Austin Kimberley
Encyclopedia
The Australia
n Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman (Morris
badged in New Zealand
) "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australia
n designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800
(ADO17) platform. At the time of the X6 being launched onto the Australian market it was quite an advanced design in comparison to the other competitors from Ford, Holden and Chrysler, whose rear wheel drive, conventionally sprung underpinnings dominated the market at the time.
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 doors, were retained. These doors however utilized recessed door handles, in order to satisfy Australian Design Rules
safety concerns. The body had an exceptionally stiff torsional rigidity, a trait it inherited from the 1800, which actually endowed the Kimberley with class-leading ride and sure-footed handling. The car's styling in particular was said to have been exceedingly handsome and, in effect, had turned a sow's ear into, if not a silk purse then certainly a far more harmonious shape than its rather awkward predecessor
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 in the world. The Tasman's single carburettor configuration produced 76 kW and the Kimberly 86 kW with its extra carburettor. Both were sold with either a four-speed manual
or three-speed automatic transmission
.
Due to the application in this car, its engine would also be used in BMC ADO17 in Britain, firstly in the Austin 1800
based Austin 2200, and later in the BMC ADO71 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 two 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, Barry Anderson (ex-Leyland Australia engineer) states that two were ute
built, one served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia while the other was crashed tested for ADR (Australian Design Rules) compliance. The surviving black "work hack" was offered for private sale in Melbourne in 1990, at which time it was no longer roadworthy or registered.
Initially the X6 cars sold well and there were plans by parent company British Leyland/BMC at the time to launch the Kimberley on the UK home market, where it would have competed with the top end Cortinas, various Vauxhalls. The BL execs desperately needed new products and their Australian arm where producing some interesting and exciting cars around this time which included a factory hatchback for the Morris 1100/1300/1500 called the "Nomad" and a useful 1800 utility as well as larger engined versions of existing models.
Had they deemed these cars, along with the Spanish
version of the 1100 (a booted sedan styled by Michelotti based on the 1100/1300) to be suitable for wider distribution, it could have gone some way to alleviating BL's woes on their home market. Sadly the advanced engineering combined with the Australian markets tough outback conditions, extreme heat and so forth were not kind to the X6 cars and reliability became an issue. Additionally the parent company was running out of money and there was no funding to develop the cars further.
, 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 seat
s, 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!. Whilst this may seem an exaggerated claim by its makers, the 1800/Kimberley platform did provide excellent passenger room for a vehicle of such a compact outer dimensions, a legacy of Sir Alec Issigonis who strived for increased cabin space on a small footprint as witness the amazing Mini, 1100, 1800 and Maxi.
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
.
Two Austin Tasman utes were built, one served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia while the other was crashed tested.
In the late 1980s, in New Zealand, a Morris Kimberley had a unique stretch-limousine conversion, and was spray-painted pink.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n Austin Kimberley and Austin Tasman (Morris
Morris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
badged in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) "X6" models of 1970 were a range of Leyland Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n designed front-wheel-drive sedans based on the Austin 1800
Austin 1800
BMC ADO17 was the model code used by the British Motor Corporation for a range of cars produced from September 1964 to 1975 and sold initially under its Austin marque as the Austin 1800. The car was also sold as the Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85, and later as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and...
(ADO17) platform. At the time of the X6 being launched onto the Australian market it was quite an advanced design in comparison to the other competitors from Ford, Holden and Chrysler, whose rear wheel drive, conventionally sprung underpinnings dominated the market at the time.
These cars were offered as an Australian replacement to the Austin 1800
Austin 1800
BMC ADO17 was the model code used by the British Motor Corporation for a range of cars produced from September 1964 to 1975 and sold initially under its Austin marque as the Austin 1800. The car was also sold as the Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85, and later as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and...
. Their boxy styling, developed for the car to be a proper six-seater, was all-new, but a few features, including the doors, were retained. These doors however utilized recessed door handles, in order to satisfy Australian Design Rules
Australian Design Rules
The Australian Design Rules are national Australian standards for vehicle safety, anti-theft system and emission standards. They have been acclaimed as less arbitrary than those of other countries, and successfully prevented the importation of many dangerous Japanese imports over the years...
safety concerns. The body had an exceptionally stiff torsional rigidity, a trait it inherited from the 1800, which actually endowed the Kimberley with class-leading ride and sure-footed handling. The car's styling in particular was said to have been exceedingly handsome and, in effect, had turned a sow's ear into, if not a silk purse then certainly a far more harmonious shape than its rather awkward predecessor
The standard powerplant for the X6 range was a transverse mounted 2.2L OHC straight-six engine, based on the 1500/1750 Austin Maxi
Austin Maxi
The Austin Maxi was a medium sized 5-door hatchback car from British Leyland for the 1970s. It was the first British five speed five-door hatchback.-History:...
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 in the world. The Tasman's single carburettor configuration produced 76 kW and the Kimberly 86 kW with its extra carburettor. Both were sold with either a four-speed manual
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
or three-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
Due to the application in this car, its engine would also be used in BMC ADO17 in Britain, firstly in the Austin 1800
Austin 1800
BMC ADO17 was the model code used by the British Motor Corporation for a range of cars produced from September 1964 to 1975 and sold initially under its Austin marque as the Austin 1800. The car was also sold as the Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85, and later as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and...
based Austin 2200, and later in the BMC ADO71 Princess. In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, in an ill-advised move, this engine also appeared in the Morris Marina
Morris Marina
The Morris Marina is a car which was manufactured by the Morris division of British Leyland in the UK throughout the 1970s, which was a period of great turbulence and difficulty for the British car industry. It was known in some markets as the Austin Marina, Leyland Marina, and Morris 1.7...
.
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 two round headlights.
In the early 1970s, British Leyland had an idea of a medium sized Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas
Vanden Plas is the name of a company of coachbuilders who produced bodies for specialist and up-market automobile manufacturers. Latterly the name became a top-end luxury model designation for cars from various subsidiaries of British Leyland and the Rover Group.-Belgium:It originated in Belgium in...
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
Utility vehicle
Utility vehicle is used to describe a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed for a specific task.-Sport utility vehicle:Vehicles similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis, usually with off-road capability....
variant (codenamed YDO14), to replace the Australian Austin 1800
Austin 1800
BMC ADO17 was the model code used by the British Motor Corporation for a range of cars produced from September 1964 to 1975 and sold initially under its Austin marque as the Austin 1800. The car was also sold as the Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85, and later as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and...
ute
Utility vehicle
Utility vehicle is used to describe a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed for a specific task.-Sport utility vehicle:Vehicles similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis, usually with off-road capability....
. Although this model never made production, Barry Anderson (ex-Leyland Australia engineer) states that two were ute
Utility vehicle
Utility vehicle is used to describe a vehicle, generally motorized, that is designed for a specific task.-Sport utility vehicle:Vehicles similar to a station wagon but built on a light-truck chassis, usually with off-road capability....
built, one served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia while the other was crashed tested for ADR (Australian Design Rules) compliance. The surviving black "work hack" was offered for private sale in Melbourne in 1990, at which time it was no longer roadworthy or registered.
Initially the X6 cars sold well and there were plans by parent company British Leyland/BMC at the time to launch the Kimberley on the UK home market, where it would have competed with the top end Cortinas, various Vauxhalls. The BL execs desperately needed new products and their Australian arm where producing some interesting and exciting cars around this time which included a factory hatchback for the Morris 1100/1300/1500 called the "Nomad" and a useful 1800 utility as well as larger engined versions of existing models.
Had they deemed these cars, along with the Spanish
Authi
The Authi car company of Pamplona, Spain, was founded in 1965 as a result of a collaboration between BMC and NMQ ....
version of the 1100 (a booted sedan styled by Michelotti based on the 1100/1300) to be suitable for wider distribution, it could have gone some way to alleviating BL's woes on their home market. Sadly the advanced engineering combined with the Australian markets tough outback conditions, extreme heat and so forth were not kind to the X6 cars and reliability became an issue. Additionally the parent company was running out of money and there was no funding to develop the cars further.
Marketing
In the marketplace, the cars were intended as competitors to the more established larger Holden KingswoodHolden Kingswood
The Holden Kingswood is a full-size car that was manufactured by General Motors-Holden's, the Australian subsidiary of General Motors , from the beginning of the HK series in 1968 through to the conclusion of the WB series in 1984...
, Ford Falcon
Ford Falcon (Australia)
The Ford Falcon is a full-size car which has been manufactured by Ford Australia since 1960. Each model from the XA series of 1972 onward has been designed, developed and built in Australia and/or New Zealand, following the phasing out of the American Falcon of 1960–71 which had been re-engineered...
and Chrysler Valiant
Chrysler Valiant
The Chrysler Valiant is a passenger car which was introduced by Chrysler Australia in 1962 with production ceasing in 1981. Initially a rebadged locally assembled Plymouth Valiant from the U.S., the Valiant range was sold throughout Australia and New Zealand, as well as South Africa...
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
Leyland P76
The Leyland P76 is a large car that was produced by Leyland Australia, the Australian subsidiary of British Leyland. Featuring what was described at the time as the "standard Australian wheelbase of 111 inches", it was intended to provide the company with a genuine rival to large local models like...
, which was introduced to Australia and New Zealand in 1973.
When introduced, a notable selling point of the X6 was its two bench seat
Bench seat
The bench seat was the traditional seat installed in American automobiles. This seat featured a continuous pad running the full width of the cabin...
s, which could seat six. Interestingly one advertisement for the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
specification Morris Tasman X6 proclaimed that the bench seats could hold the driver and seven schoolboy rugby players!. Whilst this may seem an exaggerated claim by its makers, the 1800/Kimberley platform did provide excellent passenger room for a vehicle of such a compact outer dimensions, a legacy of Sir Alec Issigonis who strived for increased cabin space on a small footprint as witness the amazing Mini, 1100, 1800 and Maxi.
Notable Vehicles
A white Morris Tasman X6 is preserved at the WanakaWanaka
Wanaka is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, adjacent to the outflow of the lake to the Clutha River. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both summer and winter...
Transport Museum, in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. Fittingly, while the cars themselves are moved constantly around the museum, it is always shown parked alongside an Austin 1800
Austin 1800
BMC ADO17 was the model code used by the British Motor Corporation for a range of cars produced from September 1964 to 1975 and sold initially under its Austin marque as the Austin 1800. The car was also sold as the Morris 1800 and Wolseley 18/85, and later as the Austin 2200, Morris 2200 and...
.
Two Austin Tasman utes were built, one served as a 'work hack' for Leyland Australia while the other was crashed tested.
In the late 1980s, in New Zealand, a Morris Kimberley had a unique stretch-limousine conversion, and was spray-painted pink.