Lot 203: Austin A30 2 Door Saloon

The A30 was a compact car produced by Austin Motor Company in the 1950s. Introduced in 1951, it was Austin's answer to the Morris Minor. The bodywork, designed by an aeronautical engineer, was fully stressed monocoque construction, which made it both lighter and stiffer than more contemporary vehicles. Its newly-designed A-Series straight-4 engine was state of the art for the time, which returned an average fuel consumption of 42 mpg. The braking was a hybrid system, with fully hydraulic drum brakes up front and frame cylinder rod operated drums at the rear. Suspension was by way of independent coil springs at the front end and beam axle/semi-elliptic leaf springs at the back. The little A30 sold well throughout its production life despite its odd balance of modern styling and antiquated rod operated brakes, in 1956 the more powerful A35 arrived after over 222,000 A30's had been sold. Offered here is a two door saloon version from the final year of production. It is described as being in good to very good order and was once the property of a barrister gentleman who kept it in good order and had the interior retrimmed in duo-tone burgundy and blue vinyl. Finished in pageant blue with the aforementioned interior, the car has the 803cc, four cylinder, "A Series" engine and four speed manual transmission. It has also recently benefited from 4 new tyres, new battery, new water pump, new spark plugs and overhaul of the rear brakes. A great little starter classic.