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In OTL Austin's and Nissan's ties extend as far back as the pre-war era up to early-1950s, what if Austin/BMC/BL and Nissan managed to maintain ties with each other via two possible PODs?

1) - The extent of Austin's (later BMC) ties with Nissan/Datsun is merely extended to the former adding an optional clause to the post-war licence agreement stipulating any improvements by the latter to the former's licensed A/B-Series engines (including any related descendants) can potentially be utilized at Austin's / BMC’s own discretion.

BMC benefits by being able to quickly develop a new 1000-1600cc engine based on A-Series principles (akin to the Nissan A OHV / Nissan E OHC engines) to slot between the A-Series and B-Series engines, with the Mini, 1100/1300 (aka Austin America), MG Midget and ATL (99-inch wheelbase) Maxi being a few of the main beneficiaries of this ATL "A+" engine in 1380-1596cc forms (being in essence production versions of overbored / stroked 1380-1596cc A-Series engines).

2) - If BL still happens as in OTL, then Nissan in this ATL 2nd POD basically takes over Honda's role and was actually one of the options BL shortlisted in OTL during the mid/late-1970s.

One advantage Nissan has over Honda would be the former already having historic ties to Austin with the Nissan C / E OHV / J engines tracing their lineage to the BMC B-Series while the Nissan A / E OHC / CA / MA engines trace their lineage to the BMC A-Series engine, it would be easy to see both companies jointly-developing new engines in this scenario.

Another advantage along with Nissan's own reputation for reliability would be in still producing front-engined RWD models at the time at the higher end of the range as well as in sportscars. Curiously enough while Nissan themselves explored mid-engined sportscars with the 1975 Nissan AD-1 and 1985-1987 Nissan MID4 concepts, it is interesting to note Nissan could have potentially developed a competitive Mazda MX5 clone below the Nissan Silvia (roughly in place of the Nissan EXA and Nissan NX as well as beyond the 1.8 Nissan CA Turbo powered Reliant Scimitar SS1). One that could have also formed the basis for a small front-engined RWD MG sportscar.
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