Will the problems never end, vol.2

[Chris Garner]

In 55 years I've had 16 A7's with 2 very recent 'Dogs'. The first (which we still have) we call 'Frankie' because we suspect it was made from parts. The second was said to be "ready to drive..." MY ARSE!!!!  50 hours just to make it even driveable. Problems with A7's just never end and you may just have to accept that. 

I'm now into my 3rd 1933 Austin 10 and my god they are fabulous, strong, girder chassis, brilliant brakes, 4 door - just a larger Seven.......but Austin engines either go on forever or the problems never end.  In 87 years from leaving the factory, there is so much to wear and fail, but I'm discovering the modern replacments parts are not a patch on the originals. My bitch is HEAD GASKETS, how bloody difficult can it be to make a reliable head gasket?. OK asbestos is out, but it's not rocket science. The latest 10 has only travelled 600 miles from a £9000 rebuild and the head gasket blew today. I wonder why most early Austins had the two cab flaps??? was it to allow the oil vapour to escape generated from leaking head gaskets which caused crankcase compression. You really have to be an enthusiast to own and drive Austins. I wonder which British marque has lasted the longest???

WOW! I wonder what Master Dunford has to say about this 

I agree, Austin 10s really are superb machines, when running well - power to weight ratio is superb.

I would really like one of the Ripley Sports, the only problem is stocking spares for another car...

I was fortunate to own a Ripley Sports in the '70s. Yes, a lovely car and the look of a Grasshopper ( sorry!) . I should never have sold it. I believe the model was used by several police forces.