ADO Numbers Guide


Projects and prototypes \| Project codes
ADO Numbers Guide
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After the merger between Austin and Morris in 1952, all subsequent new cars in development were given ADO project numbers. ADO stood for "Austin Drawing Office", and the fact that they referred to an Austin and not a Morris drawing office gives some clue as to where the loyalties of BMC chief Leonard Lord lay.

Following this list (based on material supplied by the archive department at the BMIHT) can be confusing because the project numbers were not always in numberical order. In some instances, this muddled system made sense (ADO15, 16 and 17, for instance), whereas at other times, it obviously did not!

For example, look at ADO77, 88 and 99: ADO77 seems logical enough, as it follows ADO73, 74, 75 and 76, but following that comes ADO88, which was cited by Charles Griffin as being so called because of its 88-inch wheelbase. Following that came the ADO99, which again, possessed a 99-inch wheelbase. Was this pattern coincidence or was it chosen because of its nice, cascading numerical pattern? At the time of writing (March 2002), I am still without an answer to this question!

Codenames in yellow are linked to picture galleries
Entries in blue are linked to development stories

Codename Details Dates Picture

ADO6 Austin Hire Car and Taxi
FL2, FL2D, FX4, FX4D - better known as the London "Black Cab" Dev: 1956-1959
Prod: 1959-1971

ADO8 Austin A40 Farina MkI
BMC's first hatchback, styled by Pininfarina Dev: 1956-1958
Prod: 1958-1961

ADO9 Farina 'B' models
B-series engined Farinas:
Austin A55 Cambridge MkII (ADO9A), Morris Oxford Series V (ADO9M), MG Magnette MkIII (ADO9G), Riley 4/68 (ADO9R), Wolseley 15/60 (ADO9W) Dev: 1956-1958
Prod: 1958-1961

ADO10 Farina 'C' models
C-series engined Farinas:
Austin A99 Westminster and Wolseley 6/99 Dev: 1956-1959
Prod: 1959-1961

ADO12 Hydrostatic transmission
As installed in an Austin A35 prototype. Dev: Mid-1950s

ADO13 Austin-Healey Sprite MkI
Otherwise known as the 'Frog-eye' Sprite Dev: 1956-1958
Prod: 1958-1961

ADO14 Austin Maxi Dev: 1964-1969
Prod: 1969-1981

ADO15 BMC Mini MkI & MkII
(Originally codenamed XC9003)
Includes Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf, but not the Cooper versions (ADO50) Dev: 1957-1959
Prod: 1959-1969

ADO16 BMC 1100/1300
(Originally codenamed XC9002)
Includes all badge-engineered varieties. Dev: 1957-1962
Prod: 1962-1974

ADO17 BMC 1800/2200
(Originally codenamed XC9005)
Includes all badge-engineered varieties. Dev: 1958-1964
Prod: 1964-1975

ADO19 Austin Ant
Prototype off-roader, cancelled by Leyland so as not to interfere with Land Rover sales. Dev: 1967-1968

ADO20 Mini MkIII and Clubman
Significant revisions to bodyshell, including slightly larger doors with concealed hinges and wind-up windows; also marked a return to rubber-cone suspension. Clubman and 1275GT lasted until 1980 Dev: 1968-1969
Prod: 1969-2000

ADO21 MGB replacement
Mid-engined sports car, styled by Harris Mann/Paul Hughes and powered by the E4 engine. Dropped in favour of the TR7. Dev: 1969-1970

ADO22 Facelift and re-engineering of ADO16
Major redesign of ADO16, incorporating revised suspension and under-structure, and revised bodywork. Cancelled by British Leyland, in favour of ADO67. Dev: 1967-1968

ADO23 MGB Dev: 1958-1962
Prod: 1962-1974

ADO24 Austin-Healey 4000
4-litre version of the Austin-Healey 3000, cancelled by British Leyland. Dev: 1966-1968

ADO25 E6 engine
6-cylinder E-series power unit, as used in ADO17 (and its derivatives), Antipodean Marinas and ADO71. Dev: 1965-1972
Prod: 1972-1982

