03-01-2022, 11:45 AM
(This post was last modified: 03-01-2022, 11:52 AM by WillOWilson.)
Good morning all, just joined the forum after finding this post. Firstly thanks for posting up about the Austin. New Years day was a very special day, being able to get the car back on the road and driving it for the first time in a long time. It was a very emotional day for me as Dad loved that car.
Dad purchased the car back in 1965, it was his first car, aged 19 and he kept it for the rest of his life. Shortly after buying the car Dad travelled to Guernsey to purchase a 25 stud engine. Dad said the seller told him the engine was ex-works from a lightweight special but we have not confirmed this. Years later Dad spoke to a gentlemen at Shelsley (surname Dowson I believe) who said his father after changing to a Wolsey engine made up a 25 stud engine from the parts he had put in an ulster and sold it to someone in Guernsey. That is where Dad had purchased it in bits after it had blown.
Dad also purchased a Marshall blower and he also had a Colette supercharger.
During the period of ownership the cowl was modified to accommodate the new engine and supercharger - i do love the look of the cowl. The car also has a number of other modifications to brakes etc as noted.
We have some pictures of the car competing and we have a record of most of the owners but not all. I would love to find out more about my dads pride and joy so if anyone has any advice and guidance that would be most appreciated. In the meantime here are some pictures through the history of this little car now she is 91.
A number of images below taken from the awesome austin harris site
scan1-1.jpeg (Size: 164.09 KB / Downloads: 218)
c20306crop.jpeg (Size: 171.8 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20508.jpeg (Size: 255.19 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20306.jpeg (Size: 266.96 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20303crop.jpeg (Size: 124.73 KB / Downloads: 220)
c20303.jpeg (Size: 241.05 KB / Downloads: 220)
c20508crop.jpeg (Size: 150.41 KB / Downloads: 221)
https://imgur.com/vB9EuhU
Here are some more recent photos
Ownership history
26th July 1930
Sold by Wimbledon Motors to Mr Ashwood-Letts, Surrey
Cream and Green
27th July 1937
Sold to Mr Barrington, Esher Garages Ltd, Surrey
Black and Silver
2nd December 1937
Sold to Mr Rambridge, Kingsbury Road, Birmingham
8th August 1945
Sold to John Wilks, Leicester
Maroon
1948
R Underwood, Kettering
17th January 1949
Sold to Mr Clifford, Northampton
Blue
1949
Mrs M P Pannell, Breston, Nottingham
1951
Mr Vallinder, Gloucester
1955
Mr Clayton
The sold to Mr Turner in Cheltenham
1st December 1958
Mr Vetch, Prestonbury, Gloucester
Blue and Cream
12th December 1961
Mr Jenkins, Richmond, Yorkshire
1961
Mr Williams, The Callow Hereford
Green and Grey
1965
Mr A Wilson who changed colour to Cream and Brown
If anyone has any information on the car or knows the best way of tracking information down please let me know, keen to build up a history of the car now Dad has passed.
I would be very keen to read this article
Dad purchased the car back in 1965, it was his first car, aged 19 and he kept it for the rest of his life. Shortly after buying the car Dad travelled to Guernsey to purchase a 25 stud engine. Dad said the seller told him the engine was ex-works from a lightweight special but we have not confirmed this. Years later Dad spoke to a gentlemen at Shelsley (surname Dowson I believe) who said his father after changing to a Wolsey engine made up a 25 stud engine from the parts he had put in an ulster and sold it to someone in Guernsey. That is where Dad had purchased it in bits after it had blown.
Dad also purchased a Marshall blower and he also had a Colette supercharger.
During the period of ownership the cowl was modified to accommodate the new engine and supercharger - i do love the look of the cowl. The car also has a number of other modifications to brakes etc as noted.
We have some pictures of the car competing and we have a record of most of the owners but not all. I would love to find out more about my dads pride and joy so if anyone has any advice and guidance that would be most appreciated. In the meantime here are some pictures through the history of this little car now she is 91.
A number of images below taken from the awesome austin harris site
scan1-1.jpeg (Size: 164.09 KB / Downloads: 218)
c20306crop.jpeg (Size: 171.8 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20508.jpeg (Size: 255.19 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20306.jpeg (Size: 266.96 KB / Downloads: 219)
c20303crop.jpeg (Size: 124.73 KB / Downloads: 220)
c20303.jpeg (Size: 241.05 KB / Downloads: 220)
c20508crop.jpeg (Size: 150.41 KB / Downloads: 221)
https://imgur.com/vB9EuhU
Here are some more recent photos
Ownership history
26th July 1930
Sold by Wimbledon Motors to Mr Ashwood-Letts, Surrey
Cream and Green
27th July 1937
Sold to Mr Barrington, Esher Garages Ltd, Surrey
Black and Silver
2nd December 1937
Sold to Mr Rambridge, Kingsbury Road, Birmingham
8th August 1945
Sold to John Wilks, Leicester
Maroon
1948
R Underwood, Kettering
17th January 1949
Sold to Mr Clifford, Northampton
Blue
1949
Mrs M P Pannell, Breston, Nottingham
1951
Mr Vallinder, Gloucester
1955
Mr Clayton
The sold to Mr Turner in Cheltenham
1st December 1958
Mr Vetch, Prestonbury, Gloucester
Blue and Cream
12th December 1961
Mr Jenkins, Richmond, Yorkshire
1961
Mr Williams, The Callow Hereford
Green and Grey
1965
Mr A Wilson who changed colour to Cream and Brown
If anyone has any information on the car or knows the best way of tracking information down please let me know, keen to build up a history of the car now Dad has passed.
(02-01-2022, 12:24 PM)Robin Boyce Wrote: I remember publishing a piece about this car in the Grey Mag, about ten years ago I would think, but can't find it now having filed that period's mags in a safe place. Can someone look please?
I would be very keen to read this article