The Oily Rag - British Saloon Car Club

Counties Counters Cambridge...
Club archivist Norman Milne looks at some facts and figures pertaining to non-Stop 1,000 Miles-a-Day
Austin A40 Somerset and A50 Cambridge Overseas Test Runs
In March 1952 technical staff from the Austin Motor Company plant in Canada took a completely standard example of
the brand new A40 Somerset saloon on a virtually non-stop 10,000-mile test and endurance run.
Starting and finishing at their Hamilton, Ontario H.Q. they ran a circuit averaging 1,000 miles(1,600 km) a day - with
the car stationary for less than five minutes daily - to average more than 43 MPH (69 kph) overall. Average fuel
consumption was nearly 29 MPG (9.8 litres/100 km) and oil consumption 435 miles per pint.
The demanding test route covered mixed highway, gravel and dirt road under conditions typicalof an Ontario winter,
including long periods of ice, snow and torrential rains. Doubtless, theabove test figures would have been even better
with an already fully-run-in example of the GS4, with better than 30 MPG a distinct possibility; Nevertheless, the
results were outstanding fortheir day.
Austin A50 Cambridge Has a Go
Three years later a new A50 Cambridge, driven by K. Fry, S. Collins and R.Dimmick, completed a flat-out round trip of
Queensland, Northern Australia at an overall average speed of 44 MPH (70 kph). Like the non-stop Canadian test
team
they covered an average of 1,000 miles a day, to log 28 MPG (10.1 litres/100 km) over a distance of 5500 miles
(5,600 km) in precisely 3½ days. The overall oil consumption was obviously measured exactly, but is not recorded for
us.
The Cambridge was supplied by U.K. Motors Pty. Ltd. and the trial was intended to demonstrate the ruggedness and
reliability of the car, which it most certainly did. Conditions on the run ranged from rain and fog to blazing heat on the
dusty roads and rough tracks of the 'bush'.
Though the Canadian and Australian test routes and the operating conditions were not strictly comparable, the type of
treatment given to the two flat-out driven Austins was similar. The comparative statistics and performances of the
1952
and 1954 family cars are interesting, if not wholly conclusive, to say the least. The table below gives some idea of the
similarities and differences:
SPECIFICATION DATA AND
PERFORMANCE SUMMARY
Engine Size (c.c.)
Net BHP @ RPM
Unladen Weight (cwt)
Net BHP/Ton (dry)
Final-drive gearing
(MPH/1,000RPM)
RPM @ 75 MPH (120 KPH)
MPH @ 2,500 FT/Min Piston
Speed
Mean (and Best) Max Speed
(MPH)
Av. Cruise Speed on Test Runs
(MPH)
Max. Speed in 3rd Gear (MPH)
Max. Speed in 2nd Gear (MPH)
Overall test average speed (MPH)
Overall test fuel economy (MPG)
Approx. MPG @ Constant 60 MPH
A40 Somerset GS4 De
Luxe Saloon (1952-54)
1,200
42 @ 4,500
20.25
41.5
14.3
5,240
61.1
74.2 (78.3. Best)
60 – 70
52
34
43.1
28.7
32.0
A50 Cambridge HS5
De Luxe Saloon (1954-57)
1,489
47 @ 4,400
20.5
45.9
15.0
5,000
64.0
73.6 (79.0 Best)
60 – 70
59
37
This article is reprinted with the permission of Pete Simmonds of the Austin Counties Car Club. It appeared in the
March/April 2008 edition of the County Counsel Magazine.
Sad news
We regret to have to tell you that two of our long time members Ian Mason of London, ON and Amadeo Cutajar of
Georgetown, ON have passed away recently. Our sympathies are extended to both of their families.
44.1
28.0
28.5