ADO26 Austin Healey 3000 MKIII Dev: 1961-1963
Prod: 1963-1968

ADO27 Austin and Morris 1800 Facelift
This appears to have started out as a major facelift of ADO17, but the project was cancelled at an early stage. Code was passed on to the X6 project (codenamed YDO19 in Australia). Dev: 1968-1970
Prod: 1970-1975

Riley 1.5/Wolseley 1500 facelift
The earlier of two recorded ADO27 projects, this would have seen these Morris Minor-based cars treated to Farina-style rear fins, perhaps not unlike those of the Australian Morris Major Elite (pictured is a Series II Lancer/Major), which was itself based on these cars. Dev: Early 1960s

ADO28 Morris Marina
Using A- and B-Series engines Dev: 1968-1971
Prod: 1971-1980

ADO30 Austin-Healey replacement
Project was vetoed by Sir William Lyons as it would have competed with the Jaguar E-type. Dev: 1966

ADO31 MGA 1600 Dev: 1958-1959
Prod: 1959-1961

ADO32 E4 engine
Four-cylinder OHC E-series engine, as used in the Maxi and Allegro, and also in the Australian Morris 1500 Dev: 1965-1969
Prod: 1969-1981

ADO34 Mini-based MG roadster
There were at least two distinct ADO34 prototypes: a 'Longbridge' car, designed and built by Pininfarina (pictured) and an 'Abingdon' car, produced in-house at the MG factory. Dev: 1960-1964

ADO35 Coupé version of ADO34
The car pictured is understood to be a development of the 'Longbridge' ADO34 (see above). Dev: 1960-1964

ADO36 Austin-Healey versions of ADO34 and ADO35
The car pictured is based on the 'Abingdon' ADO34, and differs from it only in respect of its grille and badge. Dev: 1960-1964

ADO37 Princess 3-litre
Based on the Austin A99 Westminster, as a replacement for the Austin A105 Vanden Plas. It was marketed as the "Vanden Plas Princess 3-litre" from 1960 onwards. Dev: 1959
Prod: 1959-1968

ADO38 Revised Farina 'B' models
Austin A60 Cambridge, Morris Oxford Series VI, MG Magnette MkIV, Riley 4/72, Wolseley 16/60. Dev: 1960-1961
Prod: 1961-1971

ADO39 Taxi
FX4 replacement, cancelled by British Leyland

Dev: 1967

ADO40 Austin Freeway and Wolseley 24/80 Mk I
Produced in Australia and fitted with B-Series Six-cylinder engine... Prod: 1962-1964

ADO41 Austin Freeway Utility
Prototype still exists in Australia

ADO42 Austin-Healey Sprite MKII
Rebodied version of the MkI Sprite Dev: 1960-1961
Prod: 1961-1964

ADO44 Austin A40 Farina MKII Dev: 1960-1961
Prod: 1961-1967

ADO46 Farina 'B' diesels
Only the Austin A60 Cambridge and Morris Oxford versions were offered in diesel form. Originally for export only, they became available in the UK from 1962. The diesel Cambridge was withdrawn in 1968. Dev: 1961
Prod: 1961-1971

ADO47 MG Midget MkI
Badge-engineered version of ADO41 Dev: 1961
Prod: 1961-1964

ADO49 Farina 'B' Pickup
Pick-up truck based on Riley version of ADO9/ADO38; built and sold in Argentina. Prod: early 1960s

ADO50 Mini Cooper and Cooper S (ADO50S)
997 and 998cc - and 970, 1071 and 1275cc (ADO50S) Dev: 1961
Prod: 1961-1971

ADO51 Austin-Healey 3000 MkIV
This was to have been a badge-engineered version of the MGC, but was cancelled at Donald Healey's insistence. Dev: 1962-1965

ADO52 MGC Dev: 1961-1967
Prod: 1967-1969

ADO53 Revised ADO10
Became the Austin A110 Westminster and Wolseley 6/110. Dev: 1961
Prod: 1961-1968

ADO56 MG Sport (details yet to be confirmed)
This Mini-based coupé proposal was conceived by Alec Issigonis, and featured front-wheel drive and a transverse Mini-Cooper engine. It apparently came very close to entering production. Dev: 1958-1959

ADO58 Joint BMC/Rolls-Royce coupé project
To have been based on a short wheelbase version of Bentley Burma (pictured), the forerunner to the 1965 T1. The car would have been built and marketed exclusively by BMC, using the F60 6-cylinder engine, but it never reached production.

