FIVE TRIALs
We enjoy the Austin 1100 and put it fully to the test
1 DailY DriViNG
The 1100’s ease of use was its key selling point when new and remains so today. Light steering and excellent visibility make lowspeed manoeuvres incredibly easy, while the Hydrolastic suspension is reasonably comfortable. You can expect good fuel economy, too, and the car genuinely seats four, despite its small size. There’s nothing inherently unreliable about the Austin, but it may be worth upgrading to electronic ignition to ensure good running. Later cars came with plastic splash guards for the engine – it’s worth retro-fitting these to an early car if you’re planning to drive on wet roads.
2 iN tHE sErViCE BaY
The only part of the Austin that could be described as complex is the Hydrolastic suspension, but fortunately there’s still a fair bit of expertise on these units, something for which you can thank the Mini MkII. More generally, the Mini’s huge popularity is a boon for any ADO16 owner and you’ll find a lot of the spares you need from the countless Mini specialists out there. Suspension aside, the 1100 is mechanically conventional and a good place to start for those just getting into DIY mechanics. These cars are susceptible to rust however, so it will be useful if you’re handy with a welder.
3 oN tHE sHoW CirCUit
As an everyday classic of increasing rarity, the 1100 is welcomed at most classic car shows. You’ll need there to be something special about your car if you want to be the centre of attention, though. GTs have a particular cult following thanks to their proto-hot hatch looks, and Vanden Plas 1300s often fool people into thinking you’ve got some kind of miniature Rolls-Royce. Getting to the show shouldn’t be difficult (unless you’re going halfway across the country) with all 1100s being comfortable and economical. With your advanced suspension and front-wheel-drive, you won’t struggle to get out of a muddy field if it rains, either!
4 tHE loNG WEEKEND
The 1100 isn’t particularly long-geared and can take an age to reach a genuine 70mph, so it’s not ideally suited to motorway driving. Your best bet would be to join the trucks in the inside lane at 60mph or, better yet, pick a more scenic route. Beyond this limitation though, the 1100 is comfortable and has a reasonablysized boot, so could easily take a family on holiday. The back seats are large enough to accommodate adults on small to medium trips, but they won’t appreciate the lack of room after an hour or so. Remember that the suspension isn’t self-levelling, so don’t go too fast over bumps if you’re loaded with people and luggage!
5 tHE B-roaD Blast
The 1100 is more capable, here, than most of its contemporary rivals. It feels much like a larger, slightly softer Mini, tending towards predictable understeer when you go too fast, but with good levels of grip and much of the Mini’s agility and enjoyable steering. The only issue with the 1100 is that the suspension can get bouncy over repeated undulations – the only real drawback of the Hydrolastic system. Otherwise, its remarkable fun to drive for a Sixties family car. Of course, there’s always the 1300 if you want to get the power to match the capable chassis too, and you won’t be short of tuning options from A-series specialists.