Post by Matt of the Vivas on Jul 14, 2018 19:35:02 GMT
Lots of changes to the "fleet", im quite behind with updates, sorry....
Ive fancied something prewar for ages. An itch that needed to be scratched!
I mentioned this to my Uncle at Christmas. He lives in a farm, surrounded by barns and old tractors, i figured he would understand.
He disappeared out of the room, and came back with piles of old magazines from the 30s. Turns out, he had been after a 1930s Austin Ten for years, but he wanted an unrestored one to tinker with. Not a wreck, but not a perfect car either.
Beaulieu Spring Jumble came round in May - i was there as normal. In the cars for sale section stood IT - the perfect Ten. A 1935 Lichfield Saloon, scruffy, but running, driving and with 4 new tyres. It was sensible money too. I phoned my uncle.... Hes a careful, patient man, not in the least impulsive. He liked the car but wanted to think about it overnight. I, on the other hand, am very impulsive, and with my bank account healthy from the sale of the Bug and Herald decided to just buy it anyway.
Next morning my Uncle rang me. He wanted the car, desperately wanted it, but didnt have the ready cash. I gave him the good news that it was too late, id bought it anyway, and he had better start making an Austin sized space in his barn.
I arranged a delivery as the Austin was in Fawley, and i didnt fancy a 250 mile trip in something 80 years old.
Next weekend, it arrived:
picture upload sites
Its such a lovely little thing. It runs well, drives nicely and is surprisingly modern - its got electric start and a synchro gearbox. Its been hand painted at some point, but most of it is flaking off. The wood around the sunroof and windscreen rails is rotten - no problem as Uncle is a carpenter - and the leather inside needs treating and stitching. Its going to be preserved rather than restored - my Uncle loves the Patina look it has. Hes delighted with it, and we have already had a few good days out in it. He will, at some point, buy it off me, as and when he has the cash, but to be honest im quite happy with shared ownership for the time being - as i said, i had an itch to scratch!
Ive fancied something prewar for ages. An itch that needed to be scratched!
I mentioned this to my Uncle at Christmas. He lives in a farm, surrounded by barns and old tractors, i figured he would understand.
He disappeared out of the room, and came back with piles of old magazines from the 30s. Turns out, he had been after a 1930s Austin Ten for years, but he wanted an unrestored one to tinker with. Not a wreck, but not a perfect car either.
Beaulieu Spring Jumble came round in May - i was there as normal. In the cars for sale section stood IT - the perfect Ten. A 1935 Lichfield Saloon, scruffy, but running, driving and with 4 new tyres. It was sensible money too. I phoned my uncle.... Hes a careful, patient man, not in the least impulsive. He liked the car but wanted to think about it overnight. I, on the other hand, am very impulsive, and with my bank account healthy from the sale of the Bug and Herald decided to just buy it anyway.
Next morning my Uncle rang me. He wanted the car, desperately wanted it, but didnt have the ready cash. I gave him the good news that it was too late, id bought it anyway, and he had better start making an Austin sized space in his barn.
I arranged a delivery as the Austin was in Fawley, and i didnt fancy a 250 mile trip in something 80 years old.
Next weekend, it arrived:
picture upload sitesIts such a lovely little thing. It runs well, drives nicely and is surprisingly modern - its got electric start and a synchro gearbox. Its been hand painted at some point, but most of it is flaking off. The wood around the sunroof and windscreen rails is rotten - no problem as Uncle is a carpenter - and the leather inside needs treating and stitching. Its going to be preserved rather than restored - my Uncle loves the Patina look it has. Hes delighted with it, and we have already had a few good days out in it. He will, at some point, buy it off me, as and when he has the cash, but to be honest im quite happy with shared ownership for the time being - as i said, i had an itch to scratch!