From The Classifieds: 1973 Austin X6 Kimberley

It might be looking a little tired after more than 40 years, but this front-drive six-cylinder British Leyland X6 Kimberley sedan represents a little slice of recent Australian automotive history.

The Kimberley – and its lesser sibling, the Tasman – was developed specifically for the Australian market and preceded British Leyland’s full-scale attempt at the big time in 1973 when its super-confident Australian arm introduced the locally developed challenger to the Big Three, the ill-fated P76.

The Australian-built Kimberley/Tasman series was introduced three years earlier, in 1970. Based on the four-cylinder Austin 1800, it was a relatively low-cost development (reputed to be around $4 million) that successfully changed the style and character of the ungainly “land crab” that preceded it.

The British stylist, Roy Haines, cleverly re-arranged the 1800’s essentials to create a new look that was quite voguish in the 1970s. It was a minimalist, boxy design that was far more attractive, yet retained the remarkable passenger space that characterised its four-cylinder predecessor. With a new front end, and an extended boot – a big attraction for the Australian market – plus some fiddling with the glasshouse to provide a more defined C-pillar, the Kimberley-Tasman looked more acceptably mainstream than the 1800, which was a sort of overblown Mini.

The driveline was all new too.

Adding two cylinders to the single overhead camshaft 1.5-litre British Leyland four-cylinder engine first seen locally in the front-drive Morris 1500 (that succeeded the Morris 1100), the new engine displaced 2.2 litres and was relatively smooth and quiet, if not overpowered, compared to its 1.8-litre four-cylinder predecessor.

The single-carburettor Tasman produced 76kW, while the Kimberley added an extra carburettor to up the power to a still-modest 86kW. Both models were available in four-speed manual form, or with a three-speed automatic.

With its front-drive layout and all-independent suspension, the Kimberley/Tasman was more refined on the road than its essentially primitive locally-made competitors, but was ultimately let down by poor reliability. At the time it was reckoned that had the car been designed and built in Germany or Japan, the story would have been different.

The Kimberley-Tasman didn’t last long. The final cars (in Mark II form) were produced in 1973 to make way for the company’s bright new hope, the front-engine, rear-drive P76.

The auto-transmission 1973 Kimberley from Victor Harbour in South Australia that is currently on offer through carsales.com.au doesn’t make any pretensions about being in concourse condition, but appears to be in pretty good shape for its age – particularly inside, where the owner describes it as “exceptional.”
It is also showing ultra-low miles on the odometer – 26,271 miles, or just over 42,000km – and is described as being “straight” if in need of a little attention. Unsurprisingly a roadworthy certificate is not offered.

For this, the owner is asking $2500 – a figure allowing some room to move in restoration costs. For an Australia-British piece of history, it looks like a good platform from which to start.