Mods and Consequences
BMC ‘Farina’ 4-cyl saloons
The BMC 1.5- and 1.6-litre Farinas’ origins lie in the 1954 Austin A40 and A50, launched barely two years after BMC’s creation. With money tight and many dealers who only sold one make, the company needed a cost-efficient car that satisfied different marque-loyal retailers and their customers. The answer was an elegant Farina re-skin of the 1489cc A55, which BMC stylist Sid Goble then turned into the Austin, Morris, Wolseley, MG and Riley ‘versions’, launched in 1959. They were updated for 1962 with more restrained fins, a larger 1622cc B-series engine, a front anti-roll bar and a wider track, which pushed the wheels out to where they should have been in the first place; the 1489cc cars have a narrow tippy-toe stance.
While modifying a rare early car is possible it reduces its value, so if driving is the priority look for a 1622cc example – they handle and go better. Both the MG and Riley had high-compression twincarburettor engines, but they don’t transform the car.
Super-tuned MGA 1622cc units are costly but the MGB 1798cc engine is a cheaper and easier route to sensible power. Although it’s coarser than the standard engine, it’ll keep up with modern traffic and pull an MGB ‘Banjo’ 3.9:1 differential, which can be fitted directly into the back axle. In expensive and rare three-bearing form, an MGB 1.8-litre will bolt straight in using the standard A60 gearbox. The later MGB five-bearing unit is ubiquitous, thus cheaper, and easy to get parts for, but requires a little more work in terms of engine mounts and gearbox adapters. Many MGB-engined cars use the MG’s overdrive gearbox as well, which is sensible but it does require cutting the transmission tunnel and raising a section. Hi- Gear does a superb kit to fit a Ford Type 9 five-speed unit, which quite a few A60s now run and does not require any body surgery. It’s more expensive though…
Many Cambridge- Oxford Owners’ Club members have some level of MGB in their car’s engine, from a bigvalve head to complete MGB running gear. This transforms the car but retains its character – it’s what BMC should have made!
HEADLIGHTS £45 (+£25 RELAY KIT)
Standard Lucas seven-inch sealed beams are poor but easily upgraded to halogen units once you have an alternator fitted; provided the wings are not rusty it’s a simple job to change them, and it does not alter the appearance.
FIT AN ALTERNATOR £75
The cars were produced with a positive earth dynamo but an alternator from an A-plus Metro bolts straight in, although you need to do wiring modifications. This gives you good negative earth charging, for better lights.
FIT AN ELECTRIC COOLING FAN £170
Manual cars originally had a two-blade mechanical fan, autos four-blade. However, an electric fan is much more efficient and in a hot summer traffic jam could be your saviour. It will make the heater warm up quicker as well.
GO FOR ELECTRONIC IGNITION £150
A must-do for anyone wanting to use an old car regularly, it means less servicing and greater reliability allied to extra smoothness and a bigger spark. The H&H system looks standard under the Farina bonnet.
FIT A BRAKE SERVO £95
The drum brakes have a large swept area, but can fade after repeated use and need a very firm push. A remote brake servo is easy to fit and a sensible upgrade. The engine bay has room for it and kits are readily available.
FIT A LONGER DIFFERENTIAL £340
These cars have a great deal of torque but run a 4.5:1 differential (a few 4.3:1) which is very short. The MGB ‘Banjo’ diff crownwheel and pinion fit, and with a small amount of case machining can go as high as a 3.7:1.
FIT THE CORRECT TYRES £648 (x4)
Not an upgrade, we hear! However, most A60s now use tyres with too modern a pattern for their geometry. As a result they’ve developed an undeserved reputation for heavy steering. Fit a set of 165-14 Pirelli Cinturatos.