THE BMC FARINA FAMILY
From a 2022 perspective, it is tempting to regard the British Motor Corporation’s Farina dynasty in the same light as the BBC Home Service and the Margaret Rutherford Miss Marples films – safe and comfortable products that would rattle few cages. Yet in the late 1950s, this apparent symbol of suburban middle-class security was a radical step for BMC with its carefully planned blend of straightforward engineering and new Italian suiting.
The narrative commenced when BMC paid Battista ‘Pinin’ Farina an £84,000 commission to revitalise most of their saloon line-up in the mid-1950s. The first result of this collaboration was the two-box Austin A40 which debuted in 1958, but our focus this issue is on the bigger models that started arriving in December of that year. This was the Wolseley 15/60, the first of five medium-sized Farina saloons. It replaced the Wolseley 15/50 and amazed the marque’s devotees with its sharp lines and prominent tail fins.
The new model was destined to wear a variety of badges because the British Motor Corporation’s dealership network remained largely unintegrated six years after the Austin/Nuffield Group merger. As the business had to make cars to satisfy individual marque loyalties, it seemed logical for BMC to replace their entire medium-sized car range with an integrated family wearing different badges.
Thus, the 15/60 was followed in January 1959 by the Austin A55 Cambridge MkII, the MG Magnette MkIII in February, the Morris Oxford Series V in March and the Riley 4/68 in April. All were powered by the 1489cc BMC B-series engine,
