This 1962 Austin A40 Farina Countryman has an unusually well-documented history: single ownership, a documented 30,437 kilometres, as well as the original invoice and owner’s handbook accompany the car. In addition, there is a remarkable spare-parts package from a second A40 acquired by the original owner at the time, including an engine, gearbox, doors, fenders and chrome parts. The car is currently fitted with a more powerful 1,098 cc engine producing 50 hp; however, the original engine and gearbox have been retained and are included with the car. The body was repainted once for purely cosmetic reasons.
The Austin A40 Farina was a remarkably modern small car for its time. Its design is attributed to Pininfarina in the available documentation and stands out clearly from many of the more rounded British small cars of the preceding years with its clean, straightforward lines.
Of particular interest is the Countryman version offered here. Its split tailgate and folding rear seatback created a versatile load area, combining the dimensions of a compact passenger car with an unusually flexible interior concept for the period. According to the available vehicle documentation, 14,744 Countryman models were delivered with the original 948 cc engine.
A sporting side also forms part of the model’s history: the vehicle documentation refers to early competition appearances by the A40, including the Monte Carlo Rally. This combination of practical design and simple, lightweight engineering is a major part of the model’s appeal today.
The left-hand-drive Countryman is finished in Horizon Blue. The available photographs show the characteristic compact Farina bodywork with extensive glazing, slim chrome bumpers and the distinctive Countryman rear section with its split tailgate. The car conveys a pleasantly authentic and understated period appearance.
The paint history is transparently documented. According to the verified information, the car was still wearing its original paint when the current owner had the Austin fully repainted once for purely cosmetic reasons. It is therefore expressly not offered as a car in its original paint. In addition, certain areas were treated preventively using dry-ice blasting.
The interior is finished in a blue-grey combination, corresponding to the verified colour configuration of this vehicle. The photographs show the simple cockpit typical of the A40, with straightforward instrumentation and a design focused primarily on functionality.
The defining feature of the Countryman is the versatility behind the front seats. The folding rear seatback increases the usable load area and, together with the split tailgate, forms a concept that appeared remarkably advanced in the early 1960s.
Technically, the Austin is no longer in its original engine configuration. Instead of the 948 cc unit specified in the vehicle registration document, the car is fitted with a 1,098 cc four-cylinder engine producing 50 hp or 37 kW. The vehicle has a manual gearbox.
Of particular interest to collectors is the fact that the original engine has not been lost. The original engine and original gearbox have been retained and are included with the car. The Austin is therefore not described as a Matching-Numbers vehicle in its current configuration, but it provides a future owner with an exceptionally good basis for tracing and potentially preserving its original mechanical specification.
The car was last started and driven in July 2026. According to the seller, the engine ran smoothly despite the presence of older fuel. The last service was carried out approximately three years ago. Before returning the car to regular use, a technical inspection including an oil change is therefore expressly recommended. The battery, which was replaced during the previous service, was able to be recharged. The vehicle is currently listed as unregistered and not roadworthy.
One of the most interesting characteristics of this A40 is its traceable ownership history. According to the verified documentation, the vehicle has had only one owner from new. The odometer reading of 30,437 kilometres is also documented and was confirmed during the preparation of the vehicle.
Also remarkable is the foresight of the original owner. At an early stage, he acquired a second A40, dismantled it and stored its components as a spare-parts inventory. This collection of parts is now included with the offered vehicle and, according to the verified information, includes an engine and gearbox as well as doors, fenders, chrome parts and other original components.
The car therefore comes not only with its own history, but in a sense also with an extensive contemporary parts stock. Particularly for an automobile more than six decades old, such a collection of model-specific original parts is an unusual and practically valuable part of the offering.
The documentation has been reviewed and includes, among other items, the original invoice, owner’s handbook and vehicle registration document, as well as further vehicle records. The information concerning single ownership, mileage, engine configuration and the spare-parts inventory is documented.
No separate condition or valuation report is available. Given the length of time since the last service and the vehicle’s currently recorded status as not roadworthy, a professional technical inspection is recommended before regular use.
This Austin A40 Farina Countryman impresses less through perfection than through an unusual combination of documented history and preserved substance. Single ownership, 30,437 documented kilometres, the original invoice and owner’s handbook would already be remarkable in themselves. The fact that the original engine and gearbox have also been retained, together with an extensive collection of additional original parts, gives the offering a special appeal to collectors.
The one-time repaint and the currently installed 1,098 cc engine are disclosed just as transparently as the outstanding technical inspection. The result is a characterful British classic whose practical Countryman body is today almost as interesting as its unusually well-documented history.
The A40 is a wonderful example of how a classic does not need twelve cylinders to be interesting. Pininfarina lines, a split tailgate and an original owner who even dismantled a second car to use as a spare-parts donor – it is hard to fit much more British pragmatism into four metres of car. I particularly like the fact that the more powerful engine can be enjoyed while the original unit has been preserved. A small Austin with a surprisingly big story.
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