by David Burrell
This is part four of the five-part series from the Australian Motor Heritage Foundation (AMHF) which celebrates the automotive design work of David Bentley, and his close involvement in shaping the Austin Tasman and Kimberley. This instalment focuses on the never built station wagon.
The sketches and drawings you see here are from David’s private collection.
In the previous three instalments I explained how David was tasked with completing the styling of the Austin Tasman and Kimberley. The project had been started by Harris Mann, who had quickly sketched some sedan ideas to start the design process, before he moved to styling the Morris Marina.
Knowing the Tasman/Kimberley would be a stop gap model until the P76 arrived, BMCA mandated retention of as much of the Austin 1800’s doors, roof, glass and as much inner supportive structure as possible to save costs. Mann largely ignored that brief as demonstrated by his sedan proposals, seen in part two.
David’s proposals generally followed BMCA’s requirements. One has a definite Rover P6 appearance, with a sloping front end and Rover-like finned rear fenders.
The wagon never went beyond these drawings. BMCA did not have the money to invest in its development. As explained previously, the P76 was the priority.
In the final instalment, the design for the Tasman/Kimberley five door hatchback is revealed. And it raises the question: what might have happened if BMCA had developed a front wheel drive five door hatchback to be released in 1971, instead of the P76 in 1973?
