The Austin 3 Litre's UNTOLD History - BMCs BIGGEST FAILURE GOES RACING!

In this video we cover one of the most mysterious topics, where did all all the Austin 3 Litres go and show how cars can go extinct and vanish from the roads, we also look at it's unknown history in racing and how the 3 litre failed BMC and later British Leyland to later prove itself in an unlikely sport.
The 3 Litre isn't a bad car, it proved itself against all odds to be a mainstay of British cars, we cover long forgotten stories from Cowley and analyse the anatomy of what some have called a failure of one of Austin's most misunderstood and genius cars.
Just a note; not all was bad with British leyland and the British car industry isn’t dead it is very much alive. Regarding MG Rover and the many other eras I covered as much as I could in the small recap but longer videos will be produced covering these eras.
Follow me on Instagram for more cool stuff: / tomisdrivingcars
Credits:
AROnline - BL History, Austin 3 Litre
Classic Cars. Bangers Group - Racing information and photos
Austin 3 Litre Club Club - Austin ADO61 Information
BMIHT - archival photos and videos
Amazosan - Thumbnail
Footage:
The Black Cat (1981)
The Man Who Haunted Himself (1970)
The Human Factor (1975)
Mr Charleston (1977)
If you'd like to read more my sources are linked below
Austin 3 Litre Club - www.austinthree...
AROnline 3 Litre - www.aronline.c...
Amazo 3 Litre: theamazoeffect...

[@michaeltreadwell777]

I had an Austin 3 litre - VOT 868H, when I was 21, in 1976. I'd loved them since their launch in 1968 ? A thirsty beast, and I really wasn't old enough to appreciate it properly. I still love them and would love one again ! Great video - thanks for sharing 🙂

[@tomdrives]

I would love one, .... One day I'll own a 3 Litre.

[@mikeyratcliff3400]

Excellent as ever! Bloke on our estate had a Crayford- unbelievably huge, this was about 1975 (iwas a 12 year old petrol head!) I loved the maroon behemoth, he did a swap with his mk1 escort van and used the thing for his painting and decorating business ( yep, artex and orange flowery wallpaper ) and take his kids camping in the summer, a proto suv... as regards banger racing, another one of me mates on the estate's dad was a member of Thanet Auto Club Barbarians, used to race at Lydden and Coombe Valley circuit in the 1970s, I spent a lot of time watching the prep of A60s of various badge varieties, and it taught me a lot about keeping things running in adverse conditions, essential life lessons for cheap motoring and many other applications!

[@grahammonk8013]

A guy I worked with had another Crayford estate, used to belong to the Chairman of Brooke Bond, so it was dubbed, "The Flying Tea Chest" Talk about space! The thing was vast! Hadn't realized it wasn't front wheel drive, didn't seem to detract from the available room. I remember it as being very comfortable. My brother had a land crab at around the same time.

[@professormcclaine5738]

A grand tourer, so underrated. The pinnacle of late 60's early 70's large Austin. Always looks better with door mirrors rather than wing.

[@anviltech1839]

Brilliant video. I'm currently restoring a 1965 Austin Westminster A110 Mk2. Many of these also found their way to the banger track. Funny I purchased mine from a banger racer..

[@tigermcflash131]

I had one and loved it. The engine was gorgeous....a proper straight six with twin carbs. Fond memories....

[@simonhodgetts6530]

Funny! Yes, I remember seeing the odd 3-litre on World Of Sport back in the late 70s……….although the cars I remember seeing the most were Farina saloons. Weren’t Landcrabs as rigid too? Seem to remember they made a decent endurance rally car?

[@maclachj1]

Great review. Thanks

[@runningoutofroad]

Excellent video

[@vo1968]

I knew it was gonna be banger racing, I don't remember seeing these, it was always Morris Oxfords that spring to mine. Great vid as always 👍

[@tomdrives]

Glad you enjoyed

[@mattjacomos2795]

I actually saw one of these IN AUSTRALIA, at a car show in Orange, New South Wales, yesterday!

[@Dejvid512]

{Embarrassed) Yank here. Of all the hoipolloi British cars of that era, I think the 3L is one of the more handsome, albeit stodgy, examples. It's too bad that its manufacturer was such a dumpster fire. As an aside, a "banger race" is called a "demolition derby" here. Thank you for another great video.

