!

[@TheHorsebox2]

You're research is impeccable. We did indeed have the Shamrock in Ireland. One still exists and I saw it at a show a few years back. Another excellent video, Matt. Thanks.

[@furiousdriving]

I have to track that down now!

[@darrenmeears4667]

A gorgeous car a real peace of British engineering makes me weep to think what we had and it's all gone 😢😭😷👍👌

[@tomfrazier1103]

Now you're joined in despair by Yanks.

[@timhancock6626]

No it wasn't. It was obsolete when it was launched. That was the problem with too many British cars. At that time in 1960 our cars were a German Borgward Isabella TS and a very early Triumph Herald (1959) which at least both had IRS, quick steering, good damping. If you are not familiar with the Borgward it was the 1960 equivalent of a BMW 3 series, sporty, stylish, metallic paint, blue tinted wing mirrors, high cam OHV 1.5 engine that revved. The Austin was stuck in the stone age. We did have an MG Magnette before the Borgward so it's not like my dad didnt try to buy British.

[@geoffdearth7360]

@@tomfrazier1103 We still had the pickup truck sector but the coronavirus recession should finish those off.

[@geoffdearth7360]

BTW a very nice looking example of this car.

[@user-xh5dj8no7p]

Junk, pommy rubbish

[@67daltonknox]

My girlfriend used to borrow her father's A55 so we could explore some of the quieter lanes in Dorset. Happy days...

[@mukraj7462]

There were many Austin Cambridge cars in Mauritius in the year 70s and 80s. Till now there are still some on the roads. Very good memories of these cars.

[@mp3bbb]

The gearbox whine takes me back to learning to drive in one of these, fantastic video.

[@MrTrull1]

I bought a 1968 Oxford Traveller a couple of years ago, just to scratch an itch from childhood. Was expecting porridgey handling and was amazed how sharp it was to drive. Easier to park than my modern Toyota, thanks to wonderful glass area and fins. Hard to explain, but the rear seat also folded so a portion of the seat back flipped up to give you a cushion for your head if you needed to kip in the back for the night. Just a standard thing they all had. I wonder how many people used it. I also wonder if it inspired the Maxi bed arrangement, since that replaced the Austin version.

[@michaelsadler7332]

I was driven to primary school in one of these in the seventies. It had the optional wind deflector on the driver's door. Happy times.

[@davidelias154]

Thanks for the journey back in time . I had a 1964 model of this car in two tone grey bought for £99 in 1975. It was my first car so holds a special place for me but that is really the only reason as I also remember the terrible rust in the floors with the floor carpets always ringing wet , non existent heater , the engine that would never start, keeping a blanket in the engine bay to keep the damp out in winter and the non Synchromesh gears . It did though take me on a Cornwall holiday and back with friends but a journey time of 11 hours each way with no problems, but had to scrap it when the noise from the back axle was nearly deafening and then a suspension spring gave way Suffice to say my next cars were all Fords !

[@nygelmiller5293]

To David Elias, I'm afraid I think you didn't realise how much fixing cars can need! It would have been the same with Ford's, or anything else.

[@patjones8598]

Only 2 fuses and 1 1/4 SU carb,had several of these now am the keeper of a Riley 4/72

[@Lisabrown-kt8zz]

love the look of these cars be amazing to update one with a 70/80s engine & drivetrain and handling and steering wow

[@susanbrown2909]

Used to have one of them years ago..and a Morris oxford. Built Like tanks ..once my brother got out the car and left the handbrake off;it careered down the road and flattened someone’s garden wall ,not a scratch on the car lol.. I used to like the bench seats you got in some theses cars...soo comfy.

[@geraldhitchens8130]

So cuddly

[@danielwalker2613]

The cricket and the shipping forecast !! ...... You crack me up geez .... Well done

[@brwlegge]

Awesome video, thanks. My first car was a 1960 MG Magnette! The sound was close to identical!

[@Maginel73]

I learned to drive on a white 1963 A60. It was a LHD , in Canada. Brings back loads of memories.

[@peterkeilty7519]

What a nostalgia trip watching this video. As a child with my brother and my sister I spent many hours travelling around in the back of a similar Morris Oxford. My Dad had 4 of them from the Minor styled version of the 50’s to a 1966 model. We went as far as Spain Quite a trip in the 1960. Don’t recall there ever being an issue with reliability.

[@mpersad]

I remember a member of the cricket club my Dad played for , the Sherwood Cricket Club (Walderslade - Kent), drove one of the late 60's versions of the Cambridge. He was a lovely chap and was an excellent map reader so when the club was at an away game some distance from our part of the world he always led the convoy of cars and motorcycles to the away venue. Happy days. Excellent video and what a beautifully maintained car.

