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.
First registered in
Gloucestershire in March 1934, 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