Description
For sale is my 1933 Austin 10/ 4 saloon.
Originally sold in 1933 from EJ Gittins of Oswestry, this car stayed in the Shropshire area until 1977 before heading off to Leamington Spa.
I bought the car 3 years ago and promised the Son of the deceased owner that I would look after it. Unfortunately I have lost my storage and now “Clarice” (as she is known) is resigned to living outside.
There are a couple of original buff log books with the car which I was able to use to trace the car’s history all the way back to point of sale. She stayed in the same family until 1968.
The car is (as far as I can tell) mostly in original condition and having spoken with its previous owner (1968-1974) they verified this. Carpets are not original but functional. Interior and headlining are in very good condition with age related marks. Seats are original and have some wear but this in my opinion adds to its story. Windows all operate but the passenger and drivers windows have a tendency to drop slightly on the move. Everything else works as it should except the left trafficator that keeps blowing a fuse. The car is fitted with discrete modern indicators for safety. The engine starts every time on the key and runs smoothly. There are no problems with the engine and it pulls well in all gears. Gearbox is quiet and the rear axle was overhauled soon after I bought the car. The brakes work but could do with some remedial maintenance to get them operating more efficiently. They do work though and I’ve had no trouble adjusting to the way this car handles. She’s an old lady and should be driven as such. .
Exterior is in good condition with age related wear and some slight blistering in places. Sunroof works and is water tight. This car has a lot of history and connections with the Shropshire area.
After a fair amount of research I have traced several people who have connections to this particular car.
The 1933 Austin 10/ 4 was first sold to Miss Elizabeth Jane Morris. She was a farmer with a smallholding until she retired and moved to Pen-y-cae. She passed away in 1945.
She left an estate of around £2500 and the car which was left to her cousins, the Wright brothers.
Again farmers with a smallholding of chickens in Ty-Draw, John Frederick Wright and John Hubert Wright used the car for everything from shopping to moving their eggs to market in Oswestry.
In 1953 Brian Denny started a 5 year apprenticeship at EJ Gittins garage. While serving his apprenticeship he worked on the car as the Wright brothers would make their weekly trip to Oswestry market. While in town selling their stock of eggs they would leave the car to be serviced if needed. Often having the weekly checks of oil, water and grease replenished, they would then buy 2-3 gallons of petrol which would last all week.
After some use, and a falling out with each other (one brother living in the house, the other in the barn) the car was left in a field where it was forgotten about until bought by Jeremy Clement Bevan.
Wanting their 16yr old Son, Rupert, to drive a car rather than have a motorcycle they offered to buy the car.
£20 was the price and the car was to be used as a project and first car for Rupert Bevan. The car was by now looking a bit forlorn (1968) and in need of some TLC.
Having plenty of space at Dudleston Hall Brian was able to drive around the fields practicing driving. When Brian passed his driving test in 1968 and on his first solo drive, he had his first bump going head on with a cattle truck in a country lane. Minor damage to the drivers front wing was the result of
The car was repaired and used until, on a trip to London, the engine seized due to lack of oil. Left at the roadside, this was the last time Brian saw it.
It was then bought by Peter Riley (rally driver and test driver for BMC).
What happened after that is unknown until 1977 when it’s bought by Monica Preston in Leamington Spa.
Brian Bevan saw the Austin 10/ 4 on TV and attempted to trace the car to buy it back but was met with resistance and nothing further happened….. until it came into my possession via Mike Brookes.
After all my research I drove the car from my home in Manchester to Oswestry and revisited its old homes and reunited it with Rupert Bevan ( now in his late 70s). The car became quite a local celebrity making it into the local press. The story then went National and then Global hitting headlines in magazines, newspapers and the internet in France, America, Russia.
Clarice is also a bit of a film “star” having been used on the set of the 2016 film “Dads Army” and other minor roles on TV.
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