The Austin Freeway is an automobile which was developed by BMC Australia, based on the British Austin A60 Cambridge. Introduced in 1962, it was marketed under the Austin name in both four-door sedan and five-door station wagonbody styles. Using the locally built 2433 cc six-cylinder "Blue Streak" engine, it represented the first attempt by BMC to challenge the dominant Holden and Ford Falconmodels in the lucrative six-cylinder family car class with a locally developed vehicle. The engine was a direct development of the company's1622cc B-series unit, cylinder dimensions in the six-cylinder unit being identical to those of its four-cylinder counterpart. An upmarket variant, the Wolseley 24/80sedan was also offered. Although more expensive than its opposition, the Freeway was well equipped by contemporary standards, offering features such as windscreen washers and a fresh air heater/demister. The sedan combined a new full-width grille with the rear-end styling of the British MG Magnette and Riley 4 models. The stationwagon utilised the Austin A60 Cambridge rear-end styling. 3,090 units were sold in its first year but volumes fell well short of those of its Holden and Ford Falcon rivals and of the much more powerful six-cylinder Chrysler Valiant, introduced in Australia earlier the same year. The original Freeway was replaced by the Freeway Mk II in October 1964. The revised model featured a more powerful engine, power brakes, improved rear suspension and improved seating. Declining sales saw the Freeway discontinued in 1965 with production ceasing in September of that year after approximately 27,000 cars had been built. The Freeway was replaced by the Austin 1800 with Australian production commencing in 1966.
The Freeway was marketed in New Zealand as both the Austin Freeway and the Morris Freeway, allowing the separate Austin and Morris dealerships in that country to sell the model. The Freeway name was subsequently used on the New Zealand market for the BMC ADO17,.