Dev: early 1960s

ADO59 Morris Minor 1000 (1.1 litre)
1098cc A-series powered Morris Minor Dev: 1962
Prod: 1962-1971

ADO61 Austin 3-litre
Replacement for ADO53 Dev: 1962-1967
Prod: 1967-1971

ADO66 Vanden Plas 4-Litre R Dev: 1964
Prod: 1964-1968

ADO67 Austin Allegro Dev: 1968-1973
Prod: 1973-1982

ADO68 Project Condor

ADO68/28-1: A very stylish Roy Haynes-styled 2-door coupé version of the Marina. Dev: 1969-1970

ADO68/28-2: Late in 1969, the Italian designer Michelotti was commissioned to produce a version of Condor. His proposal was then amended in-house at BLMC to become ADO68/28-2, which hints at the shape of the 2-door Marina. Dev: 1969-1970

ADO68/14: This version of Condor, designed by Harris Mann, was based on the Maxi. It's not hard to think of this design as the starting point for ADO71. Dev: 1969-1970

ADO68/67: The other Condor proposal was all-too-obviously based on the Allegro. Like the other Condor prototypes, this car met with its fate when Brtish Leyland cancelled the project. Dev: 1969-1970

ADO69 Taxi
Replacement for FX4 - cancelled Dev: 1970

ADO70 Michelotti Mini
Michelotti-styled coupé model, based on ADO20. Dev: 1970

ADO71 18-22 series/Princess
Replacement for ADO17. Dev: 1970-1975
Prod: 1975-1982

ADO73 Marina 2/Morris Ital
Originally intended as a front-end facelift, but became the O-series version Dev: 1972-1978
Prod: 1978-1984

ADO74 Ant/Dragonfly/Ladybird
Supermini project shelved by John Barber. Dev: 1972-1973

ADO75 MGB GT V8 Dev: 1971-1972
Prod: 1972-1974

ADO76 Rubber-bumper MGBs Dev: 1972-1974
Prod: 1974-1980

ADO77 "New" Marina
RWD Ford Cortina rival, 'merged' with the SD2 project - and then became TM-1. Dev: 1972-1975

ADO88 Supermini
Metro predecessor, cancelled due to unfavourable results from customer clinics. Re-engineered to become LC8 (Austin Metro). Dev: 1974-1978

ADO99 Family hatchback
Replacement for Allegro, after internal re-organisation and the death of TM-1. Became the LC10/LM10 (Austin Maestro). Project instigated by Spen King. Dev: 1975-1977

