1931 Austin Special

Austin 20 Ranelagh reg TK6410
Declared manufactured 1931

I have owned since 23/ 09/ 12 bought it from:
Peter Spooner acquired on 08/ 11/ 11 bought it from:
Mr Anthony O’Brien of Pontypridd
There is a sheaf of bills made out to this owner dating from 19/ 01/ 06 to 29/ 07/ 10 all in the Pontypridd area. He ran a business called Fahriesen Executive there.
The V5C is in my name and states there have been 4 former keepers since March 1982, and indeed was first registered in the UK on 10/ 03/ 1982. My description of the car is as follows:
The Austin is a very special car. Completely solid and extremely original throughout. There is no known corrosion in the body or frame nor rot in any woodwork, except for a very small area in one of the floorboards near the battery access door. The doors close very satisfyingly, like a 30s railway carriage with no obvious drop or misalignment. Mechanically, these cars are very substantially built, an entirely different level of sophistication to a smaller horsepower car (Ive had a 12/ 6 too) and I can see no mechanical defect in the suspension, steering, engine, brakes, gearbox or final drive. The electrical components all work, and a charming period indicator unit sits above the rear number plate. At the front, the side lights act as indicators too, and the headlights have mechanical dipping in each side…. I think originally this would have been in one light only.
Under the bonnet, there is a great deal of the original detail, including the insulation on the bulkhead, which can only point to a sheltered life and careful use over 94 years. I have carefully re-instated the Autovac unit, and incorporated a glass bowl fuel filter. The 3400cc 6 cylinder engine starts and runs well, with virtually no smoke, the oil pressure is good, and there is no sign of overheating (the radiator mounted Calorstat is still working perfectly). The gears engage easily, and the synchro on 3rd and 4th gears works as it should.
On the road, the car feels solid, behaves well, and the friction dampers work as they should. Progress is smooth, the brakes are powerful, although have the usual idiosyncrasies common to rod and cable brakes. The handbrake is very good. I have to say in my ownership this Austin has been one of the most reliable cars I have ever had.
On the Interior, the seats and occasional seats are in excellent order in grey leather, and I strongly believe could be original together with the carpets, an extremely rare thing to see. The headlining is good, there is a wind up division and blinds to this and the rear window. The rest of the interior trim is original, and looks smart, although there is evidence of some wood worm holes from an earlier time. There is a charming intercom for the rear seat passenger to speak to the driver (but not the other way around!). There is a “smoker’s hatch” in the roof, which opens and closes correctly. The front screen opens, and there is a tinted and adjustable sun visor fitted over the window.
Over all, this car looks and drives the way it might when only a few years old, and is quite astonishingly original for a 93 year old. This is what makes this car so special.
I have a folder with a photocopied handbook and parts list and an original Austin parts book too.
Intriguingly, I have always thought this car may have been connected to our armed forces, there is a plaque in the passenger door, with a Ministry of Transport number and the vehicle weight in Kilograms. Within the folder is a press cutting dated Dec 8th 1956 from a Cyprus newspaper, with a picture of a Pipe Major J Grey of the Royal Scots Greys. Could this Austin have been his or dignitary transport in Cyprus, and does this explain why the car was first registered in 1982?
I have over 50 years experience in maintaining cars of this calibre; I’m available for questions, and I will always answer honestly. I can send additional photos of anything requiring more detail, and I can assist with delivery and export if necessary. The car can be inspected in Southport, Merseyside at any (pre-arranged) times, and the car is in a well-lit, dry storage facility. The originality of this beautiful Austin is the outstanding feature. It is reliable, honest and imposing. It is also extremely rare. The 20hp is the pinnacle of the Austin range, built to an astonishingly high standard.