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Mark III, Austin 1300 GT, Flame Red 1972

An ADO16 with 70bhp at 6,000rpm from a compression ratio of 9.75:1 with 74lb ft of torque at 3.250rpm, fitted with a rev counter to help spirited drivers exploit the new close ratio gearbox and a long centre branch exhaust manifold helping to produce that torque figure, not to mention producing with the twin carburettors just a little sporting roar – this was the 1300 GT launched 50-years ago...

...painted in bright red with a black vinyl roof and black go-faster trim – what’s not to like!

The high compression cylinder head had 11-studs whilst the EN16T crankshaft was tuftrided, a heat treatment process to chemically harden the outside skin of the crankshaft to prevent initiation of fatigue cracks – this was a car British Leyland built to be thrashed, and many owners did!

So, not only was one of the original four colour options red, it was Flame Red! Of course, with the launch of the Mark III models British Leyland continued to offer this colour but now both Navy and Geranium were offered as interior colours along with the original offering of Black.

Our featured car belongs to Simon’s Mum who until very recently used it as her daily runabout with Simon having to get special permission to bring it to our National 2-years ago. Currently the car is being re-painted and may well be up for sale very soon – a 1972 Mark III, Austin 1300 GT finished in Flame Red with a Navy interior...

...and you try finding another Mark III GT in Flame Red!

A growing Club Facebook Group with approaching 2,000 members, contacts and representatives in over 40-countries, you can join the only ADO16 club with FREE or PAID (just £10.00) membership levels here: www.ado16.info/membership-join

Mark III, Austin 1300 GT, Blaze 1974 - Japan

During the 1970’s orange was a popular colour for cars, especially on the more popular mass produced models. The British Leyland version was known as Blaze and initially the ADO16 only saw it on the 1300 GT...

...with the launch of the Mark III models Blaze would be offered on the standard saloons and continued to be offered on the Austin 1300 GT.

Our featured car is in Japan where most ADO16 models were imported during the production years – representing the final year of production, a 1974 Mark III, Austin 1300 GT finished in Blaze; the only interior colour option ever offered with this body colour was Navy.

A growing Club Facebook Group with approaching 2,000 members, contacts and representatives in over 40-countries, you can join the only ADO16 club with FREE or PAID (just £10.00) membership levels here: www.ado16.info/membership-join

Mark III, Austin 1300 GT, Glacier White 1973

Having brought to you an example of every additional colour offered with the Mark III Austin 1300 GT we turn to the original GT colours which of course continued as an option throughout the whole of GT production.

Since the 1960’s very few cars from any manufacturer have not been offered in White; that said, every manufacturer has their own shade of White. BMC originally offered Old English White and then Snowberry White. By the launch of the Mark III British Leyland were offering Glacier White.

An indication of just how important Glacier White was to British Leyland was that it was the only sales option to be offered with as many as four interior colours; the original options of Black or Navy were now joined by Autumn Leaf or Geranium – our featured car is a 1973 Mark III, Austin 1300 GT finished in Glacier White with a Black interior.

A growing Club Facebook Group with approaching 2,000 members, contacts and representatives in over 40-countries, you can join the only ADO16 club with FREE or PAID (just £10.00) membership levels here: www.ado16.info/membership-join