1932 Austin 16/6 Burnham

Nicknamed Bertie, this Austin 16/6 Burham went out to New Zealand as a new car – and it stayed out there for the next 85 years.

Passing from its original owner to his son, it had been treated to much restoration work immediately prior to arriving back in the UK in 2017; we are told this was a “nut and bolt’ restoration but there’s no paperwork to prove this.

As for its history here in the UK, when the seller’s father turned seventeen, he wanted a motorcycle. His father refused but offered to buy him a car to soften the blow. He agreed to that deal, and they found and bought an Austin Ten from 1932.

Which he kept for a lifetime and is still in the family.

And that first car sparked a lifelong love affair with the marque, which culminated in him buying this Austin 16/6 Burnham in 2020, along with the Austin Twenty Limousine we are also selling.

‘XVV 174’ has since been treated to a retrim, which probably helped it take 3rd in class at the 2022 Austin Ten Drivers Club National Rally. An inspection report in the history file also confirms that this is still a ‘matching numbers’ example.
 

An external green sunvisor hints at its long life in sunnier climes, while a rear-mounted spare hints at a life where outside help wasn’t immediately available. There are running boards and a rear luggage rack too, plus split bumpers probably just because they look cool.

Four King of the Road headlamps too (and has any car component ever been given a better name than that?) as well as modern rear indicators because folk who buy these cars tend to use ‘em, and no one wants to risk a rear-end collision for the sake of originality.

The honeycomb radiator grille is still geometrically sound, and it is topped off by a fetching Wilmot Breedon Calormeter. A single black Lesco of N.Z. door mirror on the offside adds an authentic antipodean touch, the chrome bumpers are still straight and shiny, and the bonnet louvres stand as straight as a line of guardsmen outside Buckingham Palace.

Badges for the Vintage Austin Register of New Zealand, Otago Vintage Car Club N.Z., and the Austin Centennial Tour of 2006 hint at enthusiastic ownership, something that also reflected in the coachwork, which is remarkably straight, very well preserved, and has a good shine to the burgundy-over-black paintwork.

The 20-inch black wire wheels are enhanced with good chrome hubcaps. They are also fitted with what seems to be recent Ensign tyres, all of which match and have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that 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.

As you’d expect of a car that’s edging ever closer to being one hundred years old, it does have some character.

This makes itself known most obviously via microblistering to some of the paint, the usual stonechips and age-related blemishes throughout, a couple of cracks to the paint on the nearside engine cover, some chips to the edges of the doors, and flaking chrome on the rear bumper blades.

The spare tyre, running board mats, and door, engine, and window seals have all perished; what sunnier climes give with one hand, they take away with the other.

The interior is much less patinated than the coachwork, but then the vinyl trim was professionally dyed only recently. The family also took the opportunity to replace much of the interior trim and all of the carpets at the same time.

As you can see, it looks absolutely stunning and is a credit to her and her father.

Shall we start our assessment of the car’s condition with the front bench seat? Pretty much immaculate with excellent vinyl covers, the driver and front seat passenger will also be able to enjoy firm yet comfortable padding and springing, as well as neatly applied carpet trim to the rear.

As we mentioned, the carpets throughout the cabin are new and they have all been trimmed with matching burgundy edges.

The back seat is equally impressive, and the new colour of the seats is supported by matching door cards, which feature tulip-shaped pockets. A matching handbrake gaiter too, and all are – again – in an excellent condition with no significant wear.

The comprehensive Smiths instruments, which cover road speed, time, battery charge, oil pressure, and fuel level, and the Bakelite switches are as beautifully designed as they are preserved.

The headlining is clean and taut too, and the wood trim is proper wood, the sort of chunks you can sand and revarnish without fear of breaking through the veneer. Not that you’ll need to do that for a while, though as it is all sound and shiny.

“Carriage Work by the Austin Motor Co Ltd Birmingham” sill plates greet you as you open the door.

The chrome fittings are a little pitted overall but still very usable and attractive, and the three-spoke steering wheel betrays its export-status by way of the ‘GAS’ marking at 10 o’clock. The hub and spokes are in a very good condition, but the rim is damaged in a couple of places with a patina around the rest.

This is pretty much the extent of the sort of flaws you’d want to rectify though as everything else is a charming mix of the new and the lightly patinated. 
 

As the video demonstrates, the 2¼-litre engine starts well, and shows a good charge to the battery when it is revved – and it revs smoothly and freely and without making any odd noises. The oil pressure is decent too, and the exhaust has a nice gurgle to it.

To help keep it running sweetly a few spares are stashed under the bonnet too, plus the starting handle, should needs must.

The engine is workmanlike rather than pretty, but even that’s okay because access is excellent and no machine offers a better way of developing your skills than a vintage car.

Not that it’s been neglected because we see a clean air filter plus recent-looking sparkplugs, and a new dynamo was fitted in 2022.

The underside looks simple, clean, and solid, which is all you can ask for really, isn’t it?

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear and the change of owners in 2023 arose when it was put into his wife’s name after he sadly passed away.

The history file includes what appears to be the original handbook, an inspection report from 2017, a copy of a period advert, a letter from the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust regarding its interior specification, paperwork from the DVLA regarding its UK registration, a wiring diagram, and a couple of bits of paper from its time in New Zealand.

Sadly, it seems that cars must surrender their official paperwork when they leave New Zealand, so the paper trail goes cold at this time.

However, the following, wonderfully pedantic, assessment of the car’s build date accompanied its application for DVLA registration:

“Attached are certified copies of the cover and pages 18 & 19 of the book Austin Type Symbols and Dating Features provided by David Fry Chair of Tamar Historic Vehicle Club. From these pages it denotes the build date for this chassis number falls between December 1931 chassis 26620 and chassis number 31914 in September 1933. This equates to a build of 5294 vehicles over 22 months or an average of around 240 per month. On that basis 28624 the car chassis number is 2004 chassis builds on from the December figure. These figures equate to a production of 240 per month or a little more than four month's production. These figures take the car to a late March early April build date. That would be in keeping the New Zealand registration date of 5/7/1932 allowing a three months shipping and sales time, bearing in mind that in the 30s things moved appreciably slower than currently. The above is further confirmed by the document from Mr Tony Smallbone of The Vintage Austin Register Ltd who produces exact the same conclusions as out lined above with his copy of the Austin Dating Book.”

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… 
 

Being offered with a guide price of between £10,000 and £15,000, there can’t be many more affordable ways of getting into the vintage car scene than this – and that’s without factoring in the refurbished interior, fabulously well-preserved coachwork, and its fascinating history.

For a scant five-figure sum you could spend your summers wafting to the beach and local pub, attending Goodwood and Glyndebourne, or even hillclimbing and trialling with the VSCC.

Or all three because few cars are as versatile as a vintage Austin, or as well-served by specialists and parts suppliers.

And all this could potentially be yours for ten grand – or maybe even less because it is also being offered with no reserve, so it will be considered sold after the very first bid has been placed.

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 ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.