Retro: 1970 Austin 1800 – Behold, the car of the century!

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If you even knew there was a Car of the 20th Century, you probably thought it was the Ford Model T, as voted in December 1999 by the Global Automotive Elections Foundation.

The same august (if unheard of, before or since) body also named Giorgio Giugiaro as Designer of the Century – so, you know, no beef there.

What you may not have known was that the Car of the Century had already been proclaimed a full 35 years before, by the company that built it. To this accolade was launched, on 20 November 1965 in Sydney, the Austin 1800.

To give it due, just six years after the revolution of its sibling Mini, the 1800 was a space-efficient stand-out against a class of cart-sprung and drum-braked rivals – Holden HD, Ford Falcon XP and Chrysler Valiant AP6. It would have an echo 20 years later in Mitsubishi’s Magna.

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The 1800’s CV included design by Mini creator Alec Issigonis, styling by Pininfarina and space-saving hydraulic suspension.

The B-series engine, while here mounted transversely and driving the front wheels, was essentially that from the MGB sports car.

The transverse drivetrain and wheel-at-each-corner stance translated to 70 percent of the car’s overall length being devoted to passenger or luggage space.

Launched in the UK in 1964, the 1800 had a year of testing in Australia prior to local production at Zetland. Modifications included stronger engine mounts, deeper seat padding, fully reclining backrests, standard seatbelts, a quicker steering ratio, refined throttle and gearshift cabling, and improved dust sealing and underbody protection.

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Its nickname of “land crab” described not just the car’s hunched stance, but its tough bodyshell and class-leading grip, handling and ‘front disc’ braking.

These all contributed to a high profile in endurance rallying, and gained the 1800 a dedicated minority following – including for the rare (fewer than 5000 built) local ute. At its peak, Australia accounted for 40 percent of the 1800’s global sales.

Around 60,000 Aussie sedans and utes were built, in Mk1 and (from 1968) MkII guises, before replacement in 1970 by the even quirkier X6 Tasman and Kimberley – the latter with a 2.2-litre in-line six across its nose.

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