Codename	Details	Dates
ADO6	Austin Hire Car and Taxi FL2, FL2D, FX4, FX4D - better known as the London "Black Cab"	Dev: 1956-1959 Prod: 1959-1971
ADO8	Austin A40 Farina MkI BMC's first hatchback, styled by Pininfarina	Dev: 1956-1958 Prod: 1958-1961
ADO9	Farina 'B' models B-series engined Farinas: Austin A55 Cambridge MkII (ADO9A), Morris Oxford Series V (ADO9M), MG Magnette MkIII (ADO9G), Riley 4/68 (ADO9R), Wolseley 15/60 (ADO9W)	Dev: 1956-1958 Prod: 1958-1961
ADO10	Farina 'C' models C-series engined Farinas: Austin A99 Westminster and Wolseley 6/99	Dev: 1956-1959 Prod: 1959-1961
ADO12	Hydrostatic transmission As installed in an Austin A35 prototype.	Dev: Mid-1950s
ADO13	Austin-Healey Sprite MkI Otherwise known as the 'Frog-eye' Sprite	Dev: 1956-1958 Prod: 1958-1961
ADO14	Austin Maxi	Dev: 1964-1969 Prod: 1969-1981
ADO15	BMC Mini MkI & MkII (Originally codenamed XC9003) Includes Wolseley Hornet and Riley Elf, but not the Cooper versions (ADO50)	Dev: 1957-1959 Prod: 1959-1969
ADO16	BMC 1100/1300 (Originally codenamed XC9002) Includes all badge-engineered varieties.	Dev: 1957-1962 Prod: 1962-1974
ADO17	BMC 1800/2200 (Originally codenamed XC9005) Includes all badge-engineered varieties.	Dev: 1958-1964 Prod: 1964-1975
ADO19	Austin Ant Prototype off-roader, cancelled by Leyland so as not to interfere with Land Rover sales.	Dev: 1967-1968
ADO20	Mini MkIII and Clubman Significant revisions to bodyshell, including slightly larger doors with concealed hinges and wind-up windows; also marked a return to rubber-cone suspension. Clubman and 1275GT lasted until 1980	Dev: 1968-1969 Prod: 1969-2000
ADO21	MGB replacement Mid-engined sports car, styled by Harris Mann/Paul Hughes and powered by the E4 engine. Dropped in favour of the TR7.	Dev: 1969-1970
ADO22	Facelift and re-engineering of ADO16 Major redesign of ADO16, incorporating revised suspension and under-structure, and revised bodywork. Cancelled by British Leyland, in favour of ADO67.	Dev: 1967-1968
ADO23	MGB	Dev: 1958-1962 Prod: 1962-1974
ADO24	Austin-Healey 4000 4-litre version of the Austin-Healey 3000, cancelled by British Leyland.	Dev: 1966-1968
ADO25	E6 engine 6-cylinder E-series power unit, as used in ADO17 (and its derivatives), Antipodean Marinas and ADO71.	Dev: 1965-1972 Prod: 1972-1982
ADO26	Austin Healey 3000 MKIII	Dev: 1961-1963 Prod: 1963-1968
ADO27	Austin and Morris 1800 Facelift This appears to have started out as a major facelift of ADO17, but the project was cancelled at an early stage. Code was passed on to the X6 project (codenamed YDO19 in Australia).	Dev: 1968-1970 Prod: 1970-1975
Riley 1.5/Wolseley 1500 facelift The earlier of two recorded ADO27 projects, this would have seen these Morris Minor-based cars treated to Farina-style rear fins, perhaps not unlike those of the Australian Morris Major Elite (pictured is a Series II Lancer/Major), which was itself based on these cars.	Dev: Early 1960s
ADO28	Morris Marina Using A- and B-Series engines	Dev: 1968-1971 Prod: 1971-1980
ADO30	Austin-Healey replacement Project was vetoed by Sir William Lyons as it would have competed with the Jaguar E-type.	Dev: 1966
ADO31	MGA 1600	Dev: 1958-1959 Prod: 1959-1961
ADO32	E4 engine Four-cylinder OHC E-series engine, as used in the Maxi and Allegro, and also in the Australian Morris 1500	Dev: 1965-1969 Prod: 1969-1981
ADO34	Mini-based MG roadster There were at least two distinct ADO34 prototypes: a 'Longbridge' car, designed and built by Pininfarina (pictured) and an 'Abingdon' car, produced in-house at the MG factory.	Dev: 1960-1964
ADO35	Coupé version of ADO34 The car pictured is understood to be a development of the 'Longbridge' ADO34 (see above).	Dev: 1960-1964
ADO36	Austin-Healey versions of ADO34 and ADO35 The car pictured is based on the 'Abingdon' ADO34, and differs from it only in respect of its grille and badge.	Dev: 1960-1964
ADO37	Princess 3-litre Based on the Austin A99 Westminster, as a replacement for the Austin A105 Vanden Plas. It was marketed as the "Vanden Plas Princess 3-litre" from 1960 onwards.	Dev: 1959 Prod: 1959-1968
