AUSTIN · AUSTIN 3 LITRE · Cars
AUSTIN 3 LITRE Ultra-rare
As of 2026 Q1, 96 AUSTIN 3 LITREs remain registered in the UK — one of the rarest cars in Britain on today's roads. Numbers are at their highest recorded level since the model first appeared in our data in 2014 Q3. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 3 (3.2%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it. In all, the AUSTIN 3 LITRE is rarer than 60% of the 2,429 UK car models we track, putting it firmly in 2026's endangered class.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Genuinely rare — only 96 left on UK roads.
Rarer than 60% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Trend
About the 3 LITRE
The Austin 3-Litre is a British saloon car that was introduced by Austin at the London Motor Show in 1967. Codenamed ADO61, the car was intended to be BMC's offering in the 3-litre executive class and was originally designed in the early 1960s, before the British Leyland era. Unlike the visually similar (but smaller) front-wheel drive Morris 1800 range, the 125 bhp 3-litre engine (a 7-bearing modification of the BMC C-Series with twin SU carburettors) drove the rear wheels through a conventional 4-speed gearbox. The car used Hydrolastic suspension with self-levelling hydraulic rams at the rear...
AUSTIN 3 LITRE — questions & answers
How many AUSTIN 3 LITRE are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q1, 96 AUSTIN 3 LITRE were still registered in the UK — 63 licensed and on the road, plus 33 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the AUSTIN 3 LITRE rare?
The AUSTIN 3 LITRE is genuinely rare, with only 96 left, making it rarer than 60% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Is the AUSTIN 3 LITRE increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of AUSTIN 3 LITRE on UK roads rose by 3 (3.2%).
What fuel do most AUSTIN 3 LITRE use?
Most AUSTIN 3 LITRE run on petrol — about 100% of those still registered.
When did the AUSTIN 3 LITRE peak?
The AUSTIN 3 LITRE peaked at 96 registered in 2025 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.