
The A40 was designed by Pininfarina. It looked like a hatchback, but it wasn't. It had a trunk, but not a traditional one. It was hinged at the bottom and the rear seat folded down to make more room. When the seat was up, there was a piece of fabric that covered the trunk area and created something of a shelf.

The A40 is rear wheel drive and has a simple, old fashioned suspension; coil springs in front, leaf springs in the rear. The brakes were hydraulically operated in the front, cable actuated at the rear.
The interior was interesting. The seats were of a good quality vinyl. The dash had a parcel shelf and a locking glove compartment. The floors were carpeted. The rear side windows were hinged. Much of that was not found on small cars of the 1950s and early 1960s. However, the front windows had no winder; you moved then up and down by hand. There is also nothing that even remotely resembles an armrest. Anywhere. Not on the door, not in the center. I guess, if you were the passenger, you sat bolt upright in the seat with your hands folded in your lap.

Introduced in 1958, the A40 never sold well in the US. Although Austin listed them as being available in North America through 1962, they all disappeared from the dealerships after Austin officially began importing the Mini in 1960.

This is a ready-to-go-to-show car. It's expensive, but you could buy it today and take it to a show on Sunday. As the seller says, you will be only one at the car show with one of these.

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