Austin Victoria
Encyclopedia
The Austin Apache was a small family car which was produced by British Leyland Motor Corporation
's South African subsidiary, Leykor, between November 1971 and 1978. The Apache was the last ADO16 car to be produced. The Spanish Authi
subsidiary also built a version of the car, called the Austin Victoria, at its Pamplona
plant between 1972 and 1975.
. Leykor executives saw Michelotti's prototype in England and chose it for production in South Africa, where ADO16 sales had been dropping. While the car's centre structure was that of the Austin/Morris 1100
, its front and rear styling was all-new, styled (particularly at the rear, where the boot was notchback) to resemble a scaled down Triumph 2000/2500
. The tail lights, and outer sections of the rear bumper were the same as those used by the Triumph 2000/2500
.
In 1973 the Apache received a minor facelift, introducing proper CV joints
, round Smiths
gauges and a rod linkage for the gear shift. Originally, the ADO16 used rubber drive joints, a strip speedometer, and a remote extension gear lever. Also in 1973, the sporty TC model was added to the lineup. Power was up to 55 kW at 5,800 rpm, compared to 46.2 kW at 5,250 rpm for the 'cooking' versions. The TC also received Rostyle rims, vinyl roof, a rev counter, and a sporty steering wheel. All versions of the Apache and Victoria used the 1,275 cc version of BMC's venerable A-series
four-cylinder, with a variety of outputs.
British Leyland Motor Corporation
British Leyland was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968 as British Leyland Motor Corporation Ltd . It was partly nationalised in 1975 with the government creating a new holding company called British Leyland Ltd which became BL Ltd in 1978...
's South African subsidiary, Leykor, between November 1971 and 1978. The Apache was the last ADO16 car to be produced. The Spanish Authi
Authi
The Authi car company of Pamplona, Spain, was founded in 1965 as a result of a collaboration between BMC and NMQ ....
subsidiary also built a version of the car, called the Austin Victoria, at its Pamplona
Pamplona
Pamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
plant between 1972 and 1975.
History
The car was styled by Michelotti, and based on the chassis and various other components of the Austin/Morris 1100BMC ADO16
ADO16 is the codename for the development of what became the Morris 1100, a small family car built by the British Motor Corporation and, later, British Leyland...
. Leykor executives saw Michelotti's prototype in England and chose it for production in South Africa, where ADO16 sales had been dropping. While the car's centre structure was that of the Austin/Morris 1100
BMC ADO16
ADO16 is the codename for the development of what became the Morris 1100, a small family car built by the British Motor Corporation and, later, British Leyland...
, its front and rear styling was all-new, styled (particularly at the rear, where the boot was notchback) to resemble a scaled down Triumph 2000/2500
Triumph 2000
The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:...
. The tail lights, and outer sections of the rear bumper were the same as those used by the Triumph 2000/2500
Triumph 2000
The Triumph 2000 is a mid-sized, rear wheel drive automobile which was produced in Coventry by the Triumph Motor Company between 1963 and 1977. Larger-engined models, known as the Triumph 2.5 PI and Triumph 2500 were also produced.-Engine:...
.
Constant-velocity joint
Constant-velocity joints allow a drive shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without an appreciable increase in friction or play. They are mainly used in front wheel drive and all wheel drive cars...
, round Smiths
Smiths Group
Smiths Group plc is a global engineering company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It has operations in over 50 countries and employs around 23,550 staff....
gauges and a rod linkage for the gear shift. Originally, the ADO16 used rubber drive joints, a strip speedometer, and a remote extension gear lever. Also in 1973, the sporty TC model was added to the lineup. Power was up to 55 kW at 5,800 rpm, compared to 46.2 kW at 5,250 rpm for the 'cooking' versions. The TC also received Rostyle rims, vinyl roof, a rev counter, and a sporty steering wheel. All versions of the Apache and Victoria used the 1,275 cc version of BMC's venerable A-series
BMC A-Series engine
Austin Motor Company's small straight-4 automobile engine, the A-Series, is one of the most common in the world. Launched in 1951 with the Austin A30, production lasted until 2000 in the Mini. It used a cast-iron block and cylinder head, and a steel crankshaft with 3 main bearings...
four-cylinder, with a variety of outputs.
Production
| South African sales | |||
| Version | Apache | Apache TC | totals |
| 1971 | 455 | — | 455 |
| 1972 | 3,908 | — | 3,908 |
| 1973 | 4,607 | 649 | 5,256 |
| 1974 | 3,725 | 857 | 4,582 |
| 1975 | 3,356 | 675 | 4,031 |
| 1976 | 1,830 | 517 | 2,347 |
| 1977 | 749 | 236 | 985 |
| 1978 | 49 | 42 | 91 |
| totals | 18,679 | 2,976 | 21,655 |