Lord K's Garage #143: The Unlucky Atlantic

You know that postwar cars are not this garage's specialty. But this two-door Austin is here as a close cousin of prewar streamliners.

Nothing revolutionary in its layout, although: no front drive or rear engine. Everything's conventional - save the appearance, quite revolutionary for a 1940s British automobile.

Would you believe that the 1950 Austin A90 Atlantic Convertible was conceived as part of an economic program?

Economic conditions were so bleak in England following World War II that the country adopted an “export or die” program to attract foreign currency - mainly U.S. dollars.

One of the results of this policy was the new Austin A90 Atlantic, a convertible designed with the American market in mind. Riding a 96-inch wheelbase, it arrived in 1949 and rode into 1950 unchanged, save for a lower $2,634 price tag.

(Photo by Austin7nut @ Flickr)

The A90 Atlantic was the first Austin to forsake the traditional upright grille, replacing it with a more rounded front end with a low-mounted grille sporting a central spotlight.

(Photos by Austin7nut @ Flickr)

The 1950 Atlantic Convertible was powered by a 2660-cc (162.2-cid) ohv four. With 88 bhp and 140 lbs/ft torque, it whisked the A90's 2,800 pounds from 0-50 in 11.2 seconds and up to 92 mph.

(Photos by Albert S. Bite @ Flickr)

To Americans, the Atlantic was too small and too expensive: 32.4 inches shorter and $158 costlier than a 1950 Buick Super ragtop. Thus, it sold poorly, and production was halted in September 1952.

(Photo by gswetsky @ Flickr)

No matter, the Atlantic has earned its place in Austin history. Peter Jewson, of Oxfordshire, England, was so impressed that he now owns two!

(Photo by classic vehicles @ Flickr)

(Photo by Austin7nut @ Flickr)

Source: HowStuffWorks

Headline photo: day 192 @ Flickr