Lot Ended
Description
Recently
recommissioned following a period in storage; shows a plausible 80k miles on the
clock; reassuringly sound, solid and original; new MOT; in regular use over the
summer and driven 15 miles to the sale
Launched in 1962, the BMC
ADO16 range of small family cars were an instant success, being Britain’s
best-selling car from 1963 – 1966 and again from 1968 – 1971. Engineered by Alec
Issigonis with sleek Sixties styling by Pininfarina, the standout feature was
the ingenious Alex Moulton-designed Hydrolastic suspension which gave a magic
carpet ride.
In true BMC badge-engineering style, the ADO16 was marketed
under numerous makes and models including Austin, Morris, MG, Riley, Princess
and Wolseley. Available as a four-door saloon or a three-door estate, all were
front-wheel drive with a choice of 1100 or 1300 engines.
John Cleese
immortalised the Austin 1100 in a 1975 episode of Fawlty Towers when it
broke down and he famously gave it ‘a damn good thrashing’ with a branch in a
vain attempt to get it going, and again in the 1986 comedy road movie
Clockwise when he commandeers another Austin 1100 for a
calamitous cross-country dash to chair the annual Headmaster’s Conference
in Norwich.
First
registered in August 1971, this Austin 1300 Saloon is the MkII version which
came out in 1967 with the 1,275cc A-Series engine from the Mini Cooper S. It
retains the horizontal strip speedo which was replaced by twin round dials on
the MkIII of late 1971, along with the 4-bar wide chrome grille that was changed
to cheaper black plastic mesh on the later versions.
Sadly there is very
little history with the car, but it is showing 80,220 miles on the clock which
seems entirely plausible given the overall condition. Finished in El Paso Beige
with a Snowberry White roof and an Ochre vinyl interior, it appears reassuringly
sound, solid and original and seems to have been repainted to a decent standard
at some point in the past.
An HPI check shows that it had just one owner
for the first 33 years, while a check of the MOT history online implies that it
was off the road for quite a while from 2006 onwards. Our vendor acquired the
car in June 2024 at which point it was in need of recommissioning following a
period in storage.
Invoices show that he spent around £550 on the car,
including a new fuel pump, brake system overhaul and a thorough service and
tune-up, a compression test showing a healthy 180 – 185psi across all four
cylinders. An original lubrication chart is also present, along with a copy of
the 1100 Club magazine. Although it no longer needs one, it has an MOT until
September 2027.
Our vendor has been running around in the car over
the summer and tells us that it runs and drives well. Driven some 15 miles to
the sale, it has certainly been starting promptly and running nicely as we have
moved it around on site, feeling pleasingly light and nippy.
On offer
here at no reserve, this will make a cheap and cheerful runabout for someone,
with bags more character than any modern car. And if it ever breaks down, you
can always lighten the mood by giving it ‘a damn good thrashing’ with a branch
in true Basil Fawlty style!
Consigned by James Dennison –
07970 309907 – [email protected]