1950 Austin A90

Sold for $41,250 at 2010 RM Auctions - Automobiles of Amelia Island.
The British motor industry, after World War II, was mostly devoted to the export market, mostly in search of the U.S. currency. Austin's A40 Devon and Dorset models were selling well in parts of the United States and continued to be the company's best-selling imports in most years until 1952. Hoping to increase market share, Austin's chairman Leonard Lord directed his designers to come up with a larger convertible that would appeal to wealthy Americans. What they came up with was the A90 Atlantic. This new model was derived from the A70 Austin Hampshire and powered by a 2660cc version of the overhead valve four-cylinder engine and fitted with twin SU carburetors. The transmission was a column-shift four-speed unit.

The company's public relations director, Alan Hess, staged a week-long campaign at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in April of 1949. While there, numerous endurance and speed records were achieved.

The Atlantic sold for $2,995 which was rather expensive at the time. In 1950, the company offered a reduction of $500 which helped bring it in range of other vehicles such as the Buick Super. For 1952, there were 7,981 Atlantics built and about 350 found owners in the United States.

At some point in its history, the car was professionally restored. Currently, there are minor issues that are visible, mainly a few paint chips and slightly misalignment of the doors.

By Daniel Vaughan | Jun 2014

The Austin Atlantic was introduced as a Convertible at the 1948 earls Court Motor Show in London, with production models being built between the spring of 1949 and late 1950. A two-door sports coupe was previewed at the 1949 Motor Show and was in production from 1950 through 1952. Both were powered by a 4-cylinder 2660cc engine. 7,981 were built through 1952 before being superseded by the next A90 - the totally different Austin Westminster - in 1954. The Atlantic, as its name implies, was targeted at the United States market and was designed almost certainly by Austin's then resident stylist, Italian Dick Burzi clearly influenced by Pininarina's 1946 Alfa Romeo cabriolet. Unfortunately, the United States was not very responsive and only 350 reached these shores.