Lot Ended
Description
Just three owners in the last 58 years; restored in 1991 and carefully
used since; only 2,700 miles on rebuilt engine; driven 50 miles to the sale; a
super little Austin, ready to enjoy
Austin’s
best-selling car of the Thirties, the Austin 10/4 was launched in April 1932 and
continued in production until 1947 with various upgrades along the way. The
unburstable 1,125-cc four-cylinder side-valve engine produced 21bhp driving
through a four-speed gearbox which gave the car a comfortable 50mph cruising
speed.
The first styling change came in August
1934 when the plated radiator surround was replaced by one painted in body
colour and it was given a slight slope. Synchromesh was added to second gear and
dual screen wipers and a foot-operated headlamp dip switch were fitted. The
saloon was given the name Lichfield and got a protruding boot which
enclosed the spare wheel.
First registered in
Somerset in January 1935, this much-loved Lichfield comes with a large
history file extending back to mid-1960s which shows that it has always been
carefully looked after.
In 1968 it was acquired
by a Mr L Miles of Bridgwater and it was to remain in his family for the next 37
years, passing to Mr D Miles in 1990. In 1991 it was treated to a major
restoration by Diamond Garage of Burnham-on-Sea which included repairs to the
bodywork, a full repaint in the original two-tone blue cellulose and new
brightwork as required. The interior was also fully retrimmed and the engine was
rebuilt with new pistons etc, the mileage at this point being
82,321.
It seems that the car was then put into
storage, the history picking up again in 2005 when it was acquired by a Mr
Denton of Dorset who succeeded in getting it reunited with its original AYB 279
number plate. He also had the engine rebuilt by Formhalls Vintage & Racing
of Hants, including white metalling, main and big end bearings, reground crank
etc.
The gearbox was also overhauled, the
suspension was rebuilt with new shocks and springs and a new exhaust
fitted, along with various other jobs. It then flew through an MOT in March 2006
with no advisories, the mileage at this point being 82,347.
In 2008 it was acquired by a Mr Morton of Kidderminster who promptly
sent it to Alderton Garage Austin Services of Tewkesbury for a thorough service
and check-over, two new tyres being fitted at the same time. He was to keep it
for 16 years, adding another 1,500 miles to the speedo and having it regularly
MOT’d by Alderton Garage, before selling it to the current owner in June
2014.
A member of the Austin Ten Drivers Club,
our vendor has continued to look after the car well, using it regularly for club
events and continuing to have it maintained by Alderton Garage, adding another
2,200 miles to the speedo (the original speedo failed at 85,516 miles and was
replaced by Alderton Garage in August 2016 with a new one showing 83,036 miles,
as documented on file). It was fitted with three new tyres and inner tubes in
April 2015 (rears plus spare).
Supplied with an original owner's
handbook and a copy of a parts catalogue, it also comes with a wealth of
technical literature, copies of period road tests, sales brochures etc.
Driven 50
miles to the auction, it has been starting promptly and running like a sewing
machine as we have moved it around on site. As you can see in the photos, this
super little Austin still looks wonderful some 35 years since it was restored
and is ready for a new owner to enjoy.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – [email protected]