Background
The Countryman version was an early example of what would become known as a hatchback, combining many of the virtues of a saloon and estate car in one body. There is more headroom for the rear passengers because of the angular instead of curved lines of the roof, while as a two-seater it provides an exceptional amount of luggage space.
The normal luggage boot has a tail board that lets down (the rear window remains fixed) and the space behind the rear seat is usually covered by a tonneau cover. This can be removed, and the rear seats folded to permit the whole of the back of the car to be used for luggage.
The design was by Pininfarina of Italy. At a time when Turin auto-design studios were, for the most part, consulted only by builders of expensive "exotic" cars, the manufacturers made much of the car's Italian styling, with both "Pinin" Farina and his son Sergio being present at the car's UK launch.
The car was a popular choice, in modified form, for competition work. Several examples are still to be seen taking part in historic saloon racing.
Read more about this topic: Austin A40 Farina
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