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Beautiful 1971 AUSTIN 3 Litre Deluxe Automatic Saloon I have owned this car for 3 years. It is very rare. According to the DVLA official figures only 45 Austin 3 Litre Saloons are on the road with another 29 on SORN. i.e. only 74 in the whole of the UK! It is in excellent mechanical order having been professionally tuned on a Rolling Road when I got it. It starts and runs beautifully. The Borg Warner 35 transmission is one of the smoothest I have driven since they were current in the 1970's. With its 3 litre sraight 6 engine this large luxury saloon cruises like a modern car at 70mph on the motorway so it is ideal for attending shows which are a little further from home. The engine is the final development of the 'C' Series and was only used in this model and the MG 'C' sports car. It always attracts attention at shows as, because of its rarity, it is normally the only one of its type present! This is the ultimate "land-crab". The internal woodwork is in very good order, especially the door cappings as these normally suffer on most examples I have seen. The upholstery and carpets are also excellent. It is easy to forget that this car is over forty years old! A period Long and Medium wave push-button radio is fitted which I believe is original. The paintwork is generally good and I believe original but on taking advice I was told that many owners prefer this to a modern respray even though over the decades minor scratches, slight bumps and minor paint bubbles (nothing serious) have occurred. I have decided to leave this decision to the new owner, but a respray would make her pristine. If it is your intention to respray her then at least you can see that nothing has been covered up by a quick respray. Underneath the MOT tester says that she is very solid with no obvious evidence of any welding and has been treated with a very hard professionally applied underseal (possibly epoxy based). No work has been required for the MOT since I have owned her apart from adjusting the free play in one of the rear wheel bearings 2 years ago. This was only an "advisory" item. The current MOT runs out on June 6th 2013 but I will have it MOT'd on 7th of May (the earliest date to preserve the renewal date) so the new owner will then have a 13 month MOT which expires on June 7th 2014. She comes with an original manufacturer's hard backed owner's manual, a matching manufacturer's hard backed workshop manual, the original jack and wheelbrace with plastic storage bag. These items, except the bag, are shown in the last photo of the boot interior. Also provided are the original manufacturer's instructions for testing the automatic front seat belts and an accident report form, all in their original envelope in the glove box. Over the last few years the prices which this model has fetched have been steadily rising which I think is a good omen for the future and will make examples in this condition a good investment. Some people are already asking very high prices for them. Have a look at eBay item 221179658483 and he admits that the door cappings "need doing". (His photo showing this has now been removed!) Relax, I believe that price is too high and my reserve is nothing like that price! The car is tax exempt as an Historic Vehicle but the free disc will require renewal at the end of May. She has an interesting transferable original registration number BUD 222 J which comes with the vehicle. This has been valued at £800. Some spares came with the car when I bought her. A previous owner had collected them over the years "just in case". There are some suspension assemblies which are very large and heavy and will require a van or trailer to transport. A windsceen, TWO boot lids, a radiator grille, a bumper, some interior woodwork including a dash board and some other odds and ends. Depending on the price achieved these may be included otherwise they will be available as a job lot or seperately at extra cost. The description of the condition of any car is very subjective and while I have tried to be as accurate and objective as possible I would strongly recommend viewing of the vehicle if at all possible, before bidding as you are bidding to buy, not to haggle, view or walk away. With this in mind the car can be viewed at a mutually convenient time about 2 miles from the M6 junction 16 about 3 miles from Crewe. Please use the eBay message system initially to discus this. A deposit of £100 is required by Paypal within 24 hours of the end of the auction with the balance as "cash on collection" within 14 days from the end of the auction. On 07-May-13 at 13:02:42 BST, seller added the following information: Just got back from MOT station. Passed with NO "advisories" as usual. Now has MOT current until 6th June 2014. On 11-May-13 at 15:27:33 BST, seller added the following information: For anyone requiring some more information there is a 6 page article in the latest (June) Practical Classics magazine which has just been delivered. This is a "Reader's Restoration" and is well worth a read. His car has an agreed insurance value of £10,000. |