Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

ops026 · Joined: 09 Dec 2013 Posts: 2

I would love to find out what Austin model this is. The picture is of my maternal grandparents, Charles Sansom was a motor engineer and ran a car hire business in Lyme Regis / Uplyme. He is pictured here with his wife. This is I believe his first hire car and I assume the picture was taken in the twenties. I am certain it is an Austin because he insisted on Austins all his life.

Brian Gould

mikeC · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 5:35 pm Post subject:

The sidelight position and scuttle ventilator look like Austin to me, so I would suggest a mid-twenties Austin Twenty.

ops026 · Joined: 09 Dec 2013 Posts: 2

Many thanks. I have investigated further and think that it is indeed an Austin 20. Could it be a Mayfair limousine.

I also found a picture that shows the occasional seats showing in the original photo. I assume these fold into the back of the front seats?

Brian

mikeC · Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2014 5:22 pm Post subject:

Yes, probably a Mayfair, although it could be a coachbuilt. Note it is a couple of years later than your advert, which shows a car with oval coach handles rather than straight ones.
And yes, the occasional seats fold flat and then up against the division. Other coachbuilders might have them folding into the floor.

Old Wrench · Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 226 Location: Essex and France

Yes indeed, Mikec.

All excepting small everyday cars, were invariably delivered from the factory as "Chassis Scuttles".

And bodies were added to the chassis by coach builders, to a customer's specification and choice.

Which makes identifying such cars very difficult as the data and images have mainly been lost, over time.

How many coach builders can you remember?

Old Wrench · Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 226 Location: Essex and France

No takers? UK only.

OK, I'll start you off....... from memory. No Googling!!

Mann-Eggerton.

Vanden Plas

James Young.

Marshalls of Cambridge.

Park Ward.

Any more?

peter scott · Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 7214 Location: Edinburgh

Well only another 295 or so to go!

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4858 Location: Swindon, Wilts.

Hi
Hooper
Barker
Freestone and Webb
James Young
William Arnold
Gurney Nutting

Didn't google but had a quick thumb through a mag looking at RR and Bentley ads.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10

Old Wrench · Joined: 23 Dec 2013 Posts: 226 Location: Essex and France

I am old enough, sadly, to remember travelling in Dad's cars along the North Circular and etc and seeing blokes hacking along in chassis scuttles, sat on an old crate, wearing caps back to front and flying goggles!

Both lorries and large cars: no big car transporters then.

Penman · Joined: 23 Nov 2007 Posts: 4858 Location: Swindon, Wilts.