Alternative first-time classics
AUSTIN A40/A50/A55 CAMBRIDGE (1954-1958)
It was goodbye to the dumpy-looking Somerset and hello to the Cambridge with unitary construction and what was then a modern integral wing body. Who cares if the Duke of Edinburgh said it still looked dated because today the family-sized Austin oozes charm and simplicity, making it ideal for first-timers. The 1956 A50 had the new B-Series 1489cc, while the A55 (from ‘57) boasted a longer boot, more glass, and a more conventional floor gearshift.
Roughly 300,000 Cambridges were made (vans and pick ups lasted until 1971), but, rather than experiencing further demise, in the last decade the number licensed has actually crept up from just over 200 in 2010 to 238 in 2020. This suggests they’re slowly but surely becoming just a little more sought-after.
