The ADO16 From Spain – The Austin Victoria

The central hull is clearly the ADO16. The tail is reminiscent of the Triumph 2000 Mk. II, and the frontal treatment includes four headlamps. It is, of course, the Spanish-built Austin Victoria.

The narrative begins in 1965 when BMC formed Authi - Automoviles de Turismo Hispano Ingleses – with Nueva Montaña Quijano S.A.

The British Motor Corporation sought to gain access to the heavily protected Spanish car market, while NMQ was looking for a new partner after its former client, Renault, began to build engines in-house. https://www.garajehermetico.com/ explained BMC’s challenges: 

Road and rail communications in 1960s Spain weren't good... in fact, they were very bad... and I know this firsthand. There wasn't much auxiliary industry, and manufacturing in Navarre was a mess: Components arrived initially from the United Kingdom, then from NMQ in Santander. Glass, carburettors, and fuel pumps arrived from Barcelona; and upholstery and seats arrived from Madrid and Valladolid, where Barreiros and Renault were located. 

Local production of the Morris 1100 commenced in 1966, followed by the MG 1100 in 1967. By late 1968, the Morris Mini 1275-C was also in production. On the 7th of July 1969, Donald Stokes announced that British Leyland had acquired 51% of NMQ's shares, and in October 1972, the Victoria replaced the standard ADO16s.

The Victoria commenced as a Michelotti’s submission for Project ADO22, an ADO16 update British Leyland sidelined in favour of the Allegro. Instead, the design became ‘Austin Apache’, introduced in 1971 by Leykor South Africa. The following year, Authi used the same body for the Victoria, and Spanish motorists had the choice of the Normal for 129,900 pesetas and the De Luxe for 166,960 pesetas. The latter featured quad halogen headlights, servo-assisted brakes, an alternator instead of a dynamo, a tachometer, a cigarette lighter, a clock, a wooden steering wheel, and – of course - Rostyle wheels. 
Formula magazine thought: “It's a car with a number of attractive features and modifications, especially to its bodywork, compared to the MG 1300 S and Austin 1300, which it replaces. We believe it's also guaranteed to be a success”. Highway believed:

There's no doubt that the Victoria is attractive. All opinions are in agreement. If you didn't know it was a lengthened version of the previous model, no one would think it wasn't a comprehensive design. Michelotti certainly knows how to handle a pencil. Inside, the car has the same spaciousness, from windshield to rear window.

By 1972, Authi was Spain’s third most popular car maker after SEAT, who held 56% of the market, and Renault. In 1973, the company predicted that production would increase by 47% to 50,000 per annum, with 10,000 for export.  However, the Victoria faced the formidable sales challenge of the rival SEAT 1400, and just 24,682 units departed the factory before production ended in 1975.  

That year marked the closure of BL’s Spanish operations with a £35 million deficit, and the Spanish government did not approve their plans to sell the factory to General Motors.  SEAT eventually acquired the factory to build the 124. Today, this Victoria De Luxe sold by Manor Park Classics - remains one of the most fascinating aspects of the ADO16 story. And the question remains – could British Leyland have marketed it in the UK...

With thanks to Manor Park Classics for their time.

With thanks to Manor Park Classics for permission to use the images in this blog.