tee
Part of things
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Dec 25, 2006 14:52:22 GMT
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Basically someone I know has just imported one from South Africa, I want to buy it for hiring out, he wants 2k, it's about 60/70% complete, does anyone know anything about these as I can't find much on the net in terms of where to get parts from, prices etc. There doesn't even seem to be a decent Austin forum....
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T
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bobz
Part of things
Posts: 343
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Dec 25, 2006 16:50:04 GMT
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Don't plan anything, it'll start raining!
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,521
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Dec 25, 2006 21:29:23 GMT
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Well, if you're really determined then good luck as I think you'd need it!  They are seperate chassis, coachbuilt cars (by Vanden Plas who were bought by Austin in '46) available in a couple of wheelbases. About 9000 were built in total between 47 and 54 many used for Mayoral or hire car duties. The engines are of a pre-war design.* Personally if there's 30-40% of it missing I don't think I'd want to get involved however rust free it might be if its coming from a good bit of S.A. It's value would never be as much as a similar period or even later Rolls and the work invovled in getting it going would more than likely be astronomical.  *info from "The Cars of BMC" by Graham Robson |
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable. |
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Dec 25, 2006 21:47:04 GMT
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I've got the excellent Barney Sherratt book 'The Men and Motors of The Austin', they built a gas turbine-powered Sheerline back in the 1950's......imagine a motorised gentleman's club on wheels with a soundtrack from Top Gun...... :-)
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Dec 26, 2006 12:58:38 GMT
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If you need parts just contact the banger comunity - ovalchat is a good start - any spares can turn up at any time. They don't come up too often now, but when one does that might be all you need, its going to be very very dificult other wise.
Incidently whats missing? I'm guessing its trim type stuff or is it mechanical as well?
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Dec 26, 2006 13:31:55 GMT
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Just reading the above I might be inclined to shy away from it. Simply because I've got a Pop and there are loads of them about but the parts are difficult to come by even with the internet and eBay. Something a lot rarer would be a nightmare to find anything for and probably quite expensive for a car that won't actually be particularly valuable at the end of it all.
Beautiful looking car though.
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Dec 26, 2006 13:57:29 GMT
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If its solid its WELL worth doing and if its come from S.A., which it has, its probably pretty much rot free. I would love to see this car saved and restored, and in my eyes given its rarity its worth finding ways round things to make it into a better car by using nonstandard stuff. If we all had the attitude of jonny69 there would be alot more cars being scrapped for silly reasons. If its rare, its a challenge, if its being used for weddings its worth it, it might cost abit but you'll get your money back in a matter of time. Get in touch with some banger people, it could make your job alot easier. Surley youve heared about all these a60's being built with whats available? I'm sure the same can be applied to this.
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Dec 26, 2006 14:46:14 GMT
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I can see what bmcnut's saying...it all depends wether you actually WANT a Sheerline or if you can see a business opportunity. If you want one, then it would be worth looking into because as he says, coming from SA would mean a lot less bodywork, and a bit of research will tell you what mechanical components were shared (the engine, for example, was fitted in the BMC FG 'threepenny-bit' trucks which were made from the late 1950's until about 1973)...
The single biggest expense though would surely be the interior which, if it were to be used for weddings etc, would HAVE to be spot-on...and all that Wilton carpet/West Of England cloth/Connoly leather wouldn't come cheap...and you can bet that the heat of South Africa will have done it no favours at all.
Like I said it's worth a look, but I'd have to agree with Jonny69 if you were looking to make money with it...by the time you'd spent all that cash on it you could have bought a 70's Silver Shadow and been up and running and probably on your way to buying a second one.
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Last Edit: Dec 26, 2006 14:47:30 GMT by briandamaged
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Dec 26, 2006 18:04:51 GMT
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for those like me who had no idea what this topics about:  |
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Dec 26, 2006 21:44:33 GMT
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for those like me who had no idea what this topics about: That's an Austin A135 Princess, not a Sheerline. This is an A125 Sheerline:  |
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Last Edit: Dec 26, 2006 21:45:11 GMT by Paul H
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Dec 27, 2006 11:13:44 GMT
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There was a house near my old house where there were three of these. One on the drive, one in the garage and one in the back garden! The house came up for sale so I had a nose around. There was a room in the house just full of VDP spares. Amazing. A developer bought the place and bulldozed it all. Not sure what happened to the cars I tried to find out more but it was a solictor selling as the guy had died with no family or something.
As has been said - why do you want this car?
1. Because you want to see ti restored to its former glory and are prepared to put in the effort and the expense regardless of the value of it at the end?
or
2. Because you want a wedding car and it seems like a cheap option?
If 1. Then fine, restore it, not enough of these beautiful cars around any more.
if 2. Look elsewhere. It could be a long and very exepnsive project which is nto commercially viable. You can pick up decent prewar cars for what the retim could set you back on one of these!
I always wanted to hotrod an A125.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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