Austin lowered the A55 Cambridge just by fitting smaller 13-inch wheels — then quietly changed the rear axle ratio so the gearing never actually changed.
Lead trim: 1.5 B-Series (51 hp)
Austin Cambridge1957–1958
- 0spots by members
- Unclaimednobody has spotted one yet
- 0sets it belongs to
Nobody in Burbles has spotted a Austin Cambridge yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactAustin lowered the A55 Cambridge just by fitting smaller 13-inch wheels — then quietly changed the rear axle ratio so the gearing never actually changed.
In January 1957 the A55 Cambridge was introduced to replace the A50, using the same 1.5-litre B-Series engine as its predecessor, though with a higher compression ratio, rated at 51 hp at 4,250 rpm. The Cambridge had been restyled somewhat and now had a larger boot and a much larger rear window, and it was lowered by fitting 13 in road wheels. Some 154,000 were produced before it was replaced by a new Pininfarina-designed A55 Cambridge for 1959. A deluxe A55 with manumatic transmission tested by The Motor in 1957 had a top speed of 77.1 mph and could accelerate from 0–60 mph in 27.0 seconds. The A55 also spawned half-ton commercial models from 1957, which remained in production to 1973.
Collectors Spotted in the Austin Cambridge Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the Austin Cambridge yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 B-Series (51 hp) | 1957–1958 | 1.5 L Inline-4 | 51 hp | 81 lb-ft | 27.0 s | — | — | — |
Owning one
We don’t estimate running costs for a car like this. What it costs depends on its condition, its specialist and how it is driven, and an average would mislead.
Owners’ builds
Nobody has claimed one yet.
Photographs
Australia was driving the next-generation Cambridge two years before Britain even saw it — the bigger engine and the 'A60' name launched there first, badged as the Austin A60 while the UK still sold this A55 Mark II.
Austin lowered the A55 Cambridge just by fitting smaller 13-inch wheels — then quietly changed the rear axle ratio so the gearing never actually changed.
The original A40 Cambridge was meant to come as a sportier two-door as well as the familiar four-door — the two-door version never actually reached production.
This Cambridge offered a clutch-free 'manumatic' semi-automatic gearbox years ahead of its time — 1950s buyers just didn't want it.
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
It briefly served as senior sibling to Marquette, a GM companion brand cancelled after just one year.
Nissan hired former BMW engineers to help develop the 510's suspension, which is why period reviewers frequently compared its handling to the BMW 1600/2002.
A Trabant 601 won its class at the 1970 Monte Carlo Rally, with a second 601 right behind it in second.
The 600 was a stopgap: the P50's body over the 601's mechanicals, and for a while its estate was built alongside the new 601 saloon.
The G80 Sport brought a 370 PS twin-turbo 3.3 V6, a mesh grille and copper-tinted chrome with copper stitching to match.
The Vigor was sold only with a five-cylinder engine, an unusual configuration Honda used to fit a longer engine transversely under a short hood.
The GS/E coupe earned the nickname "German Charger" for its long hood, short deck stance borrowed from Detroit muscle cars.
This DeVille/Fleetwood was the first production car anywhere to mount its V8 sideways, Cadillac's front-drive gamble on the new C-body.