Ralph E. Droms scribed:
Subject: Austin A40 convertible
> A friend is considering the purchase of a 1953 Austin A40 Somerset
> convertible. He's curious about parts availability and any specific
> problems to watch out for when he looks at the car. Any words of
> advice would be appreciated.
Ah, the original A40's. 1200cc engine, forerunner of the BMC "B" series.
Built and exported to the US in the postwar "ship or die" era, a lot
of them ended up parked due to weak engines and low gearing. They
have wonderful, bubblous bodys, but have been almost worthless on
the market. There were various forms- A the Somerset coupe and drophead,
the Devon, the Countryman pickup and window van, and the A40 Sports.
One of our local club members has a Devon, and one of these days, I may
end up with a nice Countryman van a friend has in his barn. With
a modern driveline stuffed in there, it would be a fantastic vintage
tow vehicle and family hauler.
Parts are pretty scarce- the best contacts are probably the
A40 owners club in England, and there's a guy in the LA area who has a couple
dozen, and knows where most examples in the US are. He had a listing in the
British car magazine source directory a few years ago. (I've got the
name & number buried somewhere at home.) A mostly complete car is the best
bet, but there is some stuff available from other A40 owners.
UK price listings range from 500-2500 Pounds, last I looked.
________
/___ _ \ Roger Garnett (Roger_Garnett@cornell.edu)
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