Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Ray White]

I can remember how, as a teenager, I was thrilled to be given my Austin A55. The car had belonged to a colleague of my Dad who had sadly passed away and his poor widow wanted me to have the car because she knew it would be looked after. The Austin had been garaged from new and had a very low mileage. it was like a new car!

It is hard for us to imagine it now but in the 1970s the classic car following had yet to emerge ...so cars from the 1950s were virtually worthless!!

Young people like me who would prefer an old Austin to a new Allegro were few and far between... and often viewed as being a bit odd!

[bjacko]

We are all odd, even thee and me!
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1938 Morris 8 Ser II Coupe Utility (Pickup)
1985 Rover SD1 VDP

[norustplease]

Having stripped down the Zenith, I decided to carry out an SU conversion. This would involve finding the carburettor and manifold and front pipe from the farina A55 mk2.
I was just putting feelers out for those parts when I came across a refurbished HS2 on a swan neck adapter from a Reliant. With an adapter plate made out of 5mm aluminium, I have fitted said carb, adapted the various linkages and substituted a Mini air filter box and with some trepidation, started the engine. Well it works and my first run suggests that the SU has injected a degree of pep into proceedings that was previously absent. I probably need to review the needle at some point, and suspect that it is running slightly rich, but when the weather permits a longer drive to properly warm things up, I will have a tuning session.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Ray White]

[norustplease]

So it has proved to be.
Several runs under our belt now that the weather has warmed up and with the Volvo off the road for paintwork, etc. the Austin has been used for various breakfast meets and a more extensive outing for Drive it Day.
Performance is definitely much peppier with the SU, and the car keeps up well with the local traffic and pulls magnificently up hills in top gear. Problems with the fuel gauge still persist but I am ignoring that for the moment, keeping an eye on mileage between fills and carrying a can, 'just in case.'
Have also fitted an original 'Lightning Flash' trim to the front wing and adjusted the paintwork locally.


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

[norustplease]

Just had a very pleasant sortie in the Austin to a local garden centre to buy lawn fertiliser.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Rick]

It certainly looks like a great example, and very usable too.

RJ
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Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[consul 57]

nice motor, can't beat 50's cars for style i reckon!

[norustplease]

Now that the Volvo is almost back in service, I feel that a bit of rationalisation is required. The A55 sits in the garage with little use and probably even less in prospect during the New Year. There is also the possibility that the garage where it lives, will not be available beyond a certain point in 2025, and I am tempted therefore to sell her.
There is no immediate rush and I haven't yet done anything concrete about this, but will probably post an ad on line in the next few weeks, but if anyone fancies a Christmas or New Year present in the form of a tidy and nicely driveable Austin A55 mk 1, then do get in touch.



Loads more photos available.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[Brent29]

[Rick]

If I had the spare ? and space I'd be tempted by that

RJ
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop

[Rootes75]

I do love that paintwork...
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Various Rootes Vehicles.

[Ray White]

I have very fond memories of the grey A55 that my parents gave me all those years ago. It was such a big jump up from the A30 and felt really solid and safe. My car had a very low milage but the sad bit is that it had belonged to a good friend of my Dad who had passed away.

Interestingly, my Brother, who took on the Cambridge when I was given a Company car, implied that he would like another one.

I will mention it to him.

[norustplease]

Some interest in the A55, but only one viewer, who came with a mate, but after a quick walk round said that he was really looking for something with more poke and was a Sunbeam man! If that was the case, not sure why he came to look at a Cambridge. He described a long list of cars that he had viewed over the months and was obviously a 'tyre kicker' who entertained himself by looking at other people's cars. They were more interested in the Volvo.
Anyway, we are getting into decent weather shortly (I hope) so I will bring the A55 back out of hibernation and start using it again. As I have said before, i am not in any particular hurry to sell and may decide to keep it after all.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV

[norustplease]

At last a sale and for the full asking price.
A young man from Liverpool came on Wednesday, enjoyed the ride around the neighbourhood and bought the Austin.
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1953 Citroen Traction
1964 Volvo PV544
1957 Austin A55 Mk 1
Boring Tucson SUV