The Austin 1800 would have to rank as one of history’s greatest long-distance rally cars as proven by finishing runner-up in the 1968 London to Sydney Marathon, which is a major reason why I’ve always admired this car. Its unique design blessed it with numerous advantages over conventional sedans in these endurance-type events. For example, with its four-speed gearbox and FWD transmission mounted directly under the east-west engine, there were no vulnerable tailshafts or rear axle assemblies exposed to the rough stuff and the neatly contained engine/gearbox unit could be well protected from damage. The space-efficient mounting of the engine also meant that 70 per cent of its 106-inch wheelbase was available for luggage and passengers, while maintaining ample leg room. Given the three-man crews and hefty equipment carried in the Marathon cars, this was a major plus. The bodyshell was also very rigid and blessed with short overhangs front and rear, which kept most of the laden weight within the wheelbase for consistent ride and handling. In addition to sharp rack-and-pinion steering and power-boosted front disc brakes, arguably the 1800’s greatest attribute in this application was its ‘Hydrolastic’ semi-active independent suspension, which responded to different road surfaces and driving styles with consummate ease. All these strong points added up to a vehicle which in competition would possess a rare ability to travel quickly over rough roads across vast distances, with enviable comfort and durability. It could so easily have won if not for Hopkirk’s insistence on stopping to assist the badly-injured Citroen crew. If anyone’s interested, I wrote a detailed review of the Austin 1800’s Marathon campaign for the Shannons Club's Racing Garage series: https://club.shannons.com.au/club/news/racing-garage/austin-1800-the-car-that-should-have-won-the-1968-london-sydney-marathon/