1966 Austin 1100 mk1 with T&T £250.....

Pcked this up yesterday, Thought I'd give it a chance here before it goes on ebay. I'd rather it went to a retro enthusiast rather than someone who expects a 42 year old car to be faultless






Good bits first, obviously.. It has tax and test until the end of july, so in principle could be driven away. I drove to durham in it (20 mile round trip at rushhour) which it coped with without drama. The hydraulics feel tired, a fluid change may help, cos the brakes fade and the clutch is a little lasy when changing gear. It does go into all gears properly, doesnt spit out on the overrun and the box is quiet for a cogs in the sump A series. Oh yeah, and someone painted the engine pink.




It also looks tidy in photos, or from a distance. Closer you get, the more its age shows. The interior also is tidy but tired. Drivers quarterlight is made of plexiglass (break in?) and the glass is missing from the drivers wing mirror (but it doesnt need one for test)Great if lou love the patina look, less so if you want mint. It has been welded (everywhere) although to a good standard, looks like many years of MOT repairs rather than a restoration to me. There are a couple of bits (though not much) to do for this test too.

Hydrolastics are fine, speedbumps are a hoot! No leaks, sitting level front/rear and left/right. don't think the guy I got it from had recently had it pumped either, cos there is no sign of fresh fluid at the valves. The tyres all have legal tread, but they are ancient. not as old as the car, but too old for regular use. I'd chuck a set of cheapos on if i was keeping it, they're only 145R12 so about £10 each iirc.

Electrics are usual lucas things. Some stuff works aome doesn't... All lights ok, wipers work but no washers (even the plunger), indicators work but no telltale on dash or self cancelling so you can indicate left for many miles before you realize. Horn doesn't work either. or I havn't found it yet.

So, to summarise:
For test it needs : wiring looking at (no horn/washers)
2 bits of welding (OS sill near seatbelt mount and front of NS subframe mount)

if you plan to run it I would also
Service, change brake and clutch fluids, buy new tyres, join AA

if you want to win the concours show at ally pally next year, I'd buy something else.

So, £250 ono. Got to be worth that I think, Imagine a 60's mini but with family room. My parents had a couple of these (although so did john cleese lol) they are fun cars to drive, cheap and easy to maintain and now rarer than a very rare thing despite selling over 1.6 million units in 11 years production.