Any of you fancied a 1930's car?

[Accy cyclist]

I like this.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-1...173571?hash=item3439cf1b03:g:pwsAAOSwzkFf8LYc

Just over 4 grand could buy you a 10 year old boring,probably grey in colour,mundane car,or this!

Though would you be buying work,or buying a form of escapism? 🧐

 

[steveindenmark]

Nice for a hobby. Impractical for everyday use.

 

[biggs682]

i can see the appeal of running a vintage car a lot
But not as practical as more modern machinery
Big bonus is the simplicity i would hope

 

[SGG on a bike]

Back in the late 80s I had a 1938 Austin 8. Good fun car, but scarily outclassed on the roads even back then. Rod operated brakes, 6v electrics (very poor lights) and just over 40 mph flat out was an eye opener. Lovely thing though. Easy to work on, but make sure you get a Whitworth set of sockets, spanners and a tap and die set.

 

[Cycleops]

During the seventies I had an Austin 7 special, an Austin 7 chassis with a home made space frame covered in aluminium body, bit like this:

Manual advance /retard ignition, cables brakes which were quite good and 750cc side valve engine which ran on 0 - 10 psi oil pressure. Totally impractical but great fun.
Note: I've changed the picture as I've found one which is practically identical to mine.

 

[Colin Grigson]

For occasional use it’s perfect
I ran a vintage car for just over 5 years - great fun searching for NOS parts and so on. Very simple to work on but be aware that any major repairs are specialist only, with an accompanying price tag. There’s nothing like the smell of a car over 50 years old, and sitting inside with your eyes shut imagining the trips it’s been on and the stories it could tell is a great way to pass some time. I’d still have mine if we’d not moved house to a place with insufficient garage space. Your money’s always safe too - very unusual to lose anything when you re-sell a car like that - it was fully depreciated 80 years ago !.

 

[DCLane]

" The car has been garaged for a number of years since then so now needs some recommissioning ": it's got a 2001 tax disc which were stopped in 2014 so I'm guessing it's been stored for almost 20 years without use.

It'll need bodywork and possibly engine work, plus all the suspension re-greasing. There's at least one holed area, possibly more. Or maybe it'll be fine. It does need to be roadworthy before using though.

It wouldn't need an MOT and VED is free, but you'll see 45mph maximum out of one. OK for local driving but not main roads. Someone near me runs a 1935 Riley as a daily driver and it looks fun, but completely impractical.

I've not done beyond 30 years old as a daily driver. As long as they're maintained it's OK but expect things to need work.

 

[Drago]

The only 1930s car that appeals to me is the Traction Avant - front wheel drive a full 25 years before the Mini, monocoque, modern - for the time - engine. You could probably twist my arm into having a blower Bentley though, perhaps one of Tim Birkin's ex race xars.

 

[HMS_Dave]

As long as it has heated leather seats, climate control and voice activation then thats a sale for me.

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

It looks lovely but, as above, more work would probably be wanted to make it decent than suggested in the ad.

I had a love-hate relationship with my Morris 8 Series E (1930s design but mine was one of the last made in 1948). Loved it when it worked but it was so frustrating when it wouldn't. 6 volt electrics are not my favourite thing.

When I was at school my woodwork teacher used an Austin Six York as his daily driver. I don't know if it still gets every day use but I do see it at shows.

 

[Sharky]

My dad's first car was a 1939 Morris 10. He was so pleased with it. He got it in 1956 just in time for petrol rationing! But it was a bit of a liability. A 20 mile run to Southport was a major drive and we had to keep our fingers crossed and hoped we would get back.

 

[bagpuss]

only if it has cruise contol and a boom box .
I limit myself to bangers and mash....sorry that should read cash.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I wonder how much it'd cost someone like me to insure it? I'm thinking insurance for it would be a lot less if it was garaged. You don't tend to see those type of cars parked up on public roads,streets overnight.

 

[Accy cyclist]

" The car has been garaged for a number of years since then so now needs some recommissioning ": it's got a 2001 tax disc which were stopped in 2014 so I'm guessing it's been stored for almost 20 years without use.

It'll need bodywork and possibly engine work, plus all the suspension re-greasing. There's at least one holed area, possibly more. Or maybe it'll be fine. It does need to be roadworthy before using though.

It wouldn't need an MOT and VED is free, but you'll see 45mph maximum out of one. OK for local driving but not main roads. Someone near me runs a 1935 Riley as a daily driver and it looks fun, but completely impractical.

I've not done beyond 30 years old as a daily driver. As long as they're maintained it's OK but expect things to need work.

Come to think of it i think there's one of those i've linked being 'done up' at the moment near me. I haven't seen the bloke with his garage door open,welding,tapping,rubbing down and painting etc for a while. I took a photo (gonna try and dig it out) of his car in November 2019,when he told me he planned to have it on the road the following spring/summer. It was/is a labour of love. He must've spent many hours a day doing that car up. He said it had a 998cc engine with a top 'speed' of around 50mph. They didn't come with heaters and the ventilation on a hot day was when you opened half of the the windscreen to horizontal level to get that wind on your face.

 

[DCLane]

I wonder how much it'd cost someone like me to insure it? I'm thinking insurance for it would be a lot less if it was garaged. You don't tend to see those type of cars parked up on public roads,streets overnight.

I wouldn't put it on the street - you would be much better advised renting a garage. They're not the most rust-proofed.

How much security does one of these have? A steering lock would be OK but I'd not recommend keeping one outdoors.

Personally if you were serious I'd spend a couple of thousand more to get one that's currently road-worthy as it'll probably cost you more to get that one sorted:

1937 Austin Big Seven - £6750: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-big-seven-7-1938/333844894342
1935 Morris 8 - £6995: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1935-MORRIS-8-TWO-TONE-BLUE-ON-BLACK/164576007910
1935 Austin 10 - £7495: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUSTIN-1...E-VID-FREE-UK-DELIVERY-STAY-HOME/154274897457
1938 Austin 7 12v - £7995: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-7-1938-4-door/324443593080
1935 Austin 7 - £8650: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-7-Box-saloon/124516550671