Lot Ended
Description
Fully restored to show-winning condition in the early-1990s; just two
owners in the last 23 years; meticulously maintained; inertia reel
seatbelts; driven 130 miles to the sale; a superb example at a very attractive
guide price
Austin’s
best-selling car of the Thirties, the Austin 10/4 was launched in April 1932 and
continued in production until 1947 with various upgrades along the way. The
unburstable 1,125-cc four-cylinder side-valve engine produced 21bhp driving
through a four-speed gearbox which gave the car a comfortable 50mph cruising
speed.
In 1933 the saloons were joined by a
two-seater Open Road Tourer and a plushly appointed four-seater Colwyn Cabriolet
which had full-framed doors with wind-up windows and a clever
three-position folding hood that could be fully closed for snug winter motoring
and rolled back above the front seats or completely folded down at the rear for
open-air summer cruising.
Supplied new by Bowen's
Garage of Chepstow in March 1934 (their plaque is still on the dash), this
superb Colwyn Cabriolet was treated to a total body-off restoration between 1989
and 1994 when it was owned by a Mr M Webster of Blakeney.
From 2003 – 2019 it was owned by a Mr G Cock of Sleaford who clearly
cherished the car and looked after it well, taking it to various events where it
received many accolades, including ‘Best in Show’.
Aside from routine servicing, work carried out during his 16-year
ownership included the fitment of inertia reel seatbelts, new core plugs and a
new exhaust manifold in 2017; cylinder head overhaul with new exhaust valves and
head gasket set in 2012; new mohair hood with a cloth headlining and a glass
rear window windscreen in 2008; new set of tyres from Longstone in
2003.
Our vendor, a member of the Austin Ten
Drivers Club, acquired the car from Mr Cock in September 2019, the invoice
showing that he paid £12,000 after knocking £2,500 off the asking price for what
was described as a show-winning car in the advert.
He has continued to look after it well during his seven-year
ownership, with annual servicing by Park View Motors of Finchampstead in
Berkshire, regardless of the low mileage covered. The last service was carried
out in April 2025 when the odometer was showing 8,678 miles and it has covered
just under 700 miles since.
A new battery was also fitted in January
last year and in August this year the car was given another full check-over
and grease-up by Park View Motors who added a note to the invoice saying how
well the car drove.
As you can see in the photos,
this pampered Colwyn Cabriolet is still in wonderful condition over 30 years
since it was restored – always the sign of a top quality job. We are told that
it drives as well as it looks, being driven 130 miles to the auction on a baking
hot day without drama.
It has certainly been
starting promptly and running very sweetly as we have moved it around on site,
with healthy 30psi oil pressure. Supplied with an original owner’s handbook and
a large amount of technical literature, it also comes with sundry useful spares
and two sets of keys.
One of the nicest pre-war
Austins we have seen, it is on offer here at a very enticing guide price and is
no doubt capable of scooping more silverware on the show circuit, should the
fortunate new owner feel so inclined.
Consigned by James Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com