[@paulbashyou]

Great video Tom , thank you for the trip back to memory lane.❤

[@tomdrives]

Thanks for watching

[@nickb5391]

Someone I knew had a Crayford Estate, the tailgate was a 1100/1300 Countryman/Traveller one, he also owned a Hearse version too

[@gazdav422]

My parents and my eldest brother had a 3 litre each before I was born. Bro's was dark blue, Dad's was grey and Mum's was an off pink. Nobody had a bad word to say about them in my family. My Mum learned to drive in hers and has nothing but fond memories. She's 70 now and has talked about buying one.

[@1954shadow]

Sort of like a miniature version of a Checker Cab, here in the USA.

[@matthewc.419]

" miniature " lol in our U.K it was huuuuge !!!

[@CortinasAndClassics]

I had a feeling you were going to say Banger racing Tom. I can't quite believe the number made and those left. I do hope there are some more hidden away in barns or garages.

[@gwheregwhizz]

The equivalent today would be a VW Phaeton that can be bought for the same price as the same age Golf. Premium cars from mass market brands never work due to badge snobbery. Then that meant Rover or Jaguar, not Austin.

[@TheFrem1]

Great video Tom (As usual) Sad story about the Austin 3L, Mind it looked old before its launch. As for the banger racing, You can see why they were used, a strong engine and built like a tank. I don't remember them so much in banger racing but i do remember the old Rovers of the 1950's, Like the Rover 90, They'd go on race after race even after being bashed to high heaven.

[@keithvers569]

Love the hoodie x

[@tonycraib5939]

Hard on the eyes .I think I have a Mygrain coming on

[@skewwer]

Im 65 in the uk and i can't remember ever seeing one,banger racing or on the road.

[@andywilkins8632]

I had two 3 Litres, wonderful cars!

[@rafthejaf8789]

Weren't you able to get help? 😅

[@mikecawood]

The previous Austin A110 Westminster was a far better car.

[@tomdrives]

It was, in both areas.

[@rafthejaf8789]

You can't beat that Italian styling.

[@stevenmanning6884]

My dad had one for a short time. Like All bench seated cars it was the people carrier of it's time. It was fast and thirsty. We had a lot of bench seated cars back then. My old chap had a thing for large engined cars. He replaced his with an S type jag which he had till the gear box failed.

[@alecporter1784]

Not sure i ever saw one in the fleash, only in the annual car show mags which i lusted after

[@nickb5391]

The engine in the 3 Litre was a redesigned/new engine which was also fitted in the MGC

[@Backcountry_Bodger]

I can remember back in the 1980's seeing a 3ltr towed to Hednesford raceway by another 3ltr, they were both immaculate at the time and I can remember thinking what a sin and a shame 😢 but boy did they make good bangers once they were welded up, very hard to kill just like the Rover P5b was and made for some great entertainment back in the day 😅

[@charliemansonUK]

Pausing early to say, the racing has to be banger racing, I remember seeing a few on the circuits back in the early 80's.

[@jongmans38]

Excelent video giving its life from initial buyer.

[@tomdrives]

Thank you!

[@1258-Eckhart]

I'm very partial to these cars and I dislike the standard dissing practised in rotation by all journalists. I do not remember it being criticised for being "dated" on introduction, and I would praise BMC for giving it the family look which is now standard with BMW, Audi, Mercedes. The car was well designed and even well built, some later fettling of specifications could have improved fuel consumption and raised power output (e.g. by fitting fuel injection, improving combustion efficiency and enlarging to 3,2 l). I'll give a superthanks to the first youtuber who tells us why these and the junior sister 1800 were such brilliant cars, no ifs no buts.

[@CloseToTheEdge89]

There was one featured in Dr Who - The Terror of the Autons. The Master threw the plastic goblin on the back seat to kill the plastic factories owner. I think they are a great car.

[@tomdrives]

I saw that as well, I watch some older stuff. Mainly The Professionals at the moment.

[@CloseToTheEdge89]

@@tomdrives Yeah, i've not watched TV for over 15yrs. Utter trash. I download all the good stuff.

