Descrizione
Fancy a pre-war saloon to fettle ready for the Summer ahead? This rather neglected 6-light saloon rolled into Shore Classics at the weekend and whilst in need of light restoration, offers great potential and could easily be brought back to it`s former glory without too much effort. Originally part of a small wedding fleet, the car has sat for some 15 years in a redundant factory and now seeks a sympathetic companion. Could it be you?
Introduced in September 1932, this family-sized car came with an all-new 1535cc 4-cylinder side-valve engine producing 24BHP mated to a 4-speed crash gearbox. A revised synchromesh `box appeared in 1934 but in all other ways the car was very traditional with conventional chassis, semi-elliptic leaf springs and rigid axles front and rear. Initially launched as a 6-light saloon (the Harley) and 2-seater tourer (the Eton), a further 6-light saloon with a boot (the Ascot) was added to the line-up in 1934. Early cars featured a chrome radiator but this was changed to one in body colour from mid-1935.
Our car was registered in October 1935. Unfortunately, we know little of it`s early history but do know that it was acquired in 1994 by a lady in Telford who ran Abagail Classics - a small wedding fleet featuring both pre and post-war Austins and several Rolls Royces. Tax discs from the next 10 years demonstrate regular use with the entire fleet being sold, we assume as a going concern business, in May 2004 to a businessman in Coventry. The cars were all kept in his factory premises, but the wedding hire business was soon to be wound-up and the cars largely forgotten about. We came across the Ascot and its post-war cousin, an Austin 16 BS1 saloon - also part of the original fleet, and just had to rescue them. Both cars were somewhat neglected and hadn`t been touched for many years. Now back in Weymouth, the Ascot has been subject to a deep clean and we were surprised just how well it polished up. It does require very minor bodywork and ideally re-painting but could be used and enjoyed as is. A surprising bonus is the condition of the interior which evidently has been completely re-trimmed within recent years. Lovely tan hide seats are complimented by cream carpets and a virtually unmarked headlining in West of England cloth. The photographs speak for themselves. After a little encouragement the car is now running very sweetly albeit we would urge any purchaser to undertake a full check-through of all systems prior to taking to the open road. It is being sold as a project for light restoration and perfect for the current lockdown period.
The Ascot comes with an old-style V5 and a few tax discs.
A charming pre-war saloon looking for some love.
Shore Classics is based on the West Dorset coast within easy proximity of both Weymouth and the County town of Dorchester. As classic and vintage dealers, we offer full brokerage facilities. So if you require some help and guidance with selling your classic car or motorcycle, just give us a call today.