ADO38	Revised Farina 'B' models Austin A60 Cambridge, Morris Oxford Series VI, MG Magnette MkIV, Riley 4/72, Wolseley 16/60.	Dev: 1960-1961 Prod: 1961-1971
ADO39	Taxi FX4 replacement, cancelled by British Leyland	Dev: 1967
ADO40	Austin Freeway and Wolseley 24/80 Mk I Produced in Australia and fitted with B-Series Six-cylinder engine...	Prod: 1962-1964
ADO41	Austin Freeway Utility Prototype still exists in Australia
ADO42	Austin-Healey Sprite MKII Rebodied version of the MkI Sprite	Dev: 1960-1961 Prod: 1961-1964
ADO44	Austin A40 Farina MKII	Dev: 1960-1961 Prod: 1961-1967
ADO46	Farina 'B' diesels Only the Austin A60 Cambridge and Morris Oxford versions were offered in diesel form. Originally for export only, they became available in the UK from 1962. The diesel Cambridge was withdrawn in 1968.	Dev: 1961 Prod: 1961-1971
ADO47	MG Midget MkI Badge-engineered version of ADO41	Dev: 1961 Prod: 1961-1964
ADO49	Farina 'B' Pickup Pick-up truck based on Riley version of ADO9/ADO38; built and sold in Argentina.	Prod: early 1960s
ADO50	Mini Cooper and Cooper S (ADO50S) 997 and 998cc - and 970, 1071 and 1275cc (ADO50S)	Dev: 1961 Prod: 1961-1971
ADO51	Austin-Healey 3000 MkIV This was to have been a badge-engineered version of the MGC, but was cancelled at Donald Healey's insistence.	Dev: 1962-1965
ADO52	MGC	Dev: 1961-1967 Prod: 1967-1969
ADO53	Revised ADO10 Became the Austin A110 Westminster and Wolseley 6/110.	Dev: 1961 Prod: 1961-1968
ADO56	MG Sport (details yet to be confirmed) This Mini-based coupé proposal was conceived by Alec Issigonis, and featured front-wheel drive and a transverse Mini-Cooper engine. It apparently came very close to entering production.	Dev: 1958-1959
ADO58	Joint BMC/Rolls-Royce coupé project To have been based on a short wheelbase version of Bentley Burma (pictured), the forerunner to the 1965 T1. The car would have been built and marketed exclusively by BMC, using the F60 6-cylinder engine, but it never reached production.	Dev: early 1960s
ADO59	Morris Minor 1000 (1.1 litre) 1098cc A-series powered Morris Minor	Dev: 1962 Prod: 1962-1971
ADO61	Austin 3-litre Replacement for ADO53	Dev: 1962-1967 Prod: 1967-1971
ADO66	Vanden Plas 4-Litre R	Dev: 1964 Prod: 1964-1968
ADO67	Austin Allegro	Dev: 1968-1973 Prod: 1973-1982
ADO68	Project Condor
ADO68/28-1: A very stylish Roy Haynes-styled 2-door coupé version of the Marina.	Dev: 1969-1970
ADO68/28-2: Late in 1969, the Italian designer Michelotti was commissioned to produce a version of Condor. His proposal was then amended in-house at BLMC to become ADO68/28-2, which hints at the shape of the 2-door Marina.	Dev: 1969-1970
ADO68/14: This version of Condor, designed by Harris Mann, was based on the Maxi. It's not hard to think of this design as the starting point for ADO71.	Dev: 1969-1970
ADO68/67: The other Condor proposal was all-too-obviously based on the Allegro. Like the other Condor prototypes, this car met with its fate when Brtish Leyland cancelled the project.	Dev: 1969-1970
ADO69	Taxi Replacement for FX4 - cancelled	Dev: 1970
ADO70	Michelotti Mini Michelotti-styled coupé model, based on ADO20.	Dev: 1970
ADO71	18-22 series/Princess Replacement for ADO17.	Dev: 1970-1975 Prod: 1975-1982
ADO73	Marina 2/Morris Ital Originally intended as a front-end facelift, but became the O-series version	Dev: 1972-1978 Prod: 1978-1984
ADO74	Ant/Dragonfly/Ladybird Supermini project shelved by John Barber.	Dev: 1972-1973
ADO75	MGB GT V8	Dev: 1971-1972 Prod: 1972-1974
ADO76	Rubber-bumper MGBs	Dev: 1972-1974 Prod: 1974-1980
ADO77	"New" Marina RWD Ford Cortina rival, 'merged' with the SD2 project - and then became TM-1.	Dev: 1972-1975
ADO88	Supermini Metro predecessor, cancelled due to unfavourable results from customer clinics. Re-engineered to become LC8 (Austin Metro).	Dev: 1974-1978
ADO99	Family hatchback Replacement for Allegro, after internal re-organisation and the death of TM-1. Became the LC10/LM10 (Austin Maestro). Project instigated by Spen King.	Dev: 1975-1977