[@johnmoruzzi7236]

Mark Persad Could he get cricket on the radio ? Shipping forecast ?

[@chrisbuxton1958]

Dad had a Cambridge, then a Morris Oxford, between around 1964 to 1970. Happy days!!

[@Whiskybottle118]

My Father's first 'proper' car, and I still have an Austin A40 of the same year. My first car, and had it for over 40 years now, my Grandmother brought it new. Same style but smaller. Mine's now fitted with a later dash and twin dials (speedo & rev counter) and they'll both go off-the clock....

[@rabbimarkg]

My Grandpa had a beautiful one of these in the two tone blue and cream colour. He died in 1981 having kept the car till them. In 1995 I was in Zanzibar where the taxi we took from the port was an Austin Cambridge. The smell of the interior was identical to my Grandpa's car and I was taken right back to Sunday drives with him! Must be the vinyl!

[@peterhayward1848]

They did have synchro on 2nd. It used to wear out rather quickly! The Riley version was the 4/68. Wolseley was the 16/60. What wonderful memories, or not!!!!

[@johnmiller9024]

The 1489cc version of the Wolesley was the 15/50. The 1622cc was the 16/60... I own a 1965 Riley 4/72 and a 1963 Wolesley 16/60

[@tingewickmax]

My father owned one of the three '59 Earls Court motor show cars. They were distinguished by their two tone, what can be best described as, aquamarine topped off with mid grey paint jobs. The colour split was defined by that chrome belt line's "Z" bit below the C pillar. He was very proud he had got his hands on one. And I seem to remember it had seat belts fitted in the front. My father was very keen on that safety aspect. He would always insist we would belt up.

[@admiralalcatraz6080]

Lovely looking machine, I love a big steering wheel. That one seems to be at just the right height for you to break your nose on it. I also much prefer that camera angle!

[@antohosm43]

My first car in 1961 bought used - I learned to drive on one at BSM at Cambridge. Felt very good at the time but the wobbly speedo was wildly optimistic since by trying hard I once saw 84 mph on the clock. Nostalgia indeed and what an automobile heirloom! Next one for me was a new Mini Cooper - same 55 bhp but a rocket ship by comparison!

[@drwho534]

The best well-proportioned & styled affordable UK car of the late 50's - 60's in all it's variations (aside from more expensive Jags or Rolls). Excellent all round well detailed review, the best I've come across covering ALL the details from trim to mechanics and features, thanks!!

[@ianrosie4431]

That leg room in the rear. It led to the range becoming really popular as private taxi's, up to wedding cars back in the day. I remember the treat of my mum ordering a taxi now and again in the early '70s (no car in the family), and it was always one of these. It made a 10 year old feel like royalty.

[@Sleeper_Service]

First car I ever drove, in black too. Sat on my Grandfathers knees, twirling the steering wheel at the local park parking area at the tender age of 6. I'm 61 now and remember it like it was yesterday 😍

[@harrymorton1274]

Passed my test in my fathers 1968 series Morris oxford in 1969. Terrible turning circle struggled to do 3 point turn. I think the turning circle was37 feet. Heavy steering he had it from new bull it proof engines. Nice seats would cruse easily at 70 MPH. Fuel consumption was 26 MPG. Always felt like a good solidly built car. Big pedals clutch and brake quite a heavy clutch . Once a ford Corsair ran into the back there was no damage to the oxford but the Corsair was well damaged. Loved it.

[@davidclarke9783]

The Back reminds me of the Ford Zodiac mark 2. When I was Young the Cambridge and Zodiac plus the Consul 375 where Taxis in Dublin early 60ts

[@themanfromdystopia807]

This makes me really miss my old Cambridges, although I never had an A55 mk2, i had an A50 and several A60s.

[@colinfrance6926]

I had a 63 model with the 1622 motor bought second hand in 1970. A nice solid car and good for its day. Real leather seats. Fond memories.

[@ianstewartorr8455]

We where in Cyprus recently and we seen this car and a 1950/s Vauxhall’s cresta it was wonderful

[@classicjalopy]

nice review. more interesting than most of the modern car reviews on youtube

[@glenjarnold]

My dad had two. A blue saloon followed by a red estate. RVK 125 and CNP 168. I remember them fondly, we went all over the UK in them!

[@arunparkin2552]

I saw this exact same car (DAS490) at the Bloxham Steam Rally last year alongside another A55 Cambridge. It was blue and white and a little rusty but the owner let me sit inside it, so I've got some experience of what it's like!

