1934 Austin 10/4 Cabriolet

Finished in maroon over black with a tan leather interior, ‘ARA 195’ is an Austin 10/4 Colwyn Cabriolet that was first registered on the 16th of June 1934.

The subject of a chassis-up restoration around 25 years ago during which time it changed colour from blue to red, the seller’s husband bought it in 2019 after it had spent the two decades in the care of its previous owner.

With just three previous keepers, this charming Colwyn Cabriolet offers a very cost-effective entry into the vintage car world.

The maroon-over-black coachwork presents well; this is a very usable example that could be taken anywhere without embarrassment – and used without fear of devaluing it.

As such, it’s probably in the sweet spot of classic car ownership; buy too well and you’re scared of getting a stonechip – but buy too cheaply and you’ll be fighting a never-ending battle against corrosion.

The condition of the bodywork is supported by good chromework and a nice selection of undamaged lamps that include indicators to supplement the trafficators, which seem like a sensible upgrade to us if you plan on venturing onto 21st century roads.

Both the badge bar and windscreen bear witness to the fact that both the seller’s husband and the car’s previous keeper were members of the Austin 10 Owner’s Club - and being enthusiastic enough about your classic car to join the club is never a bad thing.

The louvres on the engine covers run straight and true, as do the fins on the radiator. The Hartford adjustable dampers look clean too, and the overall impression is of a well-loved example that’s been looked after properly.

This curation extends to the wire wheels, which are fitted with a matching set of Excelsior 450-18 tyres. One was replaced in 2017, with receipts for others going back to 2001, 2005, and 2008.

All have good tread with the exception of the boot-mounted spare, which looks old and past its best. It would probably be sensible to budget to replace it for your peace of mind.

Nonetheless, as we never tire of saying, experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The folding hood is in great shape with no obvious damage or rips to it. It furls and unfurls as it should via a good frame, and even features a glass rear screen for improved visibility.

You might like to consider replacing the scratched windscreen but that that’s the extent of the issues we spotted speaks volumes.

NB: A repair has clearly been made to the nearside below the hood. We think this pre-dates the owner’s time with the car and was there when he bought it in 2019.

The interior was fully retrimmed in 1997, and the work, which is documented by way of an invoice from Classic Car Services, was thorough and included new leather covers for the seats, seats that were correctly restuffed with new horsehair.

The door panels and rear quarter panels were trimmed in vinyl, as were the eleven other pieces of trim that were constructed. New carpets were cut and bound and the final bill was £3,254.

Worth every penny though because just look how good it all still is.

With little more than some gentle rumpling to the driver’s seat, the other seats look like they’ve barely been used. As for the door cards and trim panels, they look very nearly as good now as they would have when they were new all those years ago.

It’s the same story with the carpets and the wooden dashboard; we can’t imagine anyone finding much to quibble about inside.

There’s a full suite of Lucas and Smiths instruments behind the huge steering wheel, and plenty of legroom in the back for you to carry actual, full-size adults. Speaking of which, rubber mats have been fitted in the rear footwells, which is a nice touch.

The boot is a good size and has a rubber mat on the floor. It also contains a few bits and bobs; please see the photos for details.

Oh, and an electrical cut-out switch has been fitted in the glovebox, and does double duty as a battery saver and anti-theft device.

If you’re looking for a job, then the gaiter around the handbrake is worn and ripped and there is a small rip in the hood lining near the rear window. The rubber trim on the running boards has perished too, but that’s about all we can find to criticise, which isn’t bad for a ninety-year-old car, is it?

The engine was rebuilt by C.K. Motor Engineers in 2005, running up a bill for a little over £2,300 in the process.

The details of what work was carried out are on the invoice but it was done properly, and even now our in-house assessor says of the Austin: “it starts on the button and drives well”.

As regular readers will know, he’s a man a few words but those we can prise out of him are always worth listening to, so what you might at first think is a somewhat lukewarm appraisal is actually the opposite.

Because, as the video shows, it bursts into life eagerly and it does so with a decent charge to the battery, good oil pressure, and no untoward noises. It revs smoothly and has an attractively discreet exhaust note.

The seller confirms that her husband loved the car, taking it out locally to car meets, both as a member of the two Austin clubs he’d joined as well as a local classic car club. She tells us that “it never missed a beat” – and was far more reliable than the Austin Seven he owned previously!

The centre-hinged bonnet gives excellent access to the diminutive engine, which will make servicing and routine maintenance a pleasure.

The underside is clean and solid. It also bears witness to lubrication of its grease points, which is another good sign. The seller tells us that her husband was fastidious in getting it greased by their local garage at least once a year.

The Austin doesn’t have a current MoT certificate, and while it is exempt by virtue of its age, we would strongly encourage the new owner to have it MoT’d at the earliest opportunity. The cost of an MoT is a small investment when offset against the purchase and upkeep of any classic vehicle, and it gives an independent, third-party assessment of the car’s condition, which not only provides reassurance to the owner (and any subsequent purchasers) but might also be invaluable in the event of a bump when negotiating with the police and any interested insurance companies…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear except for the marker for a change of colour.

The history file that accompanies the Austin includes its original Handbook, the Running and Maintenance Instructions, a Lubrication Chart, the RF60 ‘buff’ log book from 1951, a photographic records of its restoration, a bunch of expired tax discs and MoT certificates, and numerous invoices for work that’s been carried out over the years.

The Colwyn Cabriolet might have set its first owner back £178 out of the showroom but time’s marched on a bit since then.

Or has it because that £178 sticker price would be a little over £10,000 in today’s money, which just happens to be our top estimate for the car.

But the seller has sufficient faith in her late husband’s Austin to offer it with no reserve, so it will sell from the very first bid.

We are happy to offer this car for auction with an estimate in the range of £7,000 - £10,000.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am- 12pm or 2pm-4pm. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.