I’m almost clinically afraid of flying, but I was happy I did when I visited England back in 2009. As something of an Anglophile, I love British history, art, literature, architecture, and most importantly, its cars, and there were plenty of little British classics plying the streets for those summer weeks I wandered the greater London area and beyond. While the Austin A40 Somerset looked an awful lot like an A70 Hereford and was based on the A40 Devon, you’re unlikely to see any of them here in the States; however, if you’re looking for a diminutive (by our standards) car to refurbish, and you don’t mind searching for parts, this project with a low, low price of $1,000 might hit the spot. Barn Finds reader Barney found it on craigslist near San Francisco, and it’s been sitting in a barn for over 30 years.
The Hereford’s engine is a 42-horsepower, 1200 cc version of the B-Series four, which was backed by a column-shifted four-speed manual and a 5.28:1 rear axle ratio. The “Mega Torque 65” battery is approaching the physical size of the engine, and it will need to be replaced before further mechanical investigation can take place; while the seller “drove [it] home to restore” in 1992, it’s been stored in a barn since, and it doesn’t currently run. When it did, acceleration was understandably sedate: zero-to-sixty took about 30 seconds (as fast as 27 in some tests), the quarter-mile about 24. Top speed was a harrowing 69 miles per hour.
The body is excellent, but the ad’s text says that the front floorpans are rusty. The pictures posted are a little fuzzy, but the minor rust that I can see pales in comparison to the missing door panels and ripped upholstery. A little sheetmetal work is easy and inexpensive if you’re not a stranger to light metal fabrication and welding, but any good upholsterer will charge a fee that will make the car’s purchase price seem laughable. I hope there are some door panels somewhere in the owner’s stash.
It’s unlikely that the new owner will be taking long trips in their new A40, but if they do, their fuel stops will be short; the tank holds just over eight gallons of gas. Luckily, it will be easy to remove for cleaning.
Over 166,000 Somerset saloons were sold over the course of its short 1952-54 lifespan, but few of them made it to America, and this must be one of only a handful remaining on the North American continent. I hope there’s an Anglophile like me out there who sees the charm in this cute little anachronism from another time and another place, and decides to give it a good home. The plus side? You needn’t bother flying anywhere to get it.
This is one neat little car. I dont think I’ve ever seen ine before. Hopefully someone can restore this little Austin. It would look great painted in a two tone again.
From a pre-motorway time when the average highway speed was about 45-50 mph. Austin was the Chevrolet of the UK. It could easily be upgraded with a more modern B-series engine and a Type 9 5 speed but you’d have to change the brakes and suspension as well (with available BMC parts). I’ve always liked the Art Deco look of these-ever since I was a child growing up in the postwar UK-they have a unique charm but weren’t designed for a world populated by F-150’s! GLWS
We had horsepower wars here to see who could make the most horsepower. It seems the British competed to see who could make the least and still move the car
In post-war UK, petrol was dear.
42 horses? Moving the car is one thing. And a trailer hitch?
As far as gas mileage is concerned from an 8 gallon (Imperial measurement) tank, it should easily be able to cover 250 miles.
Even at top speed? If you’re going on a long trip you’d be using the interstate with a speed limit of 70 which means you had better keep it over 65 unless you want to get run over ~ top speed is 69 for this thing when it’s running properly. Might be a fun vehicle for in town if you can afford to have a toy.
My Canadian grandfather always owned Austins, and had one of these. He would drive it down from his home in Vancouver B.C. to visit us in the S.F. Bay Area. He spent half his time bragging about his car, and how British cars were superior to anything American (and how anything British was superior, he having been born in London in the late 1880’s).
One day I, fourteen at the time, got so sick of it that I went out to his car when he wasn’t around and pulled two spark plug wires. He, not a mechanic, couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t running right. I remember telling him his car wasn’t very good after all. A few days later I put the wires back on. He never figured it out (actually it was kind of a cool little car).
It has left hand drive, so was it intended for the North American market?
Or more likely Europe.
Wonder if there’s room under the hood for an aluminum 215 Rover V8? Of course, you’d have to rebuild the brakes and suspension, along with a different transmission. But would be cool.
I’m presently restoring a 1953 Austin A40 Somerset drophead coupe (convertible) and I’m always on the lookout for odd bits. Located in eastern Wisconsin, USA.