[@armjos1]

Always liked them, big and different

[@kevcracknell4542]

Always had a soft spot for these, A car that suffered against the competition from within the BMC stable,

[@lucindafergusonart]

When i was young( around 1975) the local Judge crashed his Austin 3 Litre into a Morris Minor unfortunately the Judge died in hospital , not sure why , most didn’t wear seatbelts back then, and accidents could be horrible. That aside the Austin 3 Litre seemed like a good car , my Dad had an Austin 1800. The Austin 3 Litre a great car that few wanted. I Probably would have preferred a Jag though but maybe not . Was or is the Austin 3 Litre better than a Ford Zodiac Executive ? Vauxhall Cresta/Viscount Humber Super Snipe/Imperial, Rover Three Thousand five, Triumph 2.5 Pi, Vauxhall Ventora , Toyota Crown, Datsun 260C Fiat 130, Jaguar XJ6 2.8, Citroen DS21, Volvo 164GL Rover 3.5 Litre Saloon or Coupe Must be more rivals I will have a look at my Observers book of auto mobiles

[@CaseyJonesNumber1]

2:31 that's a Consul, not a Zodiac, and it's a Zephyr on the left...

[@alexandermathar7780]

If the 1800 was the Land Crab, then the 3l was the King Crab.

[@rafthejaf8789]

It looks like a car designed by a committee of accountants who all disliked each other.

[@steveb1593]

Not a car that springs to mind when you think of executive 60's and 70s cars. .

[@StephenAllcroft]

Most of the production was sold to government agencies. To be fair to it it was better than the Zodiac Mk4 and the Cresta/ Viscount but at the time it was released Jaguar was in the same group and building better luxury saloons; by the time of the relaunch, Rover and Triumph were also no longer competitors.

[@edgarbeat2851]

I guessed B racing. Sad

[@RuthNewstead]

The 3 liter did handel well as did all the car s with hydro suspension . Grew up with banger raceing in the 90s they weren’t uncommon lot of p4s 5s a60s hundreds tis life good watch 🤠👌

[@lesklower7281]

Firstly never got them in Australia butthey did make it to New Zealand.When l found out about there existence taking the Austin 1800s spacious cabin with a 6 cylinder engine and giving it luxury touches what a nice car.But unfortunately it was made by British Leyland and we all now about the history of the failure of British Leyland as for banger racing l suppose the Austin 3 litre found a purpose in life of this car

[@michaelbarlow3686]

I did like the Princess 3.0 and particularly 4 R. I thought, as a young lad the Austin 3 Litre looked a boring car but in later life quite like them now. But Banger Racing is not my scene at all

[@tomdrives]

Same here re banger racing but I do understand the appeal

[@matthewc.419]

And the U.K Gov used em LOL , I remember

[@derekhallows9479]

Pity it didn't have a name ? Would that made a difference..

[@simonf8902]

It looks ..ridiculous 😅

[@matthewc.419]

Kinda liked the old mammoth

[@tomdrives]

It's one of my favourites, poor thing!

[@matthewc.419]

@tomdrives I remember stuffy old M.PS getting outa em ..........at no10 !!!

[@classicforreal]

Hey look, yet another 1100 or Landcrab except they spent millions of pounds to get back to where they started (yet again)!

[@tezwozere]

Had few sd1s v8 stuff but that never happened on paper lol lal💜🙏💜🧙‍♂️downton mini was nice lol inosenti bit better but was chased from Cowley on back of yamah 350 Rd when my mate picked up sick pay lol lal💜🙏💜🧙‍♂️🤔

[@tezwozere]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ2vhJeQr697es0si=y3Um9LwLhpZ00jgb

[@a11csc]

1 i never owned Tom

[@tezwozere]

Daddy did put Robert in bla factories shit put my mates out of work but miss my mini day's lal💜🙏💜🧙‍♂️🤔

[@James-ld2jc]

Dreadful, ugly car. Overweight and out of date. I would love one.

[@Flaming-Hedgehog]

What a goofy looking thing.

[@tomdrives]

I kinda like it, it's a bit frumpy

[@Flaming-Hedgehog]

@@tomdrives You're a kind man.

[@tomdrives]

@@Flaming-Hedgehog I think I just have questionable taste 😂

[@matthewc.419]

​@tomdrives lol ..........I kinda do like them dual lights " hi , I'm from British Leyland and I'm here to help " Run away ......fast

[@wickiezulu]

One would have expected BMC to possess the vision to make the 3-litre into a smaller lighter four/six-cylinder executive car like the Rover P6, Triumph 2000/2500, Ford Zephyr Mark IV and Vauxhall Victor FD.

[@RedversCross]

It's a beast but you can see how the Maxi evolved. I thought it was the land crab.

[@tomdrives]

I used to think both were the same.