[@kimross1600]

My dad had one just like this when I was young. I loved it

[@shanehnorman]

As a teenager, I rode in several of these, the quintessential British middle-class cars of their day. The ride had a wallowy quality, which seemed to make the pointed front wings oscillate over poor surfaces or undulations. The most basic version was the Morris Oxford, with this Austin version boasting a bit more chrome and 'presence' and the Wolseley being the most deluxe, with leather-faced seats, wooden dash, and characteristic illuminated grille badge. The MG was a twin-carb version of the Morris ('MG' = 'Morris Garages', originally), then the Riley added leather to that spec. Badge engineering at its silliest height.

[@niceviewoverthere4463]

Ahem! The Morris had a centre armrest - not so the Austin. Now why is that still in my head all these years later?

[@ianrutherford878]

I've just remembered how those expensive Armstrong combined top link and piston shock absorbers (Dampers)used to wear out and you'd see these cars bouncing up and down like a Yo-yo after a bit of a bump. They kept that technology at least from 1946 (Austin 8.10 etc) as others moved over to telescopic shocks

[@shanehnorman]

@@ianrutherford878 Indeed - even kept them on sports models such as the MGB.

[@niceviewoverthere4463]

@@ianrutherford878 Ours certainly did.

[@robertwillis4061]

In the early 60's my father had a Cambridge. He did work to the cylinder head and fitted twin carbs. Him and a friend made up a tubular exhaust for it. From somewhere they got stainless steel tubing of various sizes to make an exhaust system. He did some navigational rallying with it.

[@bextar6365]

Good looking car for the time, not a cheap build design..

[@twerpeater]

I had the ‘61 Morris Oxford version in Australia. My first car. In 1980. Oil filled shock absorbers that leaked, requiring frequent top up.

[@roshanhemapriya6488]

My dad has a brand new Morris Oxford in Sri Lanka. He had to part with it after accident. He regretted it so much. It was a lovely car. I miss the good old times.

[@fredshaub6143]

Lovely to see my first car although mine was grey. Many happy memories. Starter handle often saved my bacon as dynamo was not too efficient. My only car with real leather seats but unfortunately it also had a fine line in rust.

[@SloopyDog]

I had an Austin A55 Cambridge in the 60s and I loved it.

[@waltertaljaard1488]

My late uncle was a BMC dealer in the Netherlands. He was proud of the quality cars he sold during the sixties and fifties. He sold a lot of these Farina's and also Minors and Mini's. But the BL disaster in later years gave him an ulcer and made him switch to...Datsun in 1975.

[@theTESLAwizard]

What is a BL disaster

[@waltertaljaard1488]

@@theTESLAwizard British Leyland disaster

[@theTESLAwizard]

Groete It is so sad to see the collapse of the British motor industry. I think one of the factors of homelessness today in Canada is the giving away of all our industries

[@blxtothis]

When new 0-60 in 23 seconds I think. I still have a soft spot for the Farinas but if I were buying an oldie I’d go for the last of the old line pre-Farina A55s.

[@coachmann100]

I had a Wolseley like this in the late 1960's, but I ad to buy a Morris with a blown engine as well for its doors and things to rebuild the Wolseley. Loved it despite the rust.

[@triodehexode]

That's fantastic they only lasted couple of years before they were trimmed A40 style. my dad had a grey one in 1969 when it was 10 years old put a new old cylinder head on it and revalved it

[@stephenhadfield7715]

Love the sound of that BMC engine!

[@robertp.wainman4094]

.......and the third gear whine!

[@snafujag100]

My Dad had a two tone job! Plymouth to Scotland many times. Coming back from Bigbury beach one summer, taking a short cut we got stranded on a tidal road overnight and the sills rusted out shortly afterwards. Great adventure for us kids though!

[@DrFiero]

This (well, a '59) was my first car back in about '78. Still have the glove box manual for it!

[@RobWhittlestone]

My parents had an offwhite 1,5 litre Morris Oxford export model bought in 1959 which we took to Cyprus for some years. We had many a picnic in the boot on our Sunday outings.

[@jamescoe764]

My grandad had a Wolseley 16/60 when I was at primary school. Two tone paint, leather seats (with centre armrest in the back) and, if I remember correctly, wooden dashboard. Lovely old car. I remember it because my grandad told us that the rear armrest was the 'gnu seat' where you carried your gnu when you were hunting...

[@RexWaldron]

Beautiful car! My Dad owned a Riley 4/72 at one stage (so it had the 1622cc engine) and one of his mates owned a Morris Oxford Traveller with the 1622cc engine (not sure which mark that made it!). Very happy memories of riding around in both of them. The camera angle was excellent by the way - a real sense of being along for the ride!

[@nygelmiller5293]

To Red Waldron - the 1500 is a Mark 5, and the 1600 is a Mark 6