Description
1946 Austin 8 Four-Seat Tourer (Coachbuilt by Ruskin Motor Works) Chassis No: 73631Body No: 5370 An extraordinary opportunity to acquire an exceptionally rare, museum-grade piece of Anglo-Australian automotive history. While standard Austin 8 saloons are well-documented, this vehicle is a genuine, coachbuilt four-seat open Tourer featuring bespoke bodywork by the renowned Ruskin Motor Works of West Melbourne, Australia. It is estimated that fewer than 30 four-seat Austin 8 Tourers survive worldwide, with only a tiny handful of those featuring the highly desirable, premium Ruskin coachwork. Now back on British soil, this vehicle represents the ultimate collector’s prize for enthusiasts of rare pre-war designs and unique post-war export history. The Historical Backstory & ProvenanceThe distinct combination of numbers on this vehicle tells a captivating story of wartime survival and global trade: The 1940 Chassis (73631): This rolling mechanical chassis was forged at Austin’s legendary Longbridge plant in Birmingham in mid-1940, right as the factory pivoted to full-time military production. The Wartime Intermission: To bypass steep Australian import taxes on complete cars, this bare chassis was exported to Australia. Due to the outbreak of WWII and shipping disruptions, the chassis was held safely in storage through the war years. The 1946 Ruskin Assembly: Upon the cessation of hostilities, the chassis was delivered to Ruskin Motor Works in 1946. They hand-crafted this beautiful 4-seater open-top body, creating a highly exclusive post-war luxury commission that was never available to the standard British domestic market. Key Features & Distinctions Bespoke Ruskin Coachwork: Features the elegant, flowing open-top profile unique to the Australian-market variants, standing completely apart from utilitarian British military variants. True 4-Seat Layout: Configured as a comfortable four-seater with integrated rear passenger space and dedicated side-curtain storage. The car is presented as an older restoration. Condition & Mechanicals This rare survivor features its original-type 900cc engine, which benefited from a full mechanical rebuild in 2018. The engine fires up. Having spent some time in dry storage the car will require light mechanical recommissioning (e. g., fresh fluids, a thorough check of the braking system, and general minor sorting) before returning to regular road use. An ideal, straightforward weekend project for a serious collector. Serious enquiries only. Rare coachbuilt vehicles of this pedigree and seldom come to the open market. Please call for more details
