Makes › Austin › A90 Atlantic · Rare production · 1948–1952 Limited Production
Austin
A90 Atlantic
Export-orientated fastback and convertible Austin with 2.66-litre four
Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 7,981 Built
- Years
- 1948–1952
- Engine
- Inline four, OHV · 2,660 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,660 cc
- Power
- 65.6 kW / 89.2 PSFactory: 88 hp · converted
- Top speed
- 148 km/hFactory: 92 mph · converted
- Body
- Not yet verified
- Designer
- Leonard Lord (basic shape); Dick Burzi (drawings)
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The A90 Atlantic was the first all-new post-war British Austin design, and its 2.6 litre four-cylinder engine is the one later used in the Austin-Healey 100/4. Few survive; the auction listing believes about 30 are on the road in Britain.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Austin A90 Atlantic (Wikimedia Commons: Austin A90 Atlantic)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Austin A90 Atlantic (Wikimedia Commons: Austin A90 Atlantic)
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0
Austin A90 Atlantic (Wikimedia Commons: Austin A90 Atlantic)
Photo: Michael Gaylard · CC BY 2.0
Austin A90 Atlantic (Wikimedia Commons: Austin A90 Atlantic)
Photo: Vauxford · CC BY-SA 4.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionAtlantics built through 1952 | 7,9811 | Factory production | Independently researched |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
After the war the government pushed exports to America, and Leonard Lord wanted a sports-styled car to widen Austin's range there. He drew the basic shape himself and Dick Burzi turned it into drawings; it used A70 mechanical components and chassis. It starred on Austin's stand at the 1948 Earls Court show, as a convertible with a power-operated hood, and a hardtop followed in 1949.
To promote it in the US, an Atlantic broke 126 stock-car records at Indianapolis over seven days. Sales stayed poor, and production ended in 1952 with just under 8,000 built; its 2660 cc four lived on in the Austin-Healey 100.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard A90 Atlantic.
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | Inline four, OHV2 Independently researched |
| Cylinders | 43 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 2,660 cc / 2.7 LFactory: 2,660 cc3 Independently researched |
| Bore | 87 mmFactory: 87 mm2 Independently researched |
| Stroke | 111 mmFactory: 111 mm2 Independently researched |
| Compression ratio | 7.5:12 Independently researched |
| Valvetrain | OHV4 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | SU carburettors5 Independently researched |
| Power | 65.6 kW / 89.2 PSFactory: 88 hp · converted3 Independently researchedSource says bhp. |
| Power at | 4,000 rpm5 Independently researched |
| Torque | 190 NmFactory: 140 lb-ft · converted5 Independently researched |
| Torque at | 2,500 rpm5 Independently researched |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Manual, column change5 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | 42 Independently researched |
| Driven wheels | Not yet verified |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Based on the A70 chassis and mechanical components6 Independently researchedFrom an enthusiast source (level D) – not yet confirmed by the maker or a registry. |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Independent, coil springs2 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Beam axle, semi-elliptic leaf springs2 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Drums front and rear2 Independently researched |
| Steering | Worm2 Independently researched |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,440 mmFactory: 96 in · converted5 Independently researched |
| Length | 4,498 mmFactory: 177.1 in · converted5 Independently researched14 ft 9.1 in as stated. |
| Width | 1,780 mmFactory: 70 in · converted5 Independently researched5 ft 10 in as stated. |
| Height | 1,550 mmFactory: 61 in · converted5 Independently researched5 ft 1 in as stated. |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | Not yet verified |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 148 km/hFactory: 92 mph · converted2 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | Not yet verified |
| 0–60 mph | 18.4 s2 Independently researched |
| Fuel tank | Not yet verified |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
RM Sotheby's: 1950 Austin A90 Atlantic Sports Saloon (Sáragga Collection) Level B
- 7981 Atlantics built through 1952
-
2
Austin A90 Atlantic (Motorbase vehicle data) Level C Motorbase (Wayback capture) · 2014-07-03
- 2660cc | S4 OHV
- Bore/Stroke 87mm x 111mm
- CR 7.5
- Manual | 4
- Independent/Coil Springs
- Beam axle/Semi-elliptic leaf springs
- Brakes Drum Drum
- Steering Worm
- Top Speed 92 mph
- 0-60 18.4 s
-
3
1952 Austin A90 Atlantic (CCA Practical Classics 2017) Level C Iconic Auctioneers · 2017-03-31
- 4-cylinder engine
- 2660cc 4-cylinder engine
- 88bhp, 2660cc
- 4
-
5
Austin A90 Atlantic Level C Austin Memories (Wayback capture) · 2015-05-07
- one reason why it used SU carbs instead of the down-draught Zeniths
- 88 bhp at 4,000 rpm
- Max torque 140lbs/ft at 2,500 rpm
- 140lbs/ft at 2,500 rpm
- pistol hand brake and a column gear change
- Wheelbase 8ft 0ins
- Length 14ft 9.1ins
- Width 5ft 10ins
- Height 5ft 1ins
-
6
A90 Atlantic Level D John Baker · Austin Memories
- The chassis was based on the A70
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