Austin 8 Staff car.
Mário in Portugal emailed this photograph over, hoping that the car his grandfather is seen driving could be identified. The car is a military version of the pre-war Austin 8 tourer, known as a Staff Car. I've seen photographs of Austin 8 Staff Cars in use with the British Army during WW2, but this is the first I've seen showing an Austin with the Portuguese Army, with whom Mário's grandfather served. The date of the photo isn't known - could it have been during WW2 or just after the war? - the location however is believed to be Lisbon.
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The are no serial numbers on the bonnet, but there is a circular plaque attached to one front wing, below where the headlamp would have been on a standard road car. Part of the Austin's military registration can just be seen to the right of shot. Was this Austin still in the ownership of the British Army, as so many of these Staff Cars were, or were some sold to other countries such as Portugal - who had declared themselves neutral during WW2? I'm sure more information on this interesting Austin will come to light.
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Return to Page 12 in the vintage and classic car gallery.
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Some contemporary sketches of a car similar to the one shown above, can be found on this page of the site. Similar to this car is the military version of the Austin 10, or Austin Tilly as it would usually be known.
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Thanks to Mário for allowing me to show this photo here.
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