Austin Ant

{{Short description|English motor vehicle}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2017}} {{Use British English|date=June 2017}} __NOTOC__ {{Multiple image | align = right| direction = vertical | width = 250 | image1 = Austin Ant aka ADO19 prototype of aborted Mini Moke replacement registered February 1969 1098cc.JPG | image2 = 1968 Austin Ant 1.3 Rear.jpg | caption2 = Austin Ant aka ADO19 }} The '''Austin Ant''' (development code ADO19)<ref>{{cite web|title=ADO and other development codes|url=http://www.aronline.co.uk/blogs/concepts/concepts-and-prototypes/development-codes/|work=AROnline|accessdate=10 June 2013|date=25 June 2011}}</ref> is a small [[four-wheel drive]] vehicle that was designed by Sir [[Alec Issigonis]] for the motor manufacturer [[Austin Motor Company|Austin]]. Although the Ant is widely regarded as a military vehicle, some sources suggest it was conceived with civilian use in mind as well.<ref name="cands">Article "Ant Hill Mob" in ''Classic and Sports Car'' magazine, March 2007, published by Haymarket Publishing Ltd., United Kingdom</ref> In its military role, it was a potential successor to the military version of an earlier Issigonis design, the [[Mini Moke]].

The Ant was cancelled in 1968 before full-scale production began, during the period when [[British Motor Corporation|BMC]] became part of the [[British Leyland]] (BL) conglomerate; the merger caused several overlaps in model ranges, and the Ant was regarded as too close a competitor for the [[Land Rover]] range.<ref name="uar">[http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?codeadof.htm The unofficial Austin-Rover web resource; Austin Drawing Office numbers] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927005707/http://www.austin-rover.co.uk/index.htm?codeadof.htm |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref>

The Ant used an [[BMC A-Series engine|A-Series engine]], transverse mounted and tilted slightly backward to allow greater ground clearance and suspension movement. The main gearbox was placed in the engine sump, as on the [[Austin Mini|Mini]]. A reduction [[gearbox]] took power from the main gearbox to the rear axle via a [[propshaft]]. The same layout was used 30 years later (with a [[Rover K-Series engine|K-Series engine]]) on the [[Rover Group|Rover Group's]] [[Land Rover Freelander]].

==See also== * [[Nuffield Guppy]]

==References== <references/>

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091212211106/http://www.austinmemories.com/page74/page74.html Moke and Ant] at Austin Memories * [https://web.archive.org/web/20170314051748/http://www.4wdonline.com/Austin/Ant.html Image of Austin Ant]

[[Category:Military vehicles of the United Kingdom]] [[Category:Issigonis vehicles]] [[Category:All-wheel-drive vehicles]] [[Category:Austin vehicles|Ant]]