The four-door Austin A40 Devon and two-door A40 Dorset were the first all-new family cars introduced after the war, in autumn 1947.
Commercial versions - 10cwt van, a factory-built 10cwt pickup and a Countryman estate - arrived in September 1948. The van’s capacity was 116cu.ft. The commercials had bigger, 17in, wheels instead of 16in. of the saloons. Initially, the bonnet and chrome grille were shared with the cars. Lower gear ratios were used and, as was usual on light commercial vehicles at the time, a passenger seat was an optional extra.
The engine was a new Austin 1200cc overhead-valve unit with a power output
