Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[British heritage cars]

[norustplease]

Hi
Austin Ten Drivers Club:

http://www.austintendriversclub.com/

[norustplease]

Let me know if you need any photos to help with your reassembly.

[British heritage cars]

[British heritage cars]

[norustplease]

No, it was in quite good condition when I bought it, with an MOT, etc. albeit it had barely been used over the last five or six years.
My initial work was along the lines of a good clean and tidy up of the interior, and a throrough service, replacing stuff like hoses, spark plugs, changing the oil etc.
Most of the subsequent work done has been in the way of improvements, with mechanical repairs along the lines of new UJ's to the propshaft, wheel bearings and a thorough clean off, paint and Dinitrol treatment of the undersides, installation of flashing indicators and some replacement of wiring.
Next project is the running boards, whose rubber covers are starting to crack up, although the metal tray underpinnings look good.

I also have a Morris 10 (see below)which is two thirds of the way through an engine overhaul at the end of a body and mechanical restoration, that I started a year ago. This one was in passable cosmetic order, but I have had to weld a lot of new metal into the bottom edge of the boot lid and the rear skirt.

Mechanically, the brakes have had to be completely replaced and the engine was quite badly worn and very smoky.
Still needs some tidying up inside. I was making good progress until this last week or so, when the cold weather drove me back to the fireside.

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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[British heritage cars]

[norustplease]

The Cambridge is a 1937 model.
_________________
1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[British heritage cars]

We've picked the Austin up this weekend and Now it's standing at my place..
The previous owner said the engine was rebuild some years ago, so will take a look at it and see what it does..

If anyone has got some spares, or good adresses for spares, let me know!

Pictures will come later!

Kind regards,
Jonathan

[norustplease]

Hi
The ATDC have a good spares system that covers a lot of stuff. For body panels, glass or large assemblies such as gearboxes, keep your eye on Ebay as well.
Quite a lot of stuff like hoses, etc. can also be had from general classic spare parts dealers.
Available Austins near Coventry are specialists who have a good catalogue of spares as well as selling complete cars and offering repairs and restorations. No website alas but 01676 541276 or an A4 SAE to Available Austins, Station Rd. Old Arley, Coventry, CV7 8FG will get you their catalogue.
Alderton Austin services offer a similar service. They are near Tewkesbury. See http://www.aldertonaustinservices.co.uk/
_________________
1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Kelsham]

I went with a friend back in the 1960,s to buy a Cambridge.
When we drove it it knocked badly. I identified the noise as a failed joint on the propshaft. We negotiated the price down from twenty pounds to thirteen because of the noise.

A visit to the local breaker provided a secondhand replacement, soon fitted. thirty bob.

The steering box was badly worn and it took some skill to control direction. I was the more experienced driver and my friend encouraged me to take the wheel when we used it.

The back axle seals were leaking and thoroughly oiled the back brakes. We removed the shoes and using Daz degreased them in hot water.

Really a waste of time as the hubs kept leaking.

My friend was stopped on the Staines bypass by the Police looking for an easy conviction. He was informed that they intended to test the handbrake and he was told to pull it on. Knowing that it would fail he slipped the car into gear when they weren't looking.

When they tried to move the car it naturally resisted. As they walked round after pushing against it he knocked it out of gear.

There was a short discussion between the patrolmen who were baffled. They instinctively knew it should fail.

Eventually they instructed him that they would try again, once again he slipped it into gear, this time one of them was watching through the rear window and caught him at it.

A rap on the window, another push and he was on his way with a fine in the post for failed handbrake.

We used it for some months and like many cars of the period it advertised its passing with a cloud of burned oil

This was its eventual undoing, as he drove it until it ran out of oil, when the light came on he replenished too late. A big end failed shortly after
and spelt the end.

I have often wondered what a properly restored car would stop and steer like. If I remember correctly a hub puller was needed to replace the oil seals in the rear hubs, not available to us at the time.

We had some fun with it, often six or seven up. health and safety tosh.

We moved on to the new fangled Mini afterwards, we both had home tuned versions.

Regards Kels.

[norustplease]

[British heritage cars]