1940' Austin 8 Ara 4 Light Saloon

Austin 8 ARA, 4 Light (2 door), Deluxe Sliding Head Saloon. Purchased new by Walter P. Wright for the sum of £139.0.0d on 10th March 1939 from Prestage Automobile Engineers, Birmingham. Mr Wright must have been pleased with his new car as he kept and ran it for over 30 years. The service history reveals that in November 1968 a replacement exhaust was fitted at a mileage of 15,605 miles (cost of £7.5.4d). In February 1969 the car passed the MOT test and then sadly Mr Wright died and the Austin went into dry storage in Birmingham. We became custodians in 2015 and had to replace just about every rubber part on the car as the originals had perished. It has not been restored or resprayed and is now in the ‘as run’ pre-war condition. The mileage is below 16,500 miles and she starts on the button, has excellent engine oil pressure, and drives amazingly well for a pre-war car. It is not in ‘concourse’ condition and there are a few small dents etc. Everything still works including all gauges, instruments, lights, trafficators, sliding sunroof and even the driver operated anti-dazzle rear roller blind. There appears to be no rust anywhere that is amazing for a vehicle that will be 80 years old next March. A real testimony to Austin’s engineering and build quality. Both the old green and V5C log books come with the car as does the original registration number that we have been informed is worth up to £3000. Also there are numerous documents including original brochures, owner’s handbook, service and spares manuals and even period newspaper test reports on the new Austin 8. Luckily Mr Wright treasured and kept all his research material from early in 1939 when he was thinking about buying the Austin Eight, he also retained all of his receipts etc. Complete with 2 door keys.
This car is a unique piece of history and deserves a good new home as shortly we will no longer have a dry place to store it properly. It can be viewed at an SN14 post code in Wiltshire.