Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

mikeC · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 1:42 pm Post subject: Austin A40 Devon

Wouldn't this be a lovely find in the UK? Sadly the cost of transport will kill the idea of returning it to the UK:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1948-austin-a-40/?utm_source=dm&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=2020-08-22
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

Rick · Site Admin Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 22437 Location: UK

Isn't that a little gem, quite rare with the early smaller-diameter headlamps, and no quarterlights in the front doors.

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

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1950 Location: East Yorkshire

COMMAD · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2020 7:07 pm Post subject:

Beautiful, a very rare survivor, Laughing

Keith D · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 3:48 am Post subject:

It really is a magnificent example.

The side lights on the mudguards. Are these an American requirement? They seem incredibly small. The usual setup with the 5" headlights consisted of a globe inside the headlamp reflector as a side lamp.

The rearlight lens is like no other that I have seen. Perhaps this was a US requirement as well.

Keith
_________________
1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

Ray White · Joined: 02 Dec 2014 Posts: 6303 Location: Derby

mikeC · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 3:05 pm Post subject:

Ray, the US regulations at the time required separate units for side and head lights; I'm not sure about the rear lights, there's a comment in the advert which suggests they may be replacements, but with the car's history one would wonder why.
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

Keith D · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 3:16 pm Post subject:

Ray,

The A40s sold in Britain and Australia did not have separate side lights. They did not have the rear light lenses as fitted to the one in the advert. I wondered if the regulations in the US at that time required these differences.

For example, some states in Australia required cars to have an external switch mounted near the rear bumper to manually switch on the rear lights after dark when parking the car on a public road. (cars had to be parked in the direction of the traffic) These switches only operated the rear lights. This has long since been discontinued. I removed this switch from my A40 many years ago. Australian regulations demanded the switch. I'm sure they were never fitted to A40s destined for the home (UK) market.

Keith
_________________
1926 Chrysler 60 tourer
1932 Austin Seven RN long wheelbase box sedan
1950 Austin A40 tourer
1999 BMW Z3
Its weird being the same age as old people.
You are either part of the problem or part of the solution

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1950 Location: East Yorkshire

Given the car spent its life in the USA, I wonder if the rear lights were some of these below? The giveaway being, the central securing screw?
Maker as yet unknown....unless the OCC hive mind knows better?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Dark-Red-Teardrop-Glass-Signal-Tail-Marker-Lamp-Lens-w-Housing-No-Resv-/274451118284?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

alastairq · Joined: 14 Oct 2016 Posts: 1950 Location: East Yorkshire

I suspect those rear ;ights might have been made by a firm called Theo Bargman?
[Never heard of them]
Evidence maybe below?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-Theo-Bargman-48-Teardrop-Red-lens-Clearance-Marker-Light-/224123976187?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10
_________________
Dellow Mk2, 1951 built, reg 1952.
Fiat 126 BIS
Cannon special [1996 registered. Built in 1950's]
----------------------------------------------
Ford Pop chassis, Ashley 1172 bodyshell, in pieces.

Rootes75 · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2020 8:03 pm Post subject:

Lovely car, the first classic I ever viewed to restore when I was a 16 year old was a Devon in the shed behind a local garage.
_________________
Various Rootes Vehicles.

mikeC · Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2020 5:29 pm Post subject:

Sold for $11,200 (£8,400).
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!