Austin Westminster - A95/A105

A95/A105

Production	1956–1959 A95 – 28,065 A105 – 6,770
Assembly	Longbridge, England Sydney, Australia
Body style	4-door saloon 4-door estate (A95)
Layout	FR layout
Engine	2.6 L C-Series I6
Wheelbase	104 in (2,642 mm) 106 in (2,692 mm) from May 1956
Length	170 in (4,318 mm) 181 in (4,597 mm) from May 1956
Width	64 in (1,626 mm)
Height	61 in (1,549 mm)
Related	Morris Marshal

In May 1956, for a brief period only, a derivative of the A90 Six Westminster was announced which was a short boot version of the A105 and had the twin SU carburettor/102 hp version of the 2.6 litre C series engine with overdrive as standard. In October 1956 the A105 received the longer wheelbase with overdrive as standard and automatic transmission as an option. Twin fog lights heater and wheeltrims were standard although a radio was still an option. Twotone paint and white-wall tyres were introduced for visual effect. Very few short boot versions of the A105 were produced and they are now quite rare.

The A90 was updated for autumn 1956 as the A95. Along with more power, the A95 was longer and now offered an estate model. Overdrive and an automatic transmission were new as well, something of a novelty in British cars of the time.

Both the A95 and A105 were produced together until 1959.

The Westminster name was dropped from the sales literature for the A95 and the A105 although, oddly, the drivers' handbooks still used the name Westminster to title the illustration of the saloon. The estate version was titled Countryman. Nevertheless, most enthusiasts still refer to them as Westminsters.

A badge-engineered version of the A95 with different grille, trim, and badges and a bench front seat was assembled and sold in Australia as the Morris Marshal from 1957 until 1960.

An A105 saloon with overdrive tested by the British magazine The Motor in 1956 had a top speed of 96.3 mph (155.0 km/h) and could accelerate from 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 15.4 seconds. A fuel consumption of 22.0 miles per imperial gallon (12.8 L/100 km; 18.3 mpg) was recorded. The test car cost £1109 including taxes.