Description

1955 Austin A30 two-door Saloon

A very solid and usable A30; smart outside and in; driven 30+ miles to the sale; 948cc A-series fitted - 803cc engine included in sale; boot full of spares; affordable classic motoring

The original buff logbook for this appealing A30 lists its first owner as Leslie Manton from West Byfleet in Surrey. The car moved with its second owner from Surrey to Essex, changing hands once more before arriving in Herefordshire in 1974. Mr Davies, its new owner appears to have kept the car for some time, retaining its number YPK 437 (now non transferable) on an old style V5 in 1994. There appear to have been a further two owners or so before it arrived in the hands of the vendor in 2019, who has just moved and requires space for his collection of  Scooters.

Driven over 30 miles to the sale, he reported that it didn't miss a beat on the way over. The car has clearly had work done to it over the years, as the body is remarkably rust free, with just a few areas of bubbling to be found. The floor plan is rock solid, as are the sills and arches, while the normal areas at the back of the front wings and below the headlights which suffer on these models look good.

It has had a respray in its original black colour scheme, which is showing some areas of reaction on the wings, but still looks presentable, the car being set-off nicely with the addition of chrome headlamp hoods.

The interior has fresh and very smart carpets and the seats are original. There is a large selection of spare parts included, photographs online showing the selection in the boot which are onsite at Leominster. It also comes with a period-correct 803cc engine (included in the sale price) which is still with the vendor in Llandrindod Wells for collection by the new owner within two weeks of the date of sale.

The current 948cc engine came from a Morris Minor and was installed in November 2007. It was stripped and the standard bores honed and fitted with Cord rings. A new timing chain was fitted and water-pump. Notes on file also suggest a taller diff ratio may have been fitted to raise its cruising speed and elements of the front suspension were also fettled in 2012.

The file includes a repro garage lubrication chart, workshop manual, Pitman engine tuning book, two handbooks and 13 old MOTs. There are also numerous A30/A35 club magazines and old tax discs too.

This car has clearly been loved for a very long time. Ready for immediate enjoyment, it looks good value at the suggested guide price given the recent rise in popularity of Austin's charismatic post-war baby.

For more information - contact matthew.parkin@brightwells.com

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