Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Rick]

... what were they like then? from what I can tell they weren't produced in large numbers, and of those built, few survive today.

The ultimate landcrab?


From: http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/austin_dip.htm

RJ
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[Ray White]

Rick, I found those photos quite upsetting!

The Austin 3 litre was in my humble opinion a wonderful car without fault in almost every respect. It was (and is) a big comfy ride with fabulous visibility and more than enough power to boot. There is one coming up for auction soon with low miles and condition to match and I am tempted to bid.

I give the 3 litre Austin very high marks based on the new one that one of my teachers bought when I was at school and I have secretly desired one since. One thing I remember was the high quality of finish but obviously times were difficult in the British Motor industry back then so perhaps someone with a different experience will come along and burst my bubble!

Just one criticism I have was the interior. It was all vinyl. I would have preferred leather. All I can say is that the one I went in was as silent as a Rolls Royce.

[Ellis]

The Austin Three Litre?

I have read enough negative reports about this fine car to be able to dismiss them all as %^&*!

In the early 1970s, 1971, I think, a certain gentleman lived in one of the fine houses outside the village bought a brand new Austin Three Litre.

He was a retired commodities broker who had moved here in the late 1960s and he and my father had become friendly. His daily transport was a two tone Wolseley 6/110 -and every time he called I enjoyed sitting in the "gentlemen's club" interior, walnut and fine leather.

One day he arrived in the new Austin and noticed the look of dismay on my face. He said the Austin was a far better car than the Vanden Plas, easier to drive, more spacious and felt modern and not some relic of the early 1960s.

He took my father and I for a drive, me in the rear seat and I have to say that it was spacious, comfortable and quiet.

It wasn't enough to persuade my father to buy one, sadly.

I wonder how many ex Austin 3.0 litre engines found new homes in Austin Healeys and MGC's.
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Starting Handle Expert

1964 Jaguar Mark 2 3.4 litre
1962 Land Rover Series 2a 88"
2002 BMW M3 E46 Cabriolet

[baconsdozen]

I had one of these for a short while,it was very different to the 1800 land crab that preceded it . Lovely quiet car,superb ride and big inside. Sadly I was more into noisy,smelly and uncivilised sports cars at the time.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Ray White]

[baconsdozen]

I most certainly did.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[BigJohn]

I had one in 1977/8 it was great fun, would pull a house down, had a big boot, loads of internal space and was a manual overdrive model which did have leather seats. The self levelling rear suspension was a cool feature as mine used to sink after being parked up a while, so starting it made it look like a lowrider jacking up the rear. It was a sod to park as it was as long as an oil tanker and fuel consumption was a bit lairy.
For more interior space due to no transmission hump, but a bit less boot space, shorter length, better handling, fuel consumption and performance, the Austin/Morris 1800S had it beaten hands down. Same base shell but FWD and handled like a big Mini, I miss my Morris 1800S, but it did need 5 star.

[badhuis]

[baconsdozen]

In the heading picture,how strong is that guy holding on to the rear bumper to stop the car sliding down the slope?.
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Thirty years selling imperial hand tools for old machinery(Now happily retired).

[Dipster]

Silly me. I thought it was our valiant leader David Cameron doing his bit for classic vehicle preservation by physically pulling the Austin out from it watery parking spot...... I seem to have got that wrong then.

[lowdrag]

You could of course find out what they are like next Saturday:-

http://www.angliacarauctions.co.uk/en/classic-auctions/latest-classic-car-catalogue/saturday-4th-april-2015/1971-austin-3-litre-automatic/

[Ray White]

That's the car I was talking about. On the plus side, it would satisfy my wish list but on the downside, it's probably much bigger than I need and would probably end up in storage and not get used enough. Petrol consumption sounds high so an LPG conversion would probably be a consideration. My wife would go on at me to sell something else to make space.

Perhaps now is not the time, then. Ah well!

[ukdave2002]

My dad only ever worked for BT or GPO Telephones, in the early 70's I had just started school, and remember my dad had the use of a car and driver; the car being the 3l Austin , the driver actually did wear a cap, and if the timing was right I used to get dropped off at school in the car, together with a packet of Polos that the driver used to give me

I just remember thinking how big that car was in the rear

Dave