There may not have been a wagon version of the ADO17, but that didn’t stop BMC’s Australian ops from building a ute. Which begs the question: is this the first FWD ute with a significant capacity (meaning other than the diminutive Mini pickup)? These Austin 1800 Utilities were only built between 1968 and 1971, and the total output was a meager 2,000. But they still have a loyal following today.
image courtesy aronline.co.ok
Astounding, no less! The Landcrab’s long wheelbase and wide track did make a good basis for a pickup, and it undoubtedly was a fine riding one, with its Hydrolastic suspension.
And even a Landcrab camper. What a beaut…especially in that color. Quite the contrast from the Lincolns yesterday, eh?
The Landcrab looks much better as a Utility.
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While the styling is a little awkward on the saloon it fits perfectly with the pickup body style. A shame so few were made.
The last thing you want on a Ute is hydrolastic suspension. You put something heavy in the back, and as the back goes down the fluid transfers to the front and pumps up the front suspension.You get a great view of the sky from the driving seat.There must have been a fiendishly clever tweak somewhere to make it work, or maybe it didn’t work and that’s why they only made a few.
They may have incorporated a self leveling mechanism like the Austin 3 Litre, or a load driven device like the Boge Nivomat used on early Range Rovers.
The hydrolastic was only on the front as it had adjustable torsion bars on the rear
They were fitted with torsion bars in the back to stiffen the suspension, I used to own one & took it many places it wasn’t designed to go eg up on the ridges in the Urewera’s
That is incorrect, I used to own one and towed and carried a lot of heavy loads, the rear suspension had heavy duty torsion bars to assist.
I have owned several Austin 1800s, both MK1 and MK11, and a MK11 ute. The ute is an excellent vehicle, whose faults could be easily rectified. (BMC and BLMC, sadly lacked development time). The torsion bars, along with the Hydrolastic suspension were a very robust combination–and unique! To overcome the problem to which you refer was simple; install Aero springs on each trailing arm of the rear suspension, which also takes some stress off the (now) ageing Hydrolastic parts, with a loaded tray.
Sydney’s Zetland plant produced the 1800 it was the most advanced facility BMC had worldwide.
They even made a galvanised version when their much vaunted rotodip paint proccess failed to prevent serious rust forming.
Biggest problem is the drivetrain it cant hold oil for long periods the utes themselves are plenty strong enough but that awful powertrain is still up front
there is a survivor locally its on the cohort but this is the only ADO17 in the entire district sedan or ute Ive been looking for one and short of going to the British car museum at Haumoana this is all I can find
Still several ADO17 sedans floating around here in the Waikato Bryce – usually white and with very elderly, probably original owners. Haven’t seen a ute in ages though, glad to see you’ve spotted one!
That Landcrab camper looks like a much more useful proposition than the Mini based Wild Goose camper.
I rather like the looks of that little pickup.
Phone the Meanee garage in Napier JPC the one I shot is likely for sale dont know if it runs though most likely not and its definitely not one of the 7 galvanised cars either it already has rust.
From what I have read over the years, price wise they were fairly similar with the Holden, Ford and Chrysler utes, but they couldn’t carry as much, couldn’t tow as much, and when they were loaded up and going up hill on anything other than bitumen, had traction issues that the RWD utes did not suffer from to the same extent, hence the low sales numbers. I tend to think all Land Crabs are a bit weird looking, but I still have a soft spot for them 🙂
They had a 1200lb load capacity, with additional torsion bars to help on the rear. I have seen a few and do have a soft spot for them – would be a great little runabout with lots of load space, but I didn’t realise they are so rare.
Hi
There’s still a few around, hydro all round not just the front end, torsion bars are preloaded to maintain correct ride height.
Spacious comfortable cab with bench seat, should have sold in the 10’s of thoasands but Aussies had 6 cylinder mindset.
Designed and built in Australia, wasn’t exported to any other market.
A truely unique Aussie ute.
Simmo.
Simmo
They were exported to NZ
So they were.
I have a 1968 Austin 1800 ute. My first car was a 1967 1800 sedan which I loved and took many places in the bush that the gung ho hi lift Toyota brigade today would baulk at.
The ute was bought about 2010 by my son and when he died in 2017 I took it over.
It is on historic registration so it is very cheap to keep and I use it as a short haul load carrier.
I love it and am keeping it along with my LandRover 6×6 with a camper back. (plus a modern car)
Arnold Millett