Lot Ended
Description
From a deceased estate; just three owners and 39k miles from new;
highly original and in wonderful condition throughout; a proper time
capsule that would grace any collection
Launched at
the 1951 Earls Court Motor Show, the A30 was Austin’s attempt to bring motoring
to the masses during a period of bleak post-war austerity. Designed to compete
directly with the Morris Minor, it cost only £507 at launch which made it £62
cheaper than the Moggie, while bringing modern engineering within reach of the
family man on a budget.
Austin’s first vehicle to
employ monocoque construction, the A30 body shell was lighter and stiffer than a
traditional body-on-frame which helped offset its modest engine power. Under the
bonnet sat the trusty 803cc A-Series engine and while it only produced around
28bhp, it had a top speed of 62mph with 40mpg economy allied to nippy handling
which made it a hoot to drive.
Compact
and bulbous, the A30 was spartan inside with sliding glass windows to save
weight and cost, basic switchgear and a central speedometer. Initially offered
only as a four-door saloon, a two-door version arrived in 1953, with van and
estate variants arriving the following year.
By
the time it was succeeded by the A35 in 1956, over 220,000 had been sold, the
two-door versions being especially prized by the racing fraternity to this day –
as anyone who has seen their giant-slaying antics at Goodwood will
testify.
Don’t even think about racing this one
though – it’s far too good for that! A proper time capsule, it is showing only
39,051 miles on the speedo which we are assured is correct, and it has only had
three owners in its 70-year life to date.
The
Heritage Certificate shows that it left the factory on 10th July 1956
finished in Tweed Grey with a red interior and a heater – one of the few options
available. It was bought new by a Mr DR Davies of St Clears, Carmarthenshire,
just eight days later and he was to keep it for the next 20 years. In 1976 it
was acquired by a Mr R Paintain of Solihull who was to keep it for 47 years
before selling it to the current owner in 2023.
Apart from a high quality respray about 40 years ago, we are told
that the car is wholly original and unrestored. Eleven old MOTs show the mileage
gradually creeping up from 34,704 in May 1998 to 38,271 in May 2012, while an
online check shows that it was last tested in December 2023 at 38,939 miles when
it passed with no advisories and it has only covered 112 miles since.
Invoices show that it had a £300 spend to get it
through the MOT in 2012, and another £637 spend to get it through the MOT in
2023. The latter included a service and grease-up, a brake system overhaul, a
new clutch, new battery plus various other minor items.
Other documents include a current V5C recording two former keepers;
an older V5 in the name of the second owner and a green continuation logbook in
the name of the first owner who is also named on the Carmarthenshire County
Record from when the car was first registered in 1956. There are also some nice
period brochures, a lubrication chart and some useful A30 Club literature. An
indoor car cover is also included, along with a bowler hat, a Union Jack cushion
and even a nodding dog attached to the rear parcel
shelf!
As you can see in the photos, this A30
two-door is in wonderful condition throughout and although there is insufficient
documentary evidence to warrant the mileage with certainty, the car speaks for
itself. It has been starting promptly and running sweetly as we have moved it
around on site.
On offer here from a deceased estate, this is a proper
time capsule that would sit well in any collection. The
icing on the cake is the original NBX 840 number plate which is transferable and
doubtless has a value of its own, not that you would ever part it from such a
stunningly original car…
Consigned by James
Dennison – 07970 309907 – james.dennison@brightwells.com