Description
AUSTIN 3 LITRE- ZERO PRIOR KEEPERS ON V5C-FINISHED IN BLACKBERRY-SUPERB INTERIOR.
FANTASTIC ALL ROUND ORIGINAL UNMOLESTED CONDITION.
“THE LAST OF THE BIG LUXURY AUSTIN'S AND NOW A VERY RARE EXECUTIVE VEHICLE IN TIME WARP CONDITION WHICH HAS BEEN CHERISHED AND MAINTAINED WITHOUT CONSIDERATION TO COST. HUGE HISTORY FILE.”
THE AUSTIN 3-LITRE IS A BRITISH EXECUTIVE SALOON CAR INTRODUCED BY AUSTIN AT THE LONDON MOTOR SHOW IN 1967. CODE NAMED ADO61, THE CAR WAS DESIGNED TO BE BMC'S OFFERING IN THE 3-LITRE EXECUTIVE CLASS, ORIGINALLY DESIGNED IN THE EARLY 1960S, BEFORE THE BRITISH LEYLAND ERA. UNLIKE THE VISUALLY SIMILAR (BUT SMALLER) FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE MORRIS 1800 RANGE, THE 125 BHP 3-LITRE ENGINE (A 7-BEARING MODIFICATION OF THE BMC C-SERIES WITH TWIN SU CARBURETTORS) DRIVES THE REAR WHEELS THROUGH A CONVENTIONAL 4-SPEED BORG WARNER GEARBOX.
THE CAR USES HYDROLASTIC SUSPENSION WITH SELF-LEVELLING HYDRAULIC RAMS AT THE REAR AND WAS PRAISED FOR ITS EXCELLENT RIDE AND HANDLING.
TO CATER FOR ITS INTENDED MARKET, THE INTERIOR IS LUXURIOUS, FEATURING WOOD VENEERS AND CLOTH HEADLINING. THE BOOT IS LONGER THAN THAT OF THE 1800, CONTRIBUTING TO AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 186 INCHES (4, 700 MM) (THE 1800 WAS 167 INCHES (4, 200 MM) LONG).
THE 3 LITRE OFFERED HERE – CHASSIS NUMBER ABSAD81754 WAS SUPPLIED WHEN NEW BY “CARLAW (CARS) LTD" OF FINNIESTON STREET, GLASGOW ON SEPTEMBER 23rd 1971 TO THE SCOTTISH WHISKY GIANTS “THE DISTILLERS CO LTD”. AND WAS PART OF THEIR DIRECTOR FLEET. THIS, REMARKABLE CAR RETAINS AN 8 STAMP "CARLAW" SERVICE HISTORY CONTAINED IN ITS PASSPORT BOOK UP TO NOVEMBER 1974 WHICH IS WHEN THE CAR FOUND ITS CURRENT AND ONLY REGISTERED KEEPER, (THE CURRENT V5c RECORDS ZERO FORMER KEEPERS) WHO PAID £500 FOR THE CAR WHEN IT WAS 3 YEARS OLD FROM "PHILIPS MOTORS" OF GLASGOW CROSS. THIS PASSPORT BOOK CONTAINS A PLETHORA OF MANUSCRIPT ENTRIES DETAILING THE CARS MAINTENANCE. THE HUGE FILE ALSO CONTAINS A MASS OF ASSOCIATED INVOICES, 138 IN NUMBER EXCEEDING £7000 IN VALUE. THERE ARE ALSO HISTORICAL ROAD TESTS OF THE MARQUE, CLUB MEMBERSHIP BOOKS, AND EVEN AN EXPENSE ANALYSIS FROM NOVEMBER 1974 UNTIL AUGUST 2019. IF THIS CAR WASN’T RARE ENOUGH THE DOCUMENTED HISTORY MUST MAKE IT TOTALLY UNIQUE. THE AUSTIN 3 LITRE HAD A SHORT LIFE EVEN THOUGH IT REPLACED THE MUCH LOVED AUSTIN WESTMINSTER. INITIALLY, DESIGNED DURING THE EARLY 1960’S IN COLLABORATION WITH ROLLS ROYCE THE PROJECT WAS LATER SHELVED AND ROLLS ROYCE WENT ON TO DESIGN THE SILVER SHADOW. THIS 3 LITRE PRESENTED IN BLACKBERRY WITH LIGHT GREY ICI AMBLER UPHOLSTERY APPEARS TO BE CAR NUMBER, 8175 FROM A TOTAL PRODUCTION RUN OF 9992 PRODUCED BETWEEN JANUARY 1968 AND APRIL 1971 AND IS FITTED WITH THE OPTIONAL BORG WARNER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THESE OVER ENGINEERED DELUXE EXAMPLES WERE EASILY IDENTIFIABLE BY FRONT DOOR QUARTER LIGHTS, WITH THE LAST OF THE LINE CARS, OF WHICH THIS IS ONE, BENEFITING FROM HAVING THE MGC POWER UNIT, LARGER FRESH AIR FASCIA VENTS AND A STEERING COLUMN IGNITION. INCLUDED, IS A LARGE QUANTITY IF SPARES, FRANKLY, MORE THAN YOU CAN POINT A STICK AT.
THE GLEAMING BLACKBERRY PAINT WORK WHICH APPEARS TO BE ORIGINAL CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A DEEP SHINE. THERE ARE NO DENTS, SCRATCHES OR SCUFFS TO BE FOUND AND NO EVIDENCE OF RUST/ ROT. THE CHROME WORK IS ALSO GOOD AND THE CAR REMAINS WIND AND WATERTIGHT. THE ORIGINAL WHEELS AND WHEEL TRIMS SIT ON MATCHING TYRES WITH PLENTY TREAD. THE CAR HAS COVERED A MERE 83945 MILES OVER IT'S LIFE SPAN OF 54 YEARS. THE BIG AUSTIN IS PART OF A COLLECTION OF CLASSICS KEPT AND MAINTAINED IN A HEATED & FULLY ENCLOSED WATER TIGHT ENVIRONMENT AND HAS ONLY SEEN USE ON WARM DRY WEATHER CONDITIONS OVER THE PAST 6 YEARS OR SO.
AS STATED THIS STUNNING AND NOW RARE AUSTIN 3 LITRE IS IN SUPER ALL ROUND ORIGINAL CONDITION. THE 3 LITRE DRIVES AND STOPS GREAT AND SUCH A PLEASURE TO DRIVE, TURNING HEADS WHEREVER IT TRAVELS AND NO WONDER GIVEN THE VERY FEW EXAMPLES REMAINING OUT THERE AND MOREOVER WITH THE CAR HAVING RETAINED IT'S ORIGINAL BEAUTIFUL APPEARANCE & CONDITION.
THE INTERIOR IS ALSO IN INCREDIBLY GOOD ORDER, IN FACT, IT IS QUITE EXCELLENT ! ORIGINAL, CLEAN AND UNCLUTTERED. THERE ARE NO TEARS, UNSIGHTLY SCUFFS OR MARKS, SIGNS OF WEAR OR DISCOLORATION. ALL IS IN TACT, FUNCTIONING AS INTENDED, COMFORTABLE AND VERY PLEASANT TO THE EYE.
THE CHASSIS AND UNDERCARRIAGE IS CLEAN AND SOLID IN ALL AREAS, AS ARE THE FLOOR PANS ETC. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF ROT/ RUST ANYWHERE.
THE BOOT - AGAIN VERY CLEAN, SOLID AND UN-CLUTTERED.
ENGINE BAY - AS PER THE BOOT.
ENGINE - THE ENGINE IS QUIET, RELIABLE, AGILE AND RESPONSIVE, STARTS FIRST TIME OF ASKING EVERY TIME. IT SOUNDS JUST AS IT SHOULD THROUGH THE GEARBOX AND EXHAUST SYSTEM.
TRANSMISSION - THE AUTOMATIC "BORG WARNER" GEAR BOX IS LIKE THE ENGINE, AGILE, RESPONSIVE AND SMOOTH TO THE CHANGE.
BRAKES - SPOT ON !
FULL SERVICE AND OIL CHANGE UNDERTAKEN LATE NOVEMBER 2024. ( SEEN VERY LITTLE USE SINCE)ALL IN ALL, THIS IS A FANTASTIC AND NOW RARE AUSTIN 3 LITRE WHICH IS MUCH ADMIRED AND A PLEASURE TO DRIVE. THE 3 LITRE ALWAYS BRINGS AN INSTANT AND ENDURING SMILE OF PRIDE AND SATISFACTION. IT ALSO REPRESENTS A PIECE OF GENUINE BRITISH MOTORING HISTORY.
THE AUSTIN BEING A 54 YEAR OLD HISTORIC CLASSIC VEHICLE IS THEREFORE MOT, ROAD TAX ULEZ, & CONGESTION CHARGE EXEMPT.
THIS RARE GEM WAS FIRST REGISTERED ON 23/ 09/ 1971 AND HAS HAD MERELY 2 PRIOR OWNERS OVER IT'S 54 YEARS ALBEIT MERELY ONE KEEPER, THE PRESENT KEEPER, IS RECORDED IN THE CURRENT V5c. THE CAR IS PART OF A PRIVATE COLLECTION AND ONLY USED SPARINGLY IN DRY/ WARM WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE 3 LITRE, AS IT PRESENTS TODAY, IS A CREDIT TO IT'S KEEPERS AND THE MARQUE. IT IS ALSO A CLEAR INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY ALIGNED TO IN-EXPENSIVE CLASSIC CAR OWNERSHIP, ENJOYMENT WITH NATURAL PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP AND AS STATED A PIECE OF BRITISH MOTORING HISTORY.
CURRENT TOTAL MILEAGE IS 83945 MILES WHICH EQUATES TO 1554 MILES FOR EACH OF THE CAR'S 54 YEARS.
PX POSSIBILITY
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION SIMPLY CALL ME ON – the details below. TELEPHONY IS MY PREFERRED MEANS OF COMMUNICATION. IT'S NICE TO TALK ! I AM A WELCOMING, COURTEOUS AND POLITE INDIVIDUAL. UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE LEARNED FROM EXPERIENCE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE WHO SEND EMAILS AND TEXTS ARE MERELY FILLING THEIR TIME AT THE COST OF MINE.
I HAVE VIDEOS WHICH I AM HAPPY TO SEND UPON REQUEST FROM GENUINELY INTERESTED PARTIES WITH "WHATTSAPP."
DELIVERY TO UK MAINLAND AREAS CAN BE ARRANGED SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT ON COST AND FULL ADVANCE PAYMENT.
PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO CHECK ON THE OTHER LOVELY CARS FROM MY PRIVATE/ PERSONAL COLLECTION.
THANK YOU.