I also have a 1953 Austin Somerset drophead coupe. I bought it in 1965 for $40. I drove it to high school for 2 years then got the fast car bug and built Cudas, Roadrunners and Mustangs to satisfy my itch. I kept the Austin, driving it off and on thru the years. I had it restored in 2005. I changed the rear gearing to gain speed and replaced the tired 1200cc engine with an 1800cc MG 100HP . It gets around quite well now. Over the years I have collected lots of NOS stock and good used parts. If you are looking for something drop me a line.
Roger, sent you an email. Are you still looking for a LHD steering box?
Price has been dropped to $800. If I had the room I think I would jump on this.
As a Senior in high school I had a 54 A-40 . It had a srange shift pattern on the tree so no one could steel it. Was a blast to drive in town… not so on the freeway. In 1st. you could bounce it allong for about 10 feet and do a 6 inch wheelie!!!!!!!!!!! Someone had painted it in the traditional dark green so it looked sharp !!!!!!
The shift pattern isn’t strange ~ if you take a 4 on the floor pattern and move it up to the column, it’s the same.
I am restoring a Nash Metropolitan which isn’t too far removed from this car. Though it has the 1500cc engine, so slightly faster.
Decades ago, I worked for a dealership in NH that, over the years had sold most of the European marques that had come to the US in the 50’s and early 60’s. In the 70’s they cleaned out a lot of their obsolete parts inventory and I acquired HUNDREDS of NOS bits and pieces – prmarily for early Alfa and BMC. I remember having numerous boxes bearing sets, valves, gaskets, etc for A40s (also some for A70s and A90s). I sold it all about 20 years ago to a fellow from VT who I later encountered a few times in the Paddock area at Lime Rock.
With 5:28 gears it should reach that 60 MPH top speed pretty quickly one would think. Nothing personal Aaron but it’s a different kind of car guy who deems a high point of visiting England their cars. It’s what makes the hobby special. Cheers bloke.
It was great! I have pictures of Morris Minors, Morgans, and I even caught an Armstrong-Siddeley Star Sapphire. :)
It’s funky, clunky cool – interesting because we don’t see many of these here, and the price is definitely worth some risk.
I agree. Someone on here has to pick this thing up before it hits the scrapyard at this rate.
Borrowed a friends when I was a student to get to a holiday job driving pea viners out in the country – 55 years ago. It had the cyl head off and other bits disassembled. With the help of an uncle (who just died this year at 96) I got it back together and used it for over a month – no road warrant or registration (legally required in NZ) but as I was going out to the job at 4:00am in the morning, I thought I would get away with it. Certainly not a speedy machine and there was a fair amount of body roll but it was very reliable and fun to drive. For an English car, they were solid and well put together.
I’ve only seen these in British TV programs , never in person. It’s heck and gone from me and I don’t have the knowledge or skill to fix it. But sure hope some one restores it. I work from home so m-f is only errands about the neighborhoid. Weekends use the wife’s newish car , so point being , I could actually “daily” this thing. Oh well
@Aaron- Please keep in mind when you have completed a flight, you have also completed the safest part of your day.
Logic doesn’t necessarily work with phobias, Frank. :)
My dad was forced to buy a used one In about 1960 due to having a young family and little income at the time – he and mom were just trying to stay afloat! He hated the car due to its lack of speed, but loved the gas mileage. He used to laugh about how with that low first gear “you could drive straight up a wall”.
Good times.
bt
Still have a photo of my Dad and Mum in their first car, a Somerset. They drove to Devon and Cornwall on their honeymoon in 1954. Quite a trip back then from outside Belfast in N. Ireland.
I have seen one of these in person. A local British car shop (now sadly out of business) that I used to stop at all the time had one of these in the woods behind the shop.
This would be a fun one to restore and the price is right. I owned one of these along with an A40. Also a Triumph Mayflower and a few Sunbeams. They were cheap back then and easy to wrench on.
Looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss cartoon.
Like a 36 Terraplane; swoopy fenders and odd proportionality.
You will definitely stand out at a car show.
Must have been a military person that brought it home.
I have seen a few Panhards brought back from France way back when.
a 2 cylinder VW type motor wasn’t made to go fast, and it had the shadow of a 56 series California license plate.
No, I finally got a new steering box from overseas. If you join the Austin County Car Club you buy almost everything you need to restore your Austin. Their website is http://www.austincounties.org.uk. They have been very helpful over the years.
http://www.austincounties.org.uk is very helpful. Hopefully the new owner will join! Roger, sent you a follow up email.
I do have the splash guards that you asked about. They are in very good condition. I also have the stainless strip for under the doors. I’ll see if I can dig them out of the boxes of stuff I have. I don’t have any glass. I may have some of the window parts to raise and lower the windows. I’ll look.