.
ADO16 in Italy
The first 1100-based
Innocenti – the IM3 – was so-named as it was the third Innocenti-Morris
joint venture, following the A40 and 950 Spider. It was launched as a
Morris in the spring of 1963, and was joined the following year by a
more basic, Austin-badged model. Production of the Morris models ended
in 1970, while the Austin continued until 1974. The 1275cc engine never
made it into any of the Innocenti-built ADO16, though it was used in the
Innocenti Mini Cooper 1300 and the later 'new' Mini 120.
Morris
models
The Morris
IM3/IM3S series was produced from 1963-1970. Launched in the Spring of
1963, the original IM3 featured modifications to the headlamps, fascia
and interior. It had the twin-carb MG 1100 engine, and interestingly, a
more upright steering wheel, made possible by the insertion of a
universal joint in the steering column. Thus, the column disappears
under the dashboard, instead of going straight down to the pedals as in
the UK cars. The Morris IM3S (as pictured at the top of this page) was a
mid-term revision of the IM3.
Innocenti Morris IM3
Innocenti Morris IM3S interior
Innocenti Morris IM3S fascia
Austin
models
The Austin
I4/I4S/I5 series was produced from 1964 to 1973. The Austin I4 was
essentially an Austin 1100, built under licence with the standard
single-carb engine and without the significant restyling applied to the
IM3. The Austin I4S was a downmarket version of the Morris IM3S. The
Austin I5, which replaced the I4 in the late 1960s, was effectively an
Austin 1100 MkII, featuring the later car's slim fascia and strip-style
speedo, plus a similar, wider grille, but retaining the MkI car's rear
wings. In 1974, the I5 gave way to the locally-built version of the
Allegro (called the Innocenti Regent), thus marking the end of the
Innocenti ADO16 line.
NB:
some sources refer to the I4 and I5 models as "J4" and "J5", but they
are the same thing. The confusion is thought to have arisen from the
fact that the car's
featured
the stylised "I" from
,
which in isolation could easily be mistaken for a "J".
Innocenti Austin I4
Innocenti Austin I5
Innocenti Austin I5 fascia and rear styling
detail
Innocenti Austin I5
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Related
articles:
Innocenti: a potted history
Innocenti IM3/IM3S, Austin I4/I5
Innocenti Mini
Innocenti Regent
Innocenti Mini 90/120/De Tomaso