Description
Quite often, the histories of the cars we acquire are as interesting as the machines themselves. Recently arrived in part-exchange is this delightful 1933 Austin 10/ 4 Cabriolet.
This very popular model is supported by the splendid, long established Austin Ten Drivers Club who had this to say to the DVLA in May 1997. "The above Austin has been restored to a very high standard and to its original condition by its owner, a member of the Austin Ten Drivers Club. The vehicle did not have a registration number with it when purchased for restoration” The DVLA allocated the age-related mark DSJ 480 on its registration in September that year.
There are several photos of the rather sorry-looking partially dismantled car under restoration in 1993 and one particular photo showing the restored car having won awards. The first MOT in the history file records a start mileage of 3641 in July 1997. There are many past MOTs and it appears that twenty years ago the car was re-registered with the valuable plate AYD 52 which it still bears. The MOT history indicates that the car has done 8800 miles since 1997. In 2015, the car was sold by a Somerset dealer for £12, 600. Since that date, the car has undergone a major mechanical restoration with a midlands-based Austin Specialist. Wheel rebuild, tyre replacement, suspension rebuild, rear axle overhaul, brake overhaul, gearbox rebuild, replacement king pins, stainless steel fuel tank, electrical and ignition overhaul, replacement starter motor, carburettor rebuild, engine rebuild and radiator work. There are pages of invoices, too much to list here, but total expenditure on this work was £25, 121 The owner's investment in the beautiful Austin finally totalled a staggering £37, 772!
The result must be one of the finest, most well sorted ninety year old Austins likely to come onto the market. The body and trim restoration has now nicely mellowed to give the car a patina of age. The car is an absolute delight and should serve its new owner well. The huge expense on the mechanical work inspires confidence that this will be a thoroughly useable, reliable pre-war classic.
The earlier ‘chrome radiator' Austin Tens have always been more highly sought-after than the late 1930s offerings. In our experience, the open cars have generally commanded prices from £10-13, 000 subject to condition. How then do we value an example which has been the subject of a unique professional restoration like this? A little more perhaps, but at this price the car has to be an appealing choice, a real bargain! £